South Africa is still in search of an exceptional black African batsman

In this season's 4-Day Domestic Series, only one black African batsman made it to the top 10 run-getters list.

Aviwe Mgijima from Boland Rocks scored 504 runs, including two fifties and two centuries, at an average of 46. This ranked him sixth on the list.

It is worth noting that Mgijima played 14 innings, the most of any batsman in the top 50, except for his teammate Janneman Malan. Marques Ackerman, the series' leading run-scorer, played 11 innings to score his 571 runs. Tristan Stubbs, who is ranked second, played nine innings and scored 562 runs.

Among the top 20 batsmen, only three are black Africans besides Mgijima. Lesego Senokwane from the North West Dragons, who is ranked 12th, scored 455 runs (including two centuries) at an average of 37.91. Notably, he scored 52% of his runs in just two of his 12 innings.

Tshepang Dithole from the KZN Dolphins, who is ranked 13th, scored 451 runs (including one century and two fifties) at an average of 41.29, with 66% of his runs coming in three of his 13 innings.

Grant Mokoena, who was ranked 17th among the Dragons, scored 441 runs in the tournament, including one century and two fifties, at an average of 41.31. It is worth noting that 70% of those runs came from just three of his 10 innings.

Temba Bavuma, the Proteas Test captain, played only three innings in the tournament, scoring 122 runs with an average of 40. His scores were 77, 0, and 45.

It is interesting to note that in the last 13 domestic four-day seasons, there have been only two instances where more than three black African batsmen have been in the top 20. In the last 13 seasons, black African batsmen have only been in the top 10 eight times. In seven of those 13 campaigns, there were either zero or only one black African batsman in the top 20.

Turning to the present day, Mgijima's form is commendable and deserving of recognition. However, his overall first-class average of 26 indicates that he is a capable first-class player who had a good season, rather than one who is ready for Test consideration.

There is a place in Test cricket for late developers, Bavuma's age of 35 and the presence of younger, more prolific top-order options in domestic cricket make his selection questionable.

It is worth noting that Bavuma bats at No. 4 for the Proteas, the same position as Mgijima for Boland.

Additionally, Senokwane (26) has an overall first-class average of 28, Dithole (30) averages 27, and Mokoena (36) averages 30.

While it is important to consider experience, Bavuma's age of 33 suggests that he may be entering the back end of his Test career. Recently, his body has consistently betrayed him, suggesting that the end could be near.

CSA's new board has done excellent work in numerous facets of cricket in South Africa. However, their strategies for developing elite black African batting talent continue to be exposed as flawed.

It is a reflection of CSA's lack of competence that, 33 years after their readmission to international cricket, Bavuma is still the only black African batsman to have established himself in the Test side.

A talented black African batsman to reach their full potential requires careful consideration of various factors. As a starting point, the cost of high-quality batting gear is prohibitively expensive for most. Access to adequate practice and match facilities remains an issue, and high-calibre coaching in township clubs and schools is virtually non-existent, among myriad other factors.

However, despite more than three decades of opportunity for CSA to get this right, only a single black African batsman has consistently played Test cricket.

This statement requires visionary leadership with an appetite for change.

Black African batsmen across 13 four-day seasons

2023-24 – 4 black Africans in top 20
Aviwe Mgijima ranked sixth with 504 runs with an average of 45.81

2022-23 – 0 black Africans in top 20
Highest ranked was Khaya Zondo at 22nd

2021-22 – 4 black Africans in top 20
Tshepang Dithole ranked ninth with 489 runs at an average of 61.12

2020-21 – 1 black African in top 20
Khaya Zondo in 16th with 324 runs at an average of 40.50

2019-20 – 0 black Africans in top 20
Highest ranked was Wandile Makwetu at 23rd

2018-19 – 3 black Africans in top 20
Sinethemba Qeshile ranked fifth with 735 runs at an average of 52.50, Grant Mokoena ranked 16th with 524 runs at 29.11 and Sibonelo Makhanya in 18th with 503 runs at 31.43

2017-18 – 1 black African in top 20
Omphile Ramela ranked 12th with 596 at an average of 35.05

2016-17 – 3 black Africans in top 20
Khaya Zondo ranked fourth with 740 runs at an average of 67.27, Lesiba Ngoepe 15th with 503 runs at 33.53 and Aviwe Mgijima 20th with 431 runs at 28.73

2015-16 – 1 black African in top 20
Omphile Ramela ranked ninth with 592 runs at an average of 42.28

2014-15 – 2 black Africans in top 20
Omphile Ramela ranked fifth with 724 runs at an average of 48.26 and Temba Bavuma 14th with 555 runs at 69.37

2013-14 – 2 black Africans in top 20
Temba Bavuma ranked sixth with 714 runs at 39.66 and Khaya Zondo 13th with 541 runs at 38.64

2012-13 – 1 black African in top 20
Temba Bavuma ranked fifth with 537 runs at an average of 31.58

2011-12 – 1 black African in top 20
Temba Bavuma ranked 11th with 637 runs at an average of 53.08