Tumi Maseka -Sign, Sealed & Deal-ivered as a Knight

It’s the lunch break on the second day of the Chevrolet Two-Day Friendly match between the Chevrolet Warriors and Chevrolet Knights. Seated in the Khaya Majola Hall are two men in laughter. Both men are soon joined at the table by Ayabulela Gqamane, who recently got crowned as Cricket South Africa’s Best Domestic Newcomer of the Year 2012/13.

Less than six months ago, both these two men joined in laughter were part of the same team. The one man was a semi-professional contracted Northerns amateur cricketer, trying to find his feet in the professional cricket franchise scene; while the other was the cricketer’s former assistant coach and mentor since their introduction to each other in 2007. “That man has understood me both as a person and a cricketer. My bowling action and my achievements are a product of him and Chris’ [van Noordwyk] work,” says the young Tumi Masekela, while pointing at the Warriors Assistant coach Malibongwe Maketa.   

Tumi Masekela in action for the South
African National Academy.
Picture: Gallo Images

After years of hard work, sacrifice and consistent performances for the Northerns Cricket Amateur side, Masekela, now 26 years-old and hungry for success as ever, finds himself being rewarded a one-year contract to play for the Chevrolet Knights. Just the thought of the opportunity creates a euphoric, almost dream-like, expression on his face. “I’m a big believer in whatever happens, does so for a reason. I’ve just joined the squad not too long ago and I’m already feeling like I’m in a good space –a space in which I feel wanted and appreciated,” says Masekela.

But it’s that type of “good space” he wishes he had when representing both the Northerns amateurs and the Nashua Titans. Tumi represented Northerns for five seasons; and in that period, was never granted a franchise contract with the Titans despite his consistent performances for Northerns over the years. “One of the main reasons why I was never given a contract was the issue regarding my pace. They [Titans coaches and selectors] always kept telling me I wasn’t quick enough for franchise cricket. This was always their belief –that pace should be one of the main attributes of a seam bowler,” shared Tumi in sorrow. However, his track record speaks for itself. In 68 First-Class matches since his debut for the Limpopo Province on October 5, 2006; Tumi has taken 179 wickets with an economy rate of just over 3 and an average of 23.73 –statistic showing he over-qualifies for just being a regular amateur cricketer.

Despite discussing testing times in his career with me, Tumi immediately becomes animated once again when the “big-five” are mentioned in conversation. The “big-five” consisted of cricketers from the Northerns and Easterns Cricket Union such as Tumelo Bodibe, Sammy Mofokeng, Mangaliso Mosehle, Rowan Richards and Lesiba Ngoepe who has recently joined the pack.

BROTHERS FOR LIFE: Tumi Masekela and
Mangaliso Mosehle at Nashua Titans training. 

“Those two years went by really quickly. I must admit, living with Bo’ [Tumelo Bodibe] enhanced my batting skills and kept me believing that I was still a worthy candidate with the bat. I was initially an all-rounder when I began my first-class career, but as soon as I moved to Pretoria, all that seemed to change as they slowly changed me into just being a bowler,” elaborates Tumi.

The players all shared two apartments together; with Masekela, Bodibe and Mofokeng in one apartment, and the Titans trio of Mosehle, Lesiba and Richards in the other apartment. “Usually one tends to miss home when you away from it for a long period of time, but the feeling of being home-sick never got to me whilst living with those crazy guys,” Tumi continues to elaborate while breaking out in laughter.

NEW BEGINNINGS: Masekela in his Chevrolet Knights
gear. Picture: Jizzyjakes Photography 

Masekela quite saddened to have left his friends, his teammates and his dreams in which he once had in representing the Titans; now has to focus on settling in at his home town of Bloemfontein. This is the place where he’s been given the opportunity to achieve what could’ve possibly been the unachievable to some of his past coaches. “I need to quickly find my feet in franchise cricket. Now that I’m here, the next short-term objective shall be trying to get myself in that South Africa A team,” says Masekela.         

Although he’s not featuring in the two-day game being played at the moment, his enthusiasm remains high. The following day might mark his debut match for the Knights as they play a friendly one day match against the same Chevrolet Warriors outfit in preparation for the upcoming season. “I’ve been in the nets the entire morning working on my one day skills. Tomorrow shall be the day I finally run in for the Knights!”      

-Mandilulame Manjezi
www.jizzyjakes.blogspot.com
@JizzyjakesTheIn

SA A Individual Performances -A Positive Outlook

The Australia A and India A cricket squads recently graced South African shores to play against a youthful yet formidable South Africa A side; in unofficial Test and One Day International matches. The home side began proceedings in a two-match Test series against Australia A, changed cricket outfits when the three nations (SA A, Australia A and India A) fought it out in a Triangular One Day series; then finally with the hosts ending the cricketing festivity in a two-match series against India A.

These matches were essential for Proteas coach Russell Domingo in going upon his decision about possible batting combinations in the middle order for the Test side; as well as searching for much needed bowling arsenal for a very long 2013/14 cricket schedule which begins in October.

