Cricket: Van Wyk eyes warm welcome

Kruger van Wyk. Photo / APN

Kruger van Wyk knows his test debut over the next few days won't be a quiet ride.

Van Wyk received an unexpected call-up to the New Zealand team late yesterday at the end of their final training session when first-choice wicketkeeper BJ Watling was ruled out by a hip irritation.

Van Wyk, the outstanding batsman in the Plunket Shield this season, will face the country of his birth, and the South African team includes several players that he played with and against, before his move to New Zealand in 2005.

"Definitely, I'll cop a lot," he said of an anticipated warm reception from the tourists at University Oval from today.

"That's part of it. They're a competitive bunch and so am I. I know they're a side that test you down to the last ounce of talent that you've got. It's just the way the game's played.

"But at the end of the day it's a red Kookaburra that comes down at me that I have to use my bat against, and catch. I'm going to keep it as simple as that."

Van Wyk, born in Wolmaransstad, between Johannesburg and Kimberley, attended Afrikaans High School for Boys, or Affies as it's more commonly known.

His teammates included South African players AB de Villiers, Alviro Peterson, Jacques Rudolph and Albie Morkel, while pace aces Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn shared the new ball in his last couple of seasons for the Titans in South African first-class cricket.

Now 32, van Wyk has had a prolific season for Central Districts. His 638 runs at an average of a remarkable 91.14 mean he was well worth considering for his batting alone.

In 98 first-class games going back to the 2000-01 season, van Wyk is averaging 40.42. Yesterday was "probably the proudest moment of my life".

Van Wyk's emotions were mixed. He felt sympathy for the luckless Watling, who had scored a century on his test recall against Zimbabwe at Napier in January.

He rang his parents in Pretoria. His father Gerrie is a lecturer in human movement sciences and biokinetics.

"Dad won't sleep at all. He will watch every ball and he'll force Mum to watch as well," he quipped. "It's always the middle of the night when we play and he's always on his cellphone and the neighbours have complained from time to time when I get a hundred and the old man is celebrating."

Van Wyk determined to work as hard as possible this season - "I've hit a serious amount of balls". Yesterday all that work paid off.