Only four black batsmen have ever earned an international cap for the Proteas, despite the presence of several fast bowlers.
When examining South Africa's 15-man squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, one particular statistic stands out.
Three players of African descent are on the squad, but none of them are specialised batters, except for Andile Phehlukwayo, who has all-around capabilities.
This trend has always been a source of confusion in a country where racial divisions have frequently taken centre stage in elite sports.
South Africa has produced exceptional black bowlers, such as Makhaya Ntini and Kagiso Rabada. However, the number of black batters who have represented the Proteas at the international level is quite limited, with only four players achieving this milestone.
Although a quota system was implemented in 2016 to ensure a minimum of six black cricketers in each national squad, it is worth noting that the majority of these players tend to be bowlers.
Temba Bavuma's batting performances for South Africa have garnered significant attention in recent years. Sinethemba Qeshile, a 20-year-old who made his debut in a Twenty20 International match in March, was also recently added to the team.
Qeshile thinks that coaches tend to categorise black cricketers at a young age, which is a problem.
"There is a common stereotype that suggests black players should primarily be bowlers," Qeshile stated.
One of the first skills cricket players learn is bowling. Many kids are not taught how to hold a bat until later in life. Also, many come from disadvantaged neighborhoods, which makes it difficult to get noticed. In the past, scouts tended to overlook poor neighborhoods, so it was important to really stand out if you wanted to succeed in the game.
Four years ago, Cricket South Africa (CSA) initiated a comprehensive investigation to gain further insights into this matter.
It became evident that black batters from impoverished townships often face limited opportunities compared to their white counterparts who attend prestigious private schools, giving them more chances to develop their skills from a young age.
It is evident that a significant number of black children in these areas only have the opportunity to participate in six matches per year. According to Edward Khoza, CSA's cricket services manager, young players are now competing for spots on regional and national age-group teams against kids who have been playing 50 matches a year since they were young.
However, while bowlers like Ntini and Rabada have managed to overcome these early disparities with their raw talent and athleticism, batting is a more technical skill, making it more challenging to make up for any initial shortcomings.
Since 2016, CSA has made efforts to address this issue. They have implemented a player performance plan nationwide, offered academy scholarships to talented black players from townships, and increased funding for cricket coaching in schools throughout South Africa.
To be eligible for this assistance, a player must participate in at least 20 matches per year.
"Ever since we implemented that, we have noticed an increase in the number of children participating in 25 matches per season," Khoza stated. They now have an improved platform to develop the essential skills.
CSA has implemented quotas to provide opportunities for black batters to advance in the professional game. These quotas require that each franchise and provincial cricket team have three or more black players, with at least two of them batting in the top six.
However, they quickly discovered that there were underlying issues.
According to Khoza, coaches are still hesitant to choose black batters for the crucial number three to five positions, where they could demonstrate their talent to national selectors.
In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, a significant majority of black batters were chosen to open or bat at number six despite having experience playing at three or four positions.
"I went through this when I made my debut in provincial cricket for North West back in 2012," Kagiso Rapulana recalled. "During the initial two seasons, I had the impression that the coaches lacked faith in my abilities. I was consistently placed as an opener, despite it not being my most vital position due to my lack of technical prowess.
CSA has implemented more stringent regulations regarding team roles. When a black player has grown up batting at three, provincial and franchise coaches are specifically instructed to have him bat in that position.
Rapulana currently occupies the number four batting position for the Lions, where he impressively achieved a string of centuries in the previous season.
However, despite efforts to clarify roles and set targets for selection, an obstacle still prevents many black batters from making a breakthrough.
Batting can be pretty challenging psychologically, and many players feel the pressure of the quota tag.
"When a black player joins the team, they are often labelled as a quota player," explained Grant Mokoena, a member of the Knights franchise.
It can be incredibly challenging for black cricketers to fit in due to the impact of stigma on their confidence. Having to prove yourself can be exhausting. After a couple of subpar performances, doubts start to creep in, and the fear of being benched becomes a constant presence.
Pushing yourself too hard can be counterproductive and have adverse effects on your mental well-being.
The quota system can also lead to increased tensions between white and black batters vying for spots, resulting in many players choosing to leave the game entirely.
"It's something that happens every day," Rapulana said. It can be challenging when a white guy, who has been performing well, is overlooked in favour of a black guy when the team is announced.
During this season at the Cobras franchise, there was an incident where a black batsman replaced a white batsman for the first four games. However, the performance of the latter could have been better. In the fifth game, the white guy loses his temper and tells him to take advantage of the opportunity.
Everyone participated. Players of different races supported players of their race. It led to significant disagreement among team members. Later in the season, I received a message from an individual expressing their emotional struggles and contemplating requesting to be released from the franchise at the season's conclusion.
Looking Ahead
Rapulana expressed his opinion that the quota system was not beneficial for cricket in South Africa.
In recent years, a significant number of talented white players have chosen to pursue their cricket careers in England or New Zealand instead of representing the Proteas.
"I have a strong desire for a future where players are chosen based on their abilities rather than their colour. However, it seems unlikely that the current system will change."
However, for CSA it is crucial to guarantee that black batters have the necessary opportunities to excel.
"There is a growing number of black African batters who are achieving impressive performance benchmarks," stated Khoza.
"Other promising individuals are emerging at the national level, in addition to Temba, who may appear to be the standout performer at the moment."