A classy left-hander with a full range of shots, JP Duminy's career has become a story of unfulfilled promise against the backdrop of bad luck with injury. Duminy is best known for his cover drive, square cut, quick wrists and athletic fielding. With more than a decade of international cricket to his name, his most prized accomplishment was becoming South Africa's leading T20 run-scorer, in 2013, as well as the first from the country to amass 1500 runs in the format.

Duminy made his ODI debut in 2004 but had a forgettable run with two ducks in five innings and was only recalled two years later. In 2006, he made 60 on comeback against Zimbabwe, but it was not enough to send him to the 2007 World Cup.

His big break came, ironically, through a team-mate's injury when Ashwell Prince broke his thumb before the first Test of the 2008-09 tour of Australia. His unbeaten second-innings 50 helped South Africa to victory in Perth before a serene 166 in Melbourne set up their series win. Prince only regained his place in the team months later as Duminy became the new poster boy. His performances earned him a lucrative US$950,000 deal with Mumbai Indians in 2009.

The Midas touch faded in 2010 when four successive single-digit scores saw Duminy dropped from the Test team. He remained an important part of the limited-overs set-up, however, and was part of the 2011 World Cup squad.

He was recalled to the Test side two years later and scored a century against New Zealand apart from playing a part in South Africa claiming the Test mace in August 2012. Then, his career was interrupted when, on the tour to Australia later that year, he tore his Achilles' tendon that forced him out for seven months.

He recovered in time for the 2013 Champions Trophy and scored 150* - bettering his previous highest in the process - against Netherlands in preparation, but had a quiet tournament. All told, none of Duminy's four ODI centuries has come against top-eight opposition.

2014 was his most productive Test year, with centuries against Australia and Sri Lanka, but his form tapered after that. After playing an important part in the 2015 T20 series win in India, he picked up a finger injury, which kept him out of two ODIs and a Test on that tour.

When he recovered, Duminy found it difficult to balance the responsibility of being used as a part-time bowler with holding the middle order together. As a result, both disciplines seemed to suffer. He also struggled with a hamstring problem during the 2016 World T20.
Firdose Moonda