“It was always my dream to open the batting with Dean Elgar or Aiden Markram,” he said. “Obviously, that wasn’t the case. Being captain in New Zealand was obviously a massive honour but it took a lot out of me, those two matches.”
“It was a tough series for us and for our country with everything going on with the SA20. It took me some time to get over that. Thankfully, now I think I’ve crossed that hurdle and hopefully I can get back to playing my best cricket.
“It’s something you can never take away [captaining your country]. It was a massive honour. Making your debut and being captain can sometimes be a bit difficult… I’m very passionate about my country. In a way, you feel like you let them down. I’m glad I’m in a better space now.”
Since those two Tests, Brand has averaged 42.08 in first-class cricket, including a career-best 178 last season, before moving from Titans to Boland. The runs against Australia won’t add to his record as the match doesn’t have first-class status. However, it has given Brand confidence that his game is in good order.
“I’ve worked really hard over the winter on my batting,” he said. “I feel mentally in a much better space now. I’m just enjoying my cricket again. I’ve also joined a new franchise and the coach there has really backed me. Onwards and upwards, hopefully.
“I’ve been trying to work on my game really hard, looking at some scoring options, working hard against boundary options against spin. Usually, I [open] the batting and I’ve been batting at four this season. It is a bit nicer.” He batted at No. 4 for the South Africa XI as well.
Brand is still someway down the pecking order for selection in the country’s first-choice Test squad. But at 30, he has time on his side. “I don’t think you’re ever far away from a team and you’re also never far away from being dropped,” he said. “You’re only as good as your next game. I’m just really trying to enjoy my cricket, enjoy my batting and try and play a bit more. I’m a positive brand of cricketer, which is what South African cricket wants.”