Corbin Bosch reaches pinnacle of international career with World Test Championship final

Proteas all-rounder Corbin Bosch had prayed that when his big break came in international cricket, he would be good enough, because he knew that once he had a taste of it, he wouldn’t want it taken away.

The cricketer had a chance to reflect on his meteoric rise last week from the first-class scene as he gears up for the Proteas’ World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord’s in London from June 11.

“Once you get a taste of international cricket you can never get enough, so it’s something I prayed about – if I’m good enough for the opportunity, I want it. I don’t want a taste of it and it goes away. So that’s been a big part of my growing up,” Bosch said at Castle Lager's farewell of the Proteas in Johannesburg,

It was only last year that the son of former Proteas cricket star Tertius Bosch burst onto the international Test scene at 30-year-old.

The fast bowling all-rounder, who is blessed with searing pace, claimed his first wicket with his first delivery in the format, against Pakistan, in front of a packed SuperSport Park, his home ground. SA won the Boxing Day Test to cement their place in the final.

It’s been an emotional roller-coaster ride for the all-rounder, that also took him to this season’s IPL, where he played for the Mumbai Indians.

“It’s been a good journey – up, down, left, right – but I’ve always stayed true to myself. I’ve always believed that I belong,” he said. “It’s been a tough journey but it’s testament to the fact that hard work does get rewarded.

“It’s just staying persistent and to keep believing, and I think something I’ve done really well is I never got too disappointed, even when you don’t make teams or you don’t get selected. It was just an opportunity for me to work harder and I always said I just want that opportunity when I’m ready for the opportunity.”

He now gets the opportunity to walk out onto the hallowed turf of Lord’s, as the Proteas bid to hoist the WTC mace against the defending champions.

“I don’t think words can describe how special an occasion this is going to be. I think all the boys have been wanting this since we won that Test match at SuperSport Park last year in December,” Bosch said.

“The boys really rallied. Obviously, a lot of the guys have been away in India, so it’s been nice to slowly get the band back together. We’re excited for what’s going to be a really incredible two weeks.

“Lord’s is the pinnacle of cricket. A lot of the greats of the game played at Lord’s and have their name on the Honours Board at Lord’s, so I think that that’s definitely the pinnacle of cricket to play there and step on that hallowed ground.

“It’s definitely something that I’m going to take in every single minute while I’m there.”

The question of how to adapt to the infamous slope in the pitch of the ground in London usually preoccupies the thoughts of visiting fast bowlers. But Bosch feels the slope at SuperSport Park had prepared him well.

“At SuperSport Park there’s small slopes on either side (of the wicket), so I don’t think it’s something that’s too unfamiliar,” he said.

You get the feeling that it would take more than a slope to put off a cricketer who has scaled steep hills to get to where he is … and where he feels he belongs.

Temba Bavuma’s Proteas team will be based in Sussex this week before moving to London.