Connor Esterhuizen: How COVID-19 Provided a ‘Saving Grace’ for South African Cricketer
Exceptionally few individuals find positive outcomes from the COVID-19 pandemic, but South Africa’s newest wicketkeeper and top-order batter, Connor Esterhuizen, is among them. The global pause in competitive sport in South Africa ultimately worked to his advantage, solidifying his commitment to cricket.
A Turning Point During the Pandemic
“Covid was very important for me. It was sort of a saving grace in cricketing terms,” Esterhuizen stated at a post-match press conference in Wellington, following his Player of the Match performance in the fourth T20I against New Zealand. ESPN reports that prior to the pandemic, Esterhuizen faced setbacks in making the teams he aspired to join during the latter part of his school career, leading him to question his future in the sport.
“Before Covid, at the back-complete of my school career, I didn’t make the teams that I wanted to and that I thought I was good enough to make. I wasn’t sure if cricket was really for me or if I was good enough to play professionally or after school. And then Covid hit and it gave me a little bit of a break from the game,” he explained.
Rising Through the Ranks
Following the break afforded by the pandemic, Esterhuizen diligently worked his way up through the ranks, starting with club cricket and university cricket before joining the Lions B team. He eventually earned opportunities at the Lions level and gradually increased his playing time over the past two years. ESPNcricinfo details his progression.
Esterhuizen, a graduate of St Johns College in Johannesburg, made his provincial debut for the Lions in 2022, scoring a match-winning 52 off 58 balls in a domestic one-day cup match. He has since advanced to the top three batting positions, represented the South African A side, achieved four centuries in the recent first-class competition, and played for two SA20 franchises: MI Cape Town and Pretoria Capitals.
Recent Successes and Future Potential
His consistent performance led to a call-up to the South African squad for the current series against New Zealand, where he is currently the leading run-scorer. In the fourth T20I, Esterhuizen scored a maiden half-century, contributing 57 runs off 36 balls with seven fours and three sixes, helping South Africa defeat New Zealand by 19 runs. The Tribune India reported on his performance.
Esterhuizen acknowledges the importance of mental fortitude in the game, stating, “For most people the talent is always there, but it’s hard to use that talent and the decision-making that comes with it. That is the key the higher up you travel in this game. The second thing is just how to deal with failures, since this game is a game of failures.”
Despite the unavailability of South Africa’s first-choice lineup for this series, Esterhuizen views this tour as a valuable experience and believes he is part of the team’s future plans. At 24 years old, he is focused on continuing to learn and grow as a cricketer.
“I’ve loved every second of my first tour with the Proteas. The lessons I’d take are probably just how to deal with the pressure and the scrutiny,” he said. “I don’t think anyone masters how to deal with it but the more you do it, the more accustomed you come to it.”