While not quite the grandstanding ‘reintegration’ that occurred for Kevin Pietersen into the England cricket side in 2012, Alviro Petersen’s return for the Bizhub Highveld Lions this week represents a significant step in reuniting him with teammates after an acrimonious end to last season.
Petersen will play his first match this season for the Lions tonight in a Momentum One-Day Cup encounter against the Dolphins in Durban.
The Lions had a desperately poor season overall last summer, but it was Petersen’s dramatic resignation as captain, just hours before a T20 match in Bloemfontein, that lifted the veil on what appeared to be a divided dressing-room.
Petersen admitted yesterday that he doesn’t know what to expect.
“Things will probably never really be the same. Even now, it feels to me like some guys are walking on eggshells around me,” he said shortly after touching down in Durban with the squad.
The rest of the Lions have made much about how they wish to leave behind all the controversy that was so publicly aired.
Much has been done in the off-season to address those issues, but Petersen for the most part wasn’t around when those discussions were taking place – either he was on tour with the national side or he was playing for English county Somerset.
“For the most part, I see in the media that guys have put this behind them. I found out in the media about new selectors and a new captain.
“I don’t really want bring that stuff up again. I haven’t spoken to anyone in a one-on-one situation, most guys just want to chat about general stuff. For the most part, what I can detect, guys just don’t want to go there,” said Petersen.
The 33-year old is sensitive to the changes that have been made in his absence in the winter and wants to move on with helping those players who request his assistance and fulfilling whatever role is asked of him. “I am not wanting to derail the new leadership. There are some guys here, who know me intimately, we’ll see how things go.”
For now Petersen, who hasn’t played since the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in August due to a torn cartilage in his left knee, is looking forward to returning to his natural position as opener for tonight’s match at Kingsmead.
“I’ll play wherever they want me to play. There have been times in the last few seasons, where I’ve been the yo-yo man, going up and down the order. Who knows, they may want to chop and change again. But I’m opening the batting, and really, whatever I do, I just want to contribute.”
Besides Petersen, the Lions will also welcome back Chris Morris and leg-spinner Eddie Leie – off-setting the loss of Quinton de Kock and Aaron Phangiso who are on tour with the national side.
Stephen Cook’s side will be looking to build on their victory over the Warriors on Sunday, where two of the other veterans, Neil McKenzie and Thami Tsolekile, produced important knocks to help the side over the line.
The Dolphins will also carry confidence into the match following a terrific chase at Centurion last Friday where, thanks to Morné van Wyk’s century, they overhauled the Titans, making over 300 in a match reduced by rain.
Tonight’s match starts at 3pm.
Lions squad: Stephen Cook (Capt), Temba Bavuma, Eddie Leie, Neil McKenzie, Christopher Morris, Alviro Petersen, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Jean Symes, Thami Tsolekile, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Hardus Viljoen - The Star