The flight to the Netherlands and the stay at the club Vosti in Amsterdam is intended for mental purposes.
Exorcizing the ghosts that have plagued him since his travails in India and ensuring he is focused on rebuilding his career, is why the 28-year old Stiaan van Zyl has decided to play club cricket for Vosti until August.
Van Zyl averaged 19.40 and scored a mere 194 runs in five Sunfoil Series matches for the Cape Cobras the past season, and possibly suffered a mini-crisis in self-confidence after he was dropped from the South African test team.
He was impressive in the limited-overs team, though, hammering 347 runs in the Momentum One Day Cup campaign for the Cape Cobras at an average of 57.83.
Van Zyl said he wants to regain his composure in Amsterdam, and then reclaim his place in the South African team.
Just two seasons ago, Van Zyl averaged 58.31 for the Cobras and struck 933 runs in the Sunfoil Series.
At the end of 2014, he compiled a century on test debut for South Africa.
“Having scored consistently for six seasons, things like that can happen,” a philosophical Van Zyl said about his four-day woes.
Talking about the Cape Cobras’ performance in the four-day competition, Van Zyl said the Cape champions started off tentatively and was stone last after the first half of the season.
That was a demoralizing blow to their chances, and it was aggravated by their defeat to the bizhub Highveld Lions in the Momentum One Day Cup final.
The Cobras hardly had any chance to reflect on their defeat and to steady themselves, before they were off to Potchefstroom, where they were mauled by the Lions again.
But Van Zyl says he is confident he will return to his former heights.
“I hope I will get an opportunity in the South Africa A-team that leaves for Australia, and start my campaign to recapture my form there,” he said.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and therefore there will be some pleasure and fun for Van Zyl as well, as his sister, Bernice, and her boyfriend, Wiaan, will be visiting him in Amsterdam before he might possibly tour Down Under.