Beuran Hendricks hungry for more
five-wicket hauls under his name.
Picture: BIG PIC Photography

Cape Cobras seamer Beuran Hendricks was undoubtedly the highlight of both Australia A and India A Test series. The paceman has had a nag for picking up five-wicket hauls in the domestic front. This time around claiming 5/52 against Australia A in Rustenburg; then 5/36 and 6/27 (11/63 in the match) against India A in Pretoria for the SA A outfit; single handily crushing the sub-continental visitors in the unofficial 2^nd Test.

On the batting side of things, Dean Elgar’s performance with the bat possibly assured Domingo of his spot in the starting 11 of the Test squad –with JP Duminy returning from a long injury and Francois du Plessis recently being the anchor of the Proteas batting order in Test cricket. Elgar scored 446 runs in the four unofficial Test matches he played representing SA A, averaging 63.71.

Vs. Australia A

David Warner had no intentions to stay
for long in SA with his 193 off 226.
Picture: BIG PIC Photography

David Warner began the tour to South Africa with an aggressive 193 runs off 226 in the first unofficial Test match of two against the host nation. The century for Warner was a much needed performance as his competition in the Australian national team, Ed Cowan, had been going through a rough patch; not being able to produce the goods with the bat for Australia in the historical Ashes Series which were held in England this year.

Chevrolet Knights opening batsman Dean Elgar showed selectors why he’s the favourite option at being Greame Smith successor in Test cricket for the opening batsman role; with brilliant performances throughout the series. His elegant 268 runs when the South Africans had to surpass India A’s lead of 474 in the beginning of their innings signified true test of character. 

Vs. India A

We witnessed the return of JP Duminy in first-class cricket from his Achilles Tendor injury, which occurred in December in Australia, after the end of the first day of the 1st Test match against the Australians at the Adelaide Cricket Ground during a warm-down session. Duminy scored a steady 84 runs off 222 balls; 16 runs short of a much needed century which could’ve taken South Africa A through the victory line.             

Dean Elgar had a sterling series against Aus A and India A
Picture: BIG PIC Photography

India A brought along with them on tour their experienced batsmen; such as Cheteshwar Pujara, Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik and Rohit Sharma. This was an obvious move from the Indian national coach, Duncan Fletcher, for his batsmen to familiarize themselves with South African conditions prior to their much important tour to South Africa during the summer.

Fletcher pulled the rabbit out of the hat in the Triangular One Day series when Suresh Raina and Shakhar Dhawan joined the other big names in the Indian A squad. Dhawan continued his onslaught on a South African bowling attack, a feat he last accomplished in the opening match of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy against South Africa. The opening batsman scored a destructive 248 runs off 150 balls in the 2^nd One Day match against SA; which included seven sixes and 30 boundaries. South Africa A ended the Triangular One Day Series in last place with India A winning the series and Australia A finishing as runners-up.

Black Transformation issues I spotted during South Africa A’s matches

The discussions on black cricketers not featuring in the Proteas Test starting line-up has been hot off people’s tongues since the Thami Tsolekile vs. AB de Villiers saga in the beginning of the year. But in truth, no black batsman but Tsolekile deserves to be in the starting 11 at the moment.

Thami Tsolekile loving batting conditions at the University of Pretoria.
Picture: BIG PIC Photography

Having mentioned that, the re-inclusion of Thami Tsolekile in the SA Test squad to tour UAE to play two Tests against Pakistan is a huge achievement for the Highveld Lions wicket-keeper batsman. After being ruthlessly criticised by the press of not fitting the criteria of being in the Proteas Test side; Tsolekile has gone back into the domestic front and has consistently scored hundreds and handy half-centuries for the Lions and SA A. If he features in the starting 11, he shall be very instrumental in building big partnerships along the other top-order batsmen.

His 267 run-partnership with Dean Elgar (Tsolekile and Elgar scored 268 and 159 runs respectively in the innings) indicates that his batting abilities might be useful against a demolishing Pakistan bowling attack on Abu Dhabi and Dubai wickets. Tsolekile has an outstanding track record of anchoring big partnerships. He was also instrumental in Lions batsman Stephen Cook’s triple century against the Chevrolet Warriors in 2009 at the Buffalo Park Stadium. Although the match ended in a draw, the pair scored a sixth-wicket partnership of 365 runs with Tsolekile unbeaten on 151 runs.      

Temba Bavuma muscles the ball off the back foot.
Picture: BIG PIC Photography

Highveld Lions’ talent Temba Bavuma is certainly a black batsman we could possibly see wearing the Proteas’ green cap soon. But that won’t become a reality until he starts converting his excellent starts and half-centuries into match-winning centuries. With the current Proteas batting line-up, all seven batsmen are capable of scoring big centuries once they get the type of starts Bavuma consistently obtains when representing both the Lions and SA A teams.

