Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince believes character, adaptability and the ability to perform under pressure are among the most important qualities when assessing whether a batter can succeed at international level.

Speaking exclusively on CFM Weekly, Prince offered insight into South Africa’s approach to identifying batting talent, explaining why impressive domestic statistics do not always tell the full story.

The discussion comes after South Africa’s historic 2-1 Test series victory over Australia, which saw the Proteas climb to No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings.

While the series produced several standout batting performances, Prince explained that the coaching staff looks beyond runs scored when evaluating a player’s potential.

“I think, from Shuks’ point of view, and I suppose from us as a group, as the coaching staff, the character of the person is really important. We feel that potentially character is more important than your stats,” Prince said.

It’s an interesting perspective in a country where selection debates often revolve around batting averages, centuries and domestic performances.

But what does Prince mean by character, and how does that influence the players who eventually represent South Africa?

Why Domestic Runs Don’t Always Tell the Full Story

Prince acknowledged the difficult position domestic cricketers face when trying to earn international recognition.

Scoring consistently is expected, but the standard of Test cricket presents an entirely different challenge.

“I think Test match cricket, the gap between Test match cricket and provincial cricket is so big,” he explained.

“When I say provincial cricket, I’m including all first-class cricket around the world.”

Prince believes this creates a difficult situation for players hoping to break into the national team.

“When I play at that level, I’m expected to score, and I’m expecting that weight of runs to get me noticed by the selectors.”

However, he explained that selectors and coaches may sometimes identify qualities in a player whose statistics are less impressive.

“Sometimes, we might select a player who doesn’t have the weight of runs behind his name, but we feel that he does have the character to play at a higher level.”

That raises an important question for South African cricket supporters: should domestic performances always determine selection, or should coaches have the freedom to identify players they believe possess the qualities to succeed internationally?

Prince was careful to explain that he was speaking from his perspective as a coach rather than on behalf of the national selectors.

Marques Ackerman Shows Why Timing Matters

One of the examples Prince discussed was Marques Ackerman, who made his Test debut against Australia after years of performing in domestic cricket.

Ackerman’s inclusion raised questions because he was asked to open the batting despite spending much of his first-class career in other positions.

Prince explained that the Proteas had identified Ackerman’s qualities long before his opportunity arrived.

“For a long time, we felt he does have the character and he’s got the weight of runs. So that makes the selectors’ job a lot easier.”

However, Prince believes Ackerman’s experience was equally important.

The batter arrived at international level with a clear understanding of his own game rather than feeling he needed to change his approach.

“What was really encouraging to see is that he didn’t come to Test match cricket feeling his way.

“It was more an approach where I know what I’m about as a batsman.”

Prince suggested that while supporters often want promising young players selected immediately, additional experience can sometimes help a player develop the confidence and understanding required at the highest level.

“Marques maybe waited a little bit longer than most people.

“But he came in showing that he knows what his batting is about.”

The Proteas batting coach also explained why the coaching staff encourages players to retain their natural strengths rather than immediately attempting to change their techniques.

“We want them to be who they are first and foremost, not to think that they need to be something different.”

Prince believes there is no single perfect batting technique, pointing to Australia’s Steve Smith as an example of a player whose unconventional approach has produced exceptional results.

The challenge for coaches, he explained, is understanding what works for an individual and identifying areas that can be improved without taking away the qualities that made the player successful.

Who Wants to Bat When the Team Is 112/6?

Perhaps one of the most revealing parts of the conversation came when Prince was asked how he evaluates domestic batting statistics.

While acknowledging the value of scoring heavily, Prince explained that he pays particular attention to how players respond to difficult match situations.

“For me, maybe what’s a little bit more important is that within matches, they have ebbs and flows. And then you find yourself at 112 for six like we did in Gqeberha.”

That was the position South Africa found themselves in during the second Test against Australia before recovering to build a substantial first-innings total.

Prince explained that these are the situations where a batter’s character becomes particularly important.

“Who wants to bat now? It’s 112 for six, you know?

“And time and time again, Temba Bavuma wants to bat when it’s like that.”

