Van Wyk's chance to shine as series seeks context

Much like Christmas in July, cricket in August is a bit of novelty in South Africa. Most of the country is still coming out of winter, except in Durban where they are never really in it to start with, and therefore unplayable. The wet West Coast and chilly central areas are no-go zones for cricket, so it's up to the thawing Highveld and evergreen Kwa-Zulu Natal to host a New Zealand series that has as much context as a tabloid headline.

What New Zealand did to South Africa in Auckland in March - the last time they met, in the World Cup semi-final - cannot be undone, not because these are two teams playing for something much less important than a place in the World Cup final but because something like that is forever. It just is. It just was.

South Africa are still grappling with it, not necessarily the defeat but the waves of aftershock, which included a selection controversy around Vernon Philander that continues to permeate in every XI that takes the field and a first-ever series defeat to Bangladesh. But they are unlikely to have any hard feelings towards New Zealand, who they shared a drink with on the night of the semi-final and whose players they enjoy the company of. Dale Steyn has already invited Kane Williamson to go surfing; someone is bound to ask Grant Elliot to join them for a beer.

There is really nothing to prove in the next two weeks for anyone on either side, except for one man: Morne van Wyk. The 36-year-old has the opportunity, perhaps his last opportunity, to complete unfinished business and prove himself worthy of a more permanent position in the South African side. That he should have had one from his last international series, when he struck a T20 century against West Indies, has to water under the bridge if van Wyk is to make this chance count.

These two T20s and three ODIs are the only matches he will have to make himself indispensable for the upcoming tours against India and England, and ultimately for next year's World T20. And he will have to make himself absolutely indispensable because of the man he will have to keep out: Quinton de Kock.

De Kock's woeful form has resulted in him being dropped but already he is making his case for a comeback. He scored a century in South Africa A's loss to India on Sunday, despite suffering a bout of food poisoning which resulted in 10 members of the side being hospitalised. Jokes about being in the runs aside, if de Kock continues to find himself there, he could be back in the senior side before van Wyk has the chance to stake a claim for the spot.

Diplomatically, van Wyk told Sport24 he does not think de Kock's revival will happen overnight. "He's got lots to learn in cricket and also off the field. He'll pick up some experience and I'm sure he'll start scoring runs soon. If he gets back in six months or two years, whatever the time frame is, I'm sure he'll be a lot better and a lot stronger for it." In that same time, van Wyk may have hung up the gloves, which will suit him just fine.

Apart from that, there is not much to play for in the next two weeks. New Zealand have already bounced back from their solitary defeat to Zimbabwe not to be too bothered about avoiding being labeled as being in a slump. South Africa have AB de Villiers back and will hope that with a few flicks of the bat, he will magically make all their blunders from the Bangladesh series disappear. There's only the novelty of cricket in August before another month in which South Africa will disappear from the international stage with no fixtures scheduled in September, which may be enough to garner some interest.