Black batsmen who have the opportunity to bat in the top six at their various franchises have to change their mentality and seek to score match-winning hundreds than explosive entertaining half-centuries. This does not only apply to Bavuma, but also to other black batsmen playing franchise cricket such as Unlimited Titans’ wicket-keeper batsman Mangaliso Mosehle and Sunfoil Dolphin’s top-order batsman Khayelihle Zondo. The two (Mosehle and Zondo) seem to favour limited overs cricket because of their aggressive abilities with the bat, but just like Australia’s David Warner and Adam Gilchrist, the pair should be mentally flexible when building up their innings in all three different formats.

Mangaliso Mosehle accepts applause after his maiden century against
the Dolphins. Picture: www.thenewage.co.za

The fact that Chevrolet Warriors’ Ayabulela Gqamane is an all-rounder is falling onto deaf ears. The “black cricketers are bowlers” tag has been placed on the young talent despite relentlessly proving his worth as well with his Gunn & Moore bat. Judging by his domestic cricket stats, I’m puzzled why Gqamane was picked for the SA A one day side but not the SA A Test squad. After all, he performed outstandingly well in the four-day Sunfoil Series last season than in limited overs cricket. Not only that, but his stats suggest that he’s an expensive bowler in limited overs cricket –thus quite useful with the bat; averaging 31.88 with a strike rate of 113.

So if Gqamane was initially picked for his batting preferences in the SA A one day side, why was he then batting at number 10? This was the same incident with Tsolekile in his second Test match for the Proteas back in 2004 against India when made to bat at 10 selected as a wicket-keeper batsman. If we are to develop black batsmen in this country, national selectors and coaches have to trust in our black talents to perform with the bat.

-Mandilulame Manjezi
www.jizzyjakes.blogspot.com
@JizzyjakesTheIn

Patience Is a Virtue

LAUGH OUT LOUD: Russell Domingo finds humor in a question asked
by journalists during a press conference  

My former Pretoria High School Old Boys academy coach and now Northerns Amateur senior coach, Mark Charlton, always used to preach the inspirational quote on a daily basis before we would start with training. “It’s not how you begin, but how you end.”

You might start off well, but your truest test of character is proven in the long run by emerging through the ups and downs. In other words, not everybody will begin their career on a high note, but if you don’t, never let it get you down or create doubt about your own capabilities. 

New Proteas coach Russell Domingo has to believe in those exact words more than ever after leading the troops in green and gold through a disappointing tour of Sri Lanka. Despite the Proteas winning the T20 International three-match series against the top ranked in the shortened format, the wounds incurred from the beating the Proteas had at the hands of the Sri Lankans in the ODI Series, will undoubtedly play on the minds of both Domingo and the players for some time to come.

It’s no secret that the standards between franchise and international cricket differ quite a lot. Domingo would have noticed that while serving as the assistant coach to Gary Kirsten during his reign as Proteas head coach. However Domingo’s situation is different now that he’s the man in charge. He’s decisions about the roles of certain players will be critical, in particularly senior players and leaders in the squad. His approach towards every series has to be different to that of Kirsten’s. Domingo must impose his own brand and stamp his authority early on. He can’t afford to settle for the stigma of “taking over Kirsten’s big shoes” and “Kirsten would have done it like this” taunts in the media.

With the coaching staff he has selected to accompany him, the aim is to build a more formidable Proteas team. Domingo has not stayed from the successful combination of himself with assistant coach Adrian Birrell. Birrell was Domingo’s right hand man when he took the Chevrolet Warriors to championship glory in 2009 in the 40-over and T20-over competition. Victory in the T20 competition secured the team coveted place in the 2010 T20 Champions League where they finished as runners-up.

The selecting of Claude Henderson as spin coach was a good out-of-the-box idea. Henderson’s healthy career record of 273 First-Class matches (both in South Africa’s SuperSport Series and England’s County Championship) will bring an array of highly valuable experience to the maturing spinners such as Aaron Phangiso and offer a learning experience for trusted hands such as Robin Peterson.

HOOORAY: An ecstatic Imran Tahir celebrates a wicket in the ICC 2011 Cricket World Cup

I was a little disappointed in the lack of faith Domingo had shown in Imran Tahir on sub-continental wickets where the Sri Lankan spinners continually bullied the Proteas’ batting order. Despite both spin bowling conditions in India and Sri Lanka being very similar, Tahir’s impressive bowling performances in India at the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup seemed to have been quickly forgotten. This is one of the Proteas downfalls in limited-overs cricket. Under Kirsten, players such as Imran Tahir and Henry Davids were subjected to only playing ODI or T20 internationals; instead of featuring in both formats of limited-overs game. Domingo will have to change this mentality if he wants limited-overs success in the near future. But having said that, he too shouldn’t try out what he feels is his perfect combination. Rather make the little mistakes early on than later on into his reign as the Proteas coach.

-Mandilulame Manjezi

www.jizzyjakes.blogspot.com
@JizzyjakesTheIn  

Aya Gqamane -Long Awaited Talent

It only takes two scrambled eggs and a few slices of toasted brown bread to get Chevrolet Warriors’ all-rounder, Ayabulela Gqamane, out of bed. I had the privilege of spending a morning session in the gym with the talented cricketer, who at the time was preparing for the upcoming domestic cricket season which gets underway after the winter period.

