South African cricketer Marques Ackerman has attributed his recent form and maturity to fatherhood, stating that having his own family has given him a new perspective on life. This new perspective has seen him awarded his maiden Test call-up by coach Shukri Conrad. Ackerman, 30, has been in sublime form over the past 12 to 18 months, scoring over 1,000 runs for South Africa 'A' and leading the team with responsibility as captain.
Ackerman's journey to the national team has not been without its challenges. Despite being a talented cricketer from a young age, he had to bide his turn and develop his game in domestic cricket for over a decade. His schoolmates, including Kagiso Rabada and Ryan Rickelton, had already made their mark in international cricket, leading to doubts and uncertainties about his own chances of representing South Africa.
However, with the arrival of his family, Ackerman's priorities shifted, and cricket took a back seat. He began to view the game with a newfound sense of freedom, no longer consumed by the pressure to perform. This change in perspective has allowed him to play with a lot more freedom, as he has matured and gained experience. Ackerman believes that this new outlook has been a blessing, enabling him to cope with the pressures of the game.
Ackerman's form has been impressive, with a century in this season's first round of the First Class Series. His performances have earned him a place in South Africa's 18-man preliminary squad for the first Test against Australia in Durban. He will have to deal with a fearsome Australian attack led by the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins.
Despite the challenge, Ackerman is confident in his preparation. He believes that facing the likes of Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Corbin Bosch in the nets during the build-up to the first Test will be enough to prepare him for Australia's pace attack. Ackerman is excited about the opportunity to play Test cricket and is eager to make an impact.
The Proteas squad assembled in Durban on Thursday, where preparations for the first Test are underway. The squad will play an intra-squad two-day match as a warm-up, which started on Sunday. Ackerman is looking forward to the challenge and is confident that his experience and form will serve him well.
Ackerman's call-up to the national team is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He is grateful for the opportunity and is eager to make the most of it. With his newfound maturity and form, Ackerman is ready to take on the challenge of Test cricket and make a meaningful contribution to the Proteas team.
Key points
- Marques Ackerman credits fatherhood for his newfound maturity and form, earning him a maiden Test call-up against Australia.
- Ackerman has been in sublime form over the past 12 to 18 months, scoring over 1,000 runs for South Africa 'A' and leading the team with responsibility as captain.
- Ackerman will have to deal with a fearsome Australian attack led by the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins in his Test debut.
