Fresh off a heartbreaking knock of 98 against England at Newlands on Wednesday, Proteas batsman Temba Bavuma hit out at his critics.
Dropped from the Test squad, Bavuma returned to the national team in style as they beat England the world champions by seven wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Bavuma, though, had an appeltjie to skil with his haters.
He says: “It has been hard. I think it’s not so much the dropping, all players get dropped...
“The awkwardness and discomfort from my side is when you’re thrown into talks of transformation. Yes, I am a black - that’s my skin.
“I play cricket because I like it and I would like to think that the reason why I’m in the team is because of the performances I’ve put forward in my franchise side and also for the national team...
BACK WITH A BANG: De Kock and Bavuma. Picture: RYAN WILKISKY/BACKPAGEPIX
“The one thing that eeks me is that when you do well, transformation is not spoken about.
“But when you do badly, transformation is thrown at the top of the agenda.
“I’ve got a serious problem with that.
“Transformation is bad when black African players are not doing well, when they are doing well let’s also recognise transformation for what it’s done.”
Asked where the criticism comes from, he says: “From the media, it comes from fans”