It’s quite easy to break a player’s spirit in the world of sport.
And I believe Proteas coach Ottis Gibson has done this twice on their ongoing tour of Sri Lanka.
Firstly, there was Shaun von Berg.
He probably didn’t expect to make his Test debut on this tour.
But when Tabraiz Shamsi returned home to South Africa following the death of his father, Von Berg should have played in the second Test.
Gibson wasn’t on the same page and despite playing on pitches made for spin bowlers, he decided to pick only one - Keshav Maharaj - in the final Test.
Von Berg, who isn't part of the ODI squad, finished the series still uncapped.
Then, with the team clearly struggling for confidence, Reeza Hendricks, 28, scored a fifty in the warmup match against the Sri Lanka Board XI.
With some senior batsmen failing again, Hendricks was expected to be rewarded with a call-up for yesterday’s first ODI.
Not the case, he was overlooked and I can only imagine how disheartened he must be after that.
To do well in sport, you have to be confident. And if you are in form, the coach has to reward that.
If the coach still ignores you, I can’t see that particular coach getting the best out of that player soon.
Coach Ottis, don’t be afraid to mix and match.