Born in the grassland area of Mdingi, a rural village on the outskirts of King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape, Gqamane relentlessly states that his recent success with the Warriors has been a dream he long had since cricket was introduced to him by his brothers at the tender age of five.

Weighting only 65kg, Aya relentlessly keeps other Virgin Active gym members in Greenacres, which is situated near the central region of Port Elizabeth, astonished when they notice him squat a warping 150kg on the squat machine press. "It's all in the mind. People just don't seem to understand that you have to rise up to the challenge with positive mind and in doing so –finding joy in what could be potentially hurting" says Gqamane.

But there's more than meets the eye about the calm, friendly and non-vocal cricketer. He’s upbringing says a whole lot about his humbleness towards people in his community. Whether if it’s at his hometown in Mdingi, or in East London and Port Elizabeth. The two cities you would often find Gqamane steaming in from his bowling mark in black and green Chevrolet Warriors colours with number 14 placed boldly on his back.  

There's not a doubt that Gqamane arguably lives for the gentlemen’s game. It was the Border Cricket Union and its development academy which scouted his passion in Mdingi; granting him a scholarship to enroll at Dale College Primary School in King William's Town, one of Eastern Cape's top sporting schools producing a number of Proteas and Springbok capped players.

But after some years spend in Dale Primary, Gqamane felt a change of scenery was needed. So in 2005, he enrolled into the prestigious Hudson Park High School where he matriculated in 2008. It was in 2008 in which he, along with his Border U19 cricket team, achieved major success finishing first place in the inaugural CSA U19 Khaya Majola Coca-Cola Cricket Week. Soon after his U19 cricket week success, Gqamane was granted a first-class debut two years later for Border against the bowling-dominant North West outfit in 2010.

Aya Gqamane warming up for a routine gym session

However, in the space of the two years after his matriculation [2008-2010], Gqamane had to find himself as a person by going through many soul-searching moments in his youthful life. One of those moments was when he went abroad to England for a minor cricketing winter stint; playing Minor County Cricket for Coventry and North Warwickshire.  "I stopped playing for a year after my matric year to focus on my social hockey. I was not really sure were my cricket was going at the time, despite me being in Border Cricket’s plans. It was only when I dearly started missing cricket that I took it upon me to go to England and play some club cricket there during the South African winter period," confesses Gqamane.

After a decent club cricket season in England, Aya then returned back to South Africa where he surprisingly found himself being selected for the Border Amateur provincial team to tour Potchefstroom in the North West. “I was surprised about the call up. I didn’t expect it whatsoever. But I rate because of the decent season I had in England and them [Border] needing an all-rounder in the team, they opt in selecting me,” Says Gqamane.

The tour to Potchefstroom for Gqamane would be the beginning of his stardom rise to the top. After a sterling debut season for the Border outfit, Gqamane at 21-years-old secured himself a Warriors franchise contract; after being the third highest wicket-takers in the CSA 3-Day Challenge Amateur competition. His rapid success did not end there. After a year of waiting on the side-lines, Gqamane was eventually rewarded with his professional franchise debut for the Warriors against the Highveld Lions in Johannesburg in the domestic Sunfoil Series. 4/46 and 7/24 was elegantly place next to Gqamane on the scoreboard. In the next Sunfoil Series fixture against the Nashua Titans, Gqamane again pulled another trick up his sleeves by scoring a remarkable 86 runs off 89 balls batting as a tail-ender at no.10. These and many other consistent performances forced selectors to keep an eye on his talent; selecting him for the SA Invitational Squad to play against Pakistan in early January this year and the SA Emerging Squad which played in a triangular series against Namibia and the Netherlands in Windhoek.

Aya Gqamane in his bowling stride (Picture: Daily Dispatch)

“I was disappointed not to have played against Pakistan in East London, but I was pleased to be selected for the SA Invitational Squad. I was most satisfied by that as I never in a million dreams expected to be selected for such a squad in my first season of professional cricket. Regarding the tour with the SA Emerging Squad, I got as much as I could from the entire experience. Building friendships as well with guys like Mangi [Mosehle] and Khaya [Zondo],” says Gqamane with a grin on his face. After his debut professional season for the Warriors, it’s a guarantee that if Gqamane keeps up the hard work in the gym –he shall soon find himself wearing the Proteas green and gold.     

-Mandilulame Manjezi

www.jizzyjakes.blogspot.com

@JizzyjakesTheIn  

Why is de Kock Still on the Sidelines of ODI Cricket

APPLAUSE ALL AROUND: Jacques Rudolph
celebrates an elegant ton 

Although I was fairly young, I recall a youthful Jacques Rudolph on TV, making his Test debut against Bangladesh, Chittagong. In that same match, the 22-year-old left handed batsman scored an individual high score of 222* along with his long time and most trusted friend Boeta Dippenaar; who also scored an unbeaten 177 runs in the match.