For Prince, it is not simply about how many runs a player scores, but when those runs are scored and what impact they have on the match.

“Who has the appetite for situations, guys? That’s what we’re looking for.

“Who has the appetite for situations where application is required, knuckling down is required?”

He also used a familiar Cape Town expression to explain the difference between scoring runs in favourable conditions and producing an innings when the team is under pressure.

“In Cape Town, we have a saying where it’s nice to bat when the tafel is gedek.”

The expression refers to batting when the table is already laid and conditions are favourable.

Prince’s point was that the ability to score runs when everything is going well is valuable, but so is the willingness to take responsibility when a team is struggling.

It also helps explain why the Proteas place considerable importance on partnerships and contributions that might otherwise be overlooked.

Prince highlighted Matthew Breetzke’s contribution during the final Test at Newlands, where his innings helped stabilise South Africa’s second innings alongside Ryan Rickelton.

“It’s not always about the hundred runs,” he said.

“Matthew stabilised the situation with Rickelton. And we needed that stability first, and then obviously we had the big partnership after.”

Does First-Class Cricket Make Better T20 Batters?

The conversation also turned to one of the most debated topics in South African cricket – the development of younger batters across formats.

During a discussion prompted by a question about Dewald Brevis, Prince explained why he believes first-class cricket remains important even for players who want to succeed in limited-overs cricket.

“Look, I believe that first-class cricket makes you a better batsman, all-round batsman.”

Prince explained that the Proteas value players who possess the skills to perform across all three formats.

“What we really value is batsmanship, and batsmanship means I’m able to bat in a four-day game. I’m able to bat in the ODI. I’m able to bat in the T20.”

However, he stressed that playing multiple formats requires more than simply having an attacking or defensive technique.

“Obviously, a word that’s very important to us with doing all that is adaptability.”

Prince believes younger players often make significant improvements once they develop a deeper understanding of match situations and how to adjust their games accordingly.

He also used Virat Kohli as an example of a player whose ability extends beyond producing entertaining stroke play.

“Virat Kohli is the best example. He gets people excited about his stroke play, but nine times out of ten, he’s there finishing the job.”

Importantly, Prince clarified that his comments about younger players were not specifically directed at Brevis.

Nevertheless, the discussion raises a broader question about the development of South African batting talent and the role first-class cricket should play in preparing players for different formats.

Has T20 Cricket Changed the Way Batters Approach Test Cricket?

Prince also identified what he considers one of the biggest challenges facing modern Test batting.

With players participating in more T20 cricket, he believes there can be a tendency to feel that the scoreboard must constantly move forward.

“The biggest challenge across, not just South Africa, across the world, in terms of maybe Test match batting, the biggest challenge is that players play a lot of T20 cricket.”

Prince explained that Test cricket sometimes requires batters to accept periods when scoring opportunities are limited.

“Sometimes your best result is just to still be there, even if it’s not moving much, even if the scoreboard is not moving much.”

He described situations where a high-quality spinner and fast bowler operate together, making run-scoring extremely difficult.

Rather than attempting to dominate those bowlers, Prince believes survival can be the more valuable outcome.

“In Test match cricket, your best result is to still be there at the end of that spell, not necessarily to take him down.”

The key, according to Prince, is understanding that the conditions of a match can change without a batter needing to force the situation.

A bowler eventually tires, a bowling change arrives, or scoring opportunities become available.

That understanding of the game’s natural shifts is something Prince wants his batters to develop.

The Full Conversation Goes Much Deeper

These were just some of the talking points from Prince’s appearance on CFM Weekly.

During the conversation, the Proteas batting coach also discussed how he works with individual players, why the coaching staff places such importance on self-belief, the thinking behind Ackerman opening the batting and what South Africa must improve ahead of their Test series against Bangladesh.

He also reflected on the Australia series and explained why the coaching staff is not satisfied simply because the Proteas have reached No. 1 in the world.

Watch the full CFM Weekly interview with Ashwell Prince on our YouTube channel to hear his complete explanations, the questions from supporters and the deeper discussion around South African batting.

The interview offers an opportunity to better understand how the Proteas coaching staff thinks about batting, player development and the demands of international cricket.

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