Sarel Erwee’s honesty a sign of Proteas’ new team ethos

Johannesburg - Showing vulnerability is verboten in elite-level sport.

South Africa’s captain, Dean Elgar, proved as much with his decision to bat first in the second Test against New Zealand. Having scored a total of 206 runs in a combined 91 overs in the first Test, the prudent choice may have been to bowl upon winning the toss. Not for Elgar. “It's important for us to front up,” he said. To show toughness, and hide the weaknesses.

Yet in the aftermath of Friday’s play – a very good day for the Proteas, in which they did front up and play with their chests out – the hero, Sarel Erwee, spoke eloquently about how embracing his weaknesses and being vulnerable had reignited his passion for cricket.

“I was a phone call away from saying I was done,” said Erwee, who scored his maiden Test century on Friday.

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His mind had been worn down by the doubts and the anguish of a sporting career that he believed at the time would see a dream of playing for his country go unfulfilled. Alongside those were ones about not being good enough and, of course, what would the future bring for someone who had dedicated himself to the sport, by playing when no one was watching and preparing for matches in the lowest first class tier in South Africa.

“My parents thankfully provided encouragement, and I started seeing a sports performance psychologist. We started working on my mental well being; that was the turning point for me, 28 months ago. I’m not the finished product, and I still have a lot of work to do with regards to my mental health.

“I don’t think we spend enough time on mental health. People have different backgrounds and experiences, and then when you’re thrown