A few years after his Test match debut, I once again caught a glimpse of Rudolph's elegant innings against England in the first Test of their tour series against the Proteas. Although the Proteas lost the Test match, it was again both Rudolph and Dippenaar who steered the South Africans to a match-fighting first innings score of 337 runs. Dippenaar this time top scoring with a superb 110 while Rudolph falling short of a century with his 93 runs off 192 balls. Apart from these scenarios, these men timelessly showed their determination to fight through rough spells in certain Test match situations. Without a doubt, both Rudolph and Dippenaar were extremely talented batsmen. On countless occasions these men dominated the domestic cricket scene at a very young age. They had to be South African cricketing legends in years to come.  

ALMOST GOT IT: A catch dropped by Rudolph Jacques
in the slips

However this was not the case. Both Rudolph and Dippenaar’s talents weren’t handled with tender loving care by Cricket South Africa. Rudolph, eventually been dropped after the two scenarios mentioned above, was fortunate to be granted a second chance into Test cricket in November 2011 after a sterling 2011/12 season with the Nashua Titans. Unfortunately Rudolph did not grab his long-waited second chance; failing to secure his spot in the Proteas Test line up after 13 Test matches into his career-resurrection. But he wasn’t to be blamed. He had been through torture with CSA not backing his talent and potential over the years he’s been in the system since U19 cricket level. Without a doubt, he was over the whole international cricket scene. He, Rudolph, ended up being wasted talent. 

BANG: Quinton de Kock on the pull during a
T20 International against New Zealand 

The way I see things, and with the way things are currently going thus far, this is unfortunately how CSA are currently treating 20-year-old wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock. He’s exclusion in the Proteas squad to the Champions League vividly shows how much lack of faith they have in the Highveld Lions young stalwart. It’s a fact that de Kock had no success whatsoever in his Indian Premier League journey, only top scoring with a lousy four runs, but his “just see ball hit ball” mentality might have been the one thing we need in our quest to obtain Champions Trophy silverware. After all, de Kock was the highest run scorer in the recent Ram Slam T20 Tournament, scoring 524 runs in 11 matches, which also included an opening ceremonial -century 126* in the first game of the tournament. To even suggests that the former SA U19s captain is a match winner. It was de Kock who was instrumental for the Lions claiming the Ram Slam T20 Trophy; scoring a much needed 44 runs off 31 balls in the final against the Nashua Titans.

As far as I’m concerned, when young talented AB de Villiers was noted, CSA did all they could to get him playing consistently in international level. What differentiates de Kock’s talents from de Villiers back in 2004? Whether we try to blind fold the situation or not, we all know what de Kock is capable of. The boy is ready for the international scene. CSA should use him while they still can.

Picture source: www.espncricinfo.com

-Mandilulame Manjezi
www.jizzyjakes.blogspot.com
@JizzyjakesTheIn 

An Imaginary Interview With Makhaya Ntini

[The following article I wrote here is not based on something that truly happened, just a creative imagination of how it would be like if I had the opportunity to sit and conduct an interview with the legendary South African cricket veteran. If you reading this, I hope you enjoy it and sort of get the feel of how it is being within the same space as the legend]

Its Test cricket fever in Cape Town and South Africa are hosting the unpredictable Pakistan outfit. The atmosphere around Newlands is electric -despite it being in a Test match. I slowly start getting soaked up into the historical fever around the ground; with Graeme Smith's 100th Test match being the order of the day. But I know there's something else around the Newlands Park media room I could use that has historical value as well.

I spot legendary former South African fast bowler, Makhaya Ntini in the South African Broadcasting Commission (SABC) media room. He's on his break, sipping on a cold Sparletta Cream Soda; which from the looks of it seems to be quenching his thirst. Everyone who knows Ntini on a first name basis would know that Sparletta Cream Soda is undoubtedly his favourite soft drink by far. I don't want to disturb him bonding with his favourite drink, so I quickly head towards the media room fridge to get my favourite soft drink -a Stoney! I go back to where I previously found Ntini and notice he's still in the same place drinking his soft drink. "Hey Ta Makker [Ntini] I bet you would love to have what I'm drinking right now than that medicine-looking drink you having there" I say to the legend, attempting to mock him. "No no no never, never Mr Manjezi [sic]. We all know what Nelson Mandela would drink if we were to give him my drink and your drink," says Ntini.

I begin asking him about Graeme Smith and he’s thoughts of the 100th Test match skipper; who in more than half of those matches, captained Ntini when the fast bowler was still making trends across the cricketing globe. "Graeme [Smith] was the back bone of the Proteas Test team, and he still is even now. I don't know what would happen if he were to retire and give the captaincy to someone else. I remember when he had just come into the team as a young captain. Everyone was against the thought of him captaining us. But little did they know that he would end up being so successful 10 years down the line," commented Ntini about Smith and his captaincy.

HEAVY BALL: Makhaya Ntini in full action in his Test debut

Ntini and I suddenly hear noise from where the cricket action is taking place on the historical ground. The Proteas are celebrating a wicket taken by Vernon Philander who’s hysterical in his celebration, running across to his wicket-keeper, AB de Villiers. It was on this ground, on that same bowling end that Ntini got his first Test wicket, dismissing Sri Lankan batsman, Aravinda de Silva, for a well played 77 runs off 98 balls. "It was a long and hot day. Marvin [Atapattu] and de Silva were building a strong partnership, hitting us in all corners of Newlands. I didn't know what to do. I didn’t know where to bowl. So I quickly went over to Allan [Donald] and asked him what I should do. He just simply said I should intimidate de Silva, so I took his advice and thought he meant I should give de Silva a bouncer. My bouncer didn't really get up to his head, but it got his edge and I went crazy," explained Ntini about the historical day. It was indeed all historical as that Test match against Sri Lanka in Newlands, March 19 1998 -was the first time an African represented South Africa in Test cricket. That was the day in which Ntini made history.

More than a decade later, Ntini is enjoying life more each day. While occasionally playing cricket for his provincial franchise, the Chevrolet Warriors, Ntini juggles between his cricket, being a commentator and a brand ambassador for Volvo South Africa. Now at the age of 35, Ntini still longs to be on the field and have a few glorious overs under his belt. He simply doesn't want to let go of the sport which immensely changed his life for the better. "I still play cricket only for two reasons. One is because my body hasn't said my time is up, instead I feel fresher than I was back in 1998. Secondly for the young black cricketers emerging into the Warriors first team from the different Eastern Cape cricketing unions. In Border we've seen the introduction of young cricketers like Aya Gqamane and Vuyisa Makhaphela. I have to be around these black cricketers to ensure that they find they’re feet in professional cricket. After all that has been accomplished, then I can rest." said Ntini with a huge broad and proud smile on his face.

It's now 11:45am and Ntini is about to go on air for his commentary spell before the lunch break.

Ntini looks down onto the ground to see what the current situation in the game is. He watches Dale Steyn bowl three deliveries to Pakistan's veteran batsman, Younis Khan and taps me on my shoulder. "Look, look! Younis is moving his feet. He's dancing on the wicket to the fast bowler. He's going to score a big one if we don't get his wicket quickly," Ntini assured me. Younis Khan later ended his brilliant innings on 111 runs, after the edge of his bat caught a seaming Philander delivery. With over 100 Test matches himself, the one they call the Mdingi Exxpress definitely knows how the lovely game of cricket is played.

-Mandilulame Manjezi

www.jizzyjakes.blogspot.com

@JizzyJakesTheIn

What Lies Ahead For the Proteas

Once again the Proteas have come out of the April cut-off in first place of the ICC rankings in Test cricket. Both the Proteas Test squad and Proteas management staff had put in countless hours in making sure the players were well-equipped and fit to perform in literally each day of each Test match.

 

Although the Proteas Test squad had merely been the same starting XI for two consecutive seasons, a lot of interruptions have come about the Proteas camp of late. The much more recent interruptions were the two injuries that had Proteas coach and convenor of selectors, Gary Kirsten and Andrew Hudson respectively, in array of headaches and stresses. In just one season, we all witnessed legendary Wicket-keeper Mark Boucher being forced into retirement a series before his expected time to retire. It was the tragic freak-injury where a cricket bail cut Boucher’s eyeball socket off an Imran Tahir wicket-taking delivery in a warm-up game against Somerset. We also witnessed JP Duminy, who was beginning to show glimpse of maturity in Test cricket, injure his Achilles Tendor in a warm-down session in the first Test match against Australia in Perth.

Just these two injuries had set alight some huge debates within the South African cricketing nation. In Boucher’s case, a simple replacement of another wicket-keeper was the assumption, especially when Highveld Lions wicket-keeper Thami Tsolekile had already been granted a Cricket South Africa (CSA) contract before the tour to England. But the fairy tale story of Tsolekile’s comeback return into Test cricket was not to be when vice-captain AB de Villiers decided, along with both Kirsten and Hudson, that it would it best for the equilibrium of the Test team to take over the glove duties from Boucher. At this point in time AB de Villiers had already taken over the wicket-keeping duties from Boucher in T20 and ODI cricket for the Proteas making him also potentially eligible to take over with glove duties in Test cricket as well.

In Duminy’s injury scenario, Nashua Titans all-rounder Fanscois du Plessis was rewarded a Test debut for his remarkable performance in the domestic Sunfoil Series. Du Plessis immediately showed his worth, scoring a match saving 110* off 376 balls to see the Proteas securing a much needed draw in the second Test match against Australia at the Adelaide Oval. Thinking of these two situations in a positive manner, the Proteas now have a much stronger squad with the inclusion of both du Plessis and Elgar into the foil. Alas with this is all said, let's not forget the sterling bowling performance from Kyle Abbott on his Test debut against Pakistan in Centurion, taking 7/29 in just 11 overs. All the Proteas’ new caps in the past season have shown determination to step up to the table when desperately needed to make miracles with both bat and ball. However the downfall of it all could be that a player like Elgar could end up being side-lined for a very long time once Duminy comes back from his Achilles injury. Duminy himself sat out for quite a long period of time before being granted the chance of batting at number seven in Test cricket. The same scenario could be the outcome for Abbott if Marchant de Lange finally gets fully fit during the winter period.

It shall all exciting to witness what shall happen next in the upcoming season when the Proteas once again collide against the sub-continent powerhouses of Pakistan in Dubai and India in the latter end of the year in South Africa. With so much talent Kirsten has in his disposal and a few other cricketers in domestic cricket fiercely knocking hard on the Proteas door –all shall be bitter-sweet dreams for the national head coach and his coaching staff entourage.

-Mandilulame Manjezi

www.jizzyjakes.blogspot.com

@JizzyJakesTheIN

Young Sigwili On The Rise

Ngazibini Sigwili simply can't stop smiling every time the topic of his mother, Bulelwa Sigwili, is brought up to discussion. He relentlessly keeps praising her for his recent cricketing success.

The success' of him being selected for the SA Youth U19 squad in January earlier this year is a dream in which he’s always wanted to fulfil. This is after his mentor and Border U19s cricket coach, Raymond Booi, praised the left-handed fast-medium bowler's talents; advising him about the ability he has to make history for his school, Hudson Park High School which is based near the coastal areas of East London, and for Border Cricket -who Sigwili treasures dearly.

Sigwili, 18, who’s currently doing his matric at Hudson Park High School, has always associated himself around positive people since the tender age of nine. It was around that age when a group of his peers insisted he should continue playing cricket, than to pursue a rugby career -a sport which Sigwili was highly passionate of.  However, the young Sigwili didn't understand what all the fuss was about. To him cricket under the swelling East London heat, on the George Randall Primary School cement wicket, took far too long; drained his entire afternoons which never left him amused when he had to walk back home in the late sunset hours of the afternoon. It was until Sigwili's left-handed deliveries slowly started drawing familiar crowds of various school pupils from around the area when Sigwili began to notice the raw talent he possessed within him.

"It was at George Randall Primary School where my cricket career all began. I started seeing people being extremely happy when they would come watch me bowl after their classes in the afternoon. Some people who were in George Randall Primary School before but were then in high school, would go back to the primary school just to watch me bowl. That's when I knew that I should start focusing a little on my cricket." said Sigwili while reminiscing about all those incredible moments.

After much success in the Standard Bank U13 cricket week representing Border, Sigwili was soon approached by Hudson Park High School where he received a three-year scholarship with the prestigious school. It was also in Hudson Park where Sigwili was highly inspired by Chevrolet Warriors All-rounder, Ayabulela Gqamane. In 2011 Sigwili was selected amongst 30 other cricketers from across the country for the Cricket South Africa (CSA) National Academy. This was a set-up by CSA which closely watched school cricketers around South Africa in an 18 month period for National Academy selection. His superb form in the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola U19 Cricket Week guaranteed him a squad selection into the SA U19s squad for the Youth Test and ODI series against England U19s.

Many of the school cricketer’s first encounters with SA U19 coach, Ray Jennings, is always perceived as a dreading story; but luckily for Sigwili, his first encounter with "The Jet" was in a more peaceful environment; away from all the heart-throbbing trials. "Coach Jennings wasn't with us at the national camp, so my first encounter with him was when I had initially made the SA U19 side. Since I started working with Jennings, I've managed to reach certain fitness levels I've never thought I would because of coach Jennings" humbly explained Sigwili. Unfortunately it was a groin injury that saw Sigwili side-lined from the Coca-Cola Youth Test series against England in the latter days of January earlier this year. Not feeling down and dusted by the exclusion from the starting XI, Sigwili kept on rehabilitating his groin injury with SA U19 physiotherapist, Megan Dutton, ensuring himself to be fully fit for the upcoming Coca-Cola Youth ODI series which was then to be the following clash with the British visitors in February.

It was in the Youth ODI series against England where Sigwili's SA U19 team continuously displayed sterling performances throughout the series to see England U19s being white-washed 5-0 in the series. It took a much motivated Sigwili, who finished with 12 wickets in the series, the most wickets taken by a bowler in the Coca-Cola Youth ODI series. Sigwili took a thrilling 4/43 in the 4th Youth ODI match which saw him walk away with the man of the match prize.

So what's next for the East London-based rising superstar? According to Booi, the Border Cricket Union is assured to look after him –even if it means leaving Sigwili in the hands of the Eastern Province Union, its cricketing neighbouring union. “As Border Cricket we are going to look after him. We shall try pulling all strings to put him into an institution he desires to further his cricket and education, even if that means him moving to Port Elizabeth and studying at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The main objective with Ngazi [Sigwili] is for him to play for the Chevrolet Warriors in the next couple of season when he’s ready to play professional cricket. His development shall be very vital for Eastern Cape cricket as a whole as we are short of left-handed bowlers,” said Booi.

-Mandilulame Manjezi

www.jizzyjakes.blogspot.com

@JizzyJakesTheIn

Picture Source: Gavin Withers Photography cc

Proteas' Steady Downfall in T20 Cricket

It's a fact -The Proteas field a better Test side than in T20 and One Day Internationals. This might sound fantastic to some patriotic South African cricket followers; that the Proteas take their Test cricket seriously, but it still doesn't hide the obvious fact that it's within the T20 and ODI Internationals that championships of nobilities are won.

So what could be the problem with our limited overs squad? What could be the reason or purpose in which led the Proteas to home series defeats against New Zealand in the ODIs and Pakistan in the T20s? The captaincy duties seemed to overwhelm Francois du Plessis in the recent T20 series defeat to Pakistan. Du Plessis was given the T20 International captaincy on a permanent basis despite him having only played less than 10 T20 International matches for the Proteas. This decision was undoubtedly a surprise to cricket analysts’ with him not having much if not any captaincy experience in this format of the game with his domestic team –the Nashua Titans. No matter how you project du Plessis’ captaincy situation in different angles, argue the fact that he’s a team leader or show off his T20 domestic and IPL stats –in conclusion the decision of him being given the T20 captaincy is appalling. There’s no reason why AB de Villiers can be South Africa’s ODI captain but not the T20 captain –especially in this time of need where the Proteas desperately are in need for an experienced T20 captain.

Highveld Lions’ Quinton de Kock has had a marvellous streak with the bat of recent. Opening his T20 RAM Slam T20 Challenge account with an unbeaten 126 against the Cape Cobras in Potchefstroom then scoring 47 in both clashes against the Nashua Titans and Chevrolet Warriors simply suggests the young talented wicket-keeper batsman should be utilized a little more efficiently in the Proteas squad. There was no reason why de Kock couldn’t open the batting with Henry Davids in the 2^nd T20 match; leaving AB de Villiers in the middle order to stabilize the batting order. The fact that de Kock went on to score a well fought 65 runs in the warm-up game for the South African Invitational XI against the Pakistanis is even more of a mystery why he didn’t feature in the 2^nd T20 International against Pakistan on March 3. With de Villiers opening the batting, in an inexperienced batting line up creates instability in the middle order –which then leads to an inconsistent flow to create genuine partnerships.

However the Proteas management can’t be blamed for introducing players who have performed in domestic cricket into the Proteas set-up. But that doesn’t mean that they should now have an influx of new breeds into the T20 squad. Creating a revolutionary team for championships in a certain format takes time –at most several seasons. The fact that the Proteas have an untouchable Test team is evident that their starting 11 is never tampered with unnecessarily. Jacques Kallis still plays IPL cricket in India for the Kolkata knights. Why can’t he play for his national team? We understand the necessities of him taking a break off cricket now and then; but the looks of recent performances by the Proteas –They dearly need him to be part of an inexperience Proteas T20 top order line-up. With that been mentioned, the introduction of new capped players should be done in an environment where its atmosphere is surrounded by senior players. 

Kyle Abbott’s T20 International debut against Pakistan wasn’t the most illustrious simply because he didn’t have a senior seam bowler guiding him through the different phases he would encounter with playing in the highest level of the game. If Dale Steyn were to have played (since Morne Morkel was injured) things might have been different. Not because of Steyn’s ability to put the Proteas in a commanding position, but his influence in a player like Abbott who in return –might have put the Proteas in a commanding situation against 95 runs-victorious Pakistan outfit on that tragic Sunday of March 3.

-Mandilulame Manjezi

www.jizzyjakes.blogspot.com

@JizzyJakesTheIn        

   

I Want To Play County Cricket!

“I want to play County Cricket" says a young cricketer who hails from the small town of Port Alfred.

Siphe Gift Mzaidume suddenly found himself playing in the Minor Counties cricket league in England for Oxfordshire and Holmesdale.

The 23-year-old seam bowler stresses that just like South African born but English capped international cricketers, Jonathan Trott and Craig Kieswetter, he decided it was time to leave South Africa and pursue a professional cricketing career elsewhere. Mzaidume made his decision after coaches and selectors in both Border and Eastern Province cricket unions started doubting his cricketing ability during his development years. Although he urges that one should not walk away from their troubles, he advises young upcoming cricketers in the country to never give up on their dreams of playing cricket professionally.

 

Mzaidume’s passion for the gentleman's sport started on the partially-green cricket field of Port Alfred High School, A small fry in the Eastern Cape sporting high school scene. Whilst in Port Alfred, he obtained Eastern Province (EP) U13, U15 and U17 cricket colours. "Suddenly the EP coaches didn't want to select me for the EP U19 team in my matric year" says Mzaidume. But fortunately for Mzaidume, Border cricket agreed to grant him a chance for the Border U19 cricket trails.

He stunned the coaches present at the trials and saw himself soon playing for the Border U19 and Border Academy side for two years. But this wasn't enough. Since Border Cricket officials had ruled him as an average player, Mzaidume started thinking ahead by planning to further his cricket career.    

Mzaidume knew that he was worth more than just club cricket, where at the time represented the Old Selbornian outfit based in East London.  The young man was hungry to play professional cricket.

Mzaidume managed to get into contact with the Hampshire staff in England hoping somehow he would get in contact with also South African born cricketer, Kevin Pietersen.  After some patience and persistence, Mzaidume finally got into contact with Pietersen. Surprisingly Mzaidume's counterpart in England was none other than now Chevrolet Warