Van Wyk keen on staying prepared for international cricket

During the T20 series between Bangladesh and South Africa at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, the commentary box had a surprise visitor. Morne van Wyk, the man who scored a century in South Africa's last T20 at home in January this year, was doing commentary for the first time.

The mild-mannered wicketkeeper-batsman was one of three commentators for the first game, alongside Athar Ali Khan and Shamim Ashraf Chowdhury, and was joined by former South Africa allrounder Jon Kent for the second game of the series. He has worked as a studio expert back home but is enjoying this new experience, shifting from a role behind the stumps to one behind the microphone.

He admitted he was disappointed at being dropped from the national side after getting a good score, an unbeaten 114 he made against West Indies in January this year, but stated he was focused on the 2016 World T20 that is less than a year away.

"I think I scored 60-70 odd off 40 balls but also got dropped," van Wyk told ESPNcricinfo. "I think it was in 2010. It was a T20 game in the Moses Mahbida Stadium. And then I scored a hundred and got dropped [in 2015]. Maybe I should not score runs once or twice and then see what happens [laughs]. I cannot tell you why or how but clearly it is very disappointing. It takes a couple of days to get over it.

"Sometimes it is not really about understanding, but focusing on what you have. Certainly that's what I am going to try to do going forward. It is not over yet. There's a World Cup in February and I just have to keep myself ready; stay fit, stay in form. If an opportunity comes knocking, I have to use it."

Van Wyk was realistic about his exclusion saying that he had come into the T20 side in January - his first international appearance since March 2011 - as a replacement for Quinton de Kock, who had injured his ankle. Once the incumbent was deemed fit, van Wyk knew the selectors would have to make a tough choice. But he said that the commentating stint was a good opportunity for him to get a taste of a different profession albeit one connected to cricket.

"It was an honor to score a century. It was little disappointing at not being picked but that's the way it goes," he said. "The selectors decided to put Quinton back in. I only played the game because he was injured. I suppose they had to decide whether to give me another game after the hundred or not.

"Clearly they decided to give Quinton another opportunity. Life's got a way of working out. Because of that I got an opportunity to come to Bangladesh and to commentate. It is my third time to Bangladesh. I thoroughly enjoy it. I love the passion people have for cricket. (Commentary is) Something I am thoroughly enjoying and if it becomes something I can do after my career, I will count myself very lucky.

"I feel very blessed in my career. I have experienced a lot from World Cups and numerous records, highlights to winning trophies, international Man of the Match, the hundred. I have been privileged to captain teams for a long time. I am loving my time at the Dolphins," said van Wyk.

He revealed he had hopes of a shot at a World Cup spot if de Kock was not fit. "I think my name was definitely in the hat. But you know in all fairness, the hundred was in a T20. I think it all depended whether Quinton's ankle came right or not. If he hadn't gone, I would have gone I assume.

"He turned out to be fit enough to play. So they took him. I was in the mix. I have been in the mix for a couple of World Cups. If it was a squad of 16-17, I would have been to a couple of World Cups. It wasn't the case, it wasn't meant to be," he said.

Van Wyk said he felt like he was making his debut all over again when he started doing commentary on Sunday. By the next game, he was out conducting the toss with Mashrafe Mortaza, his one-time Kolkata Knight Riders team-mate, and Faf du Plessis, his captain from last January.

"I think from a cricketing point of view, I have played first-class cricket for 16-17 years. A lot of those things are very natural to me now. As a commentator, it is a completely new ball game so it almost felt like I have made my debut again on Sunday. Everything has been so different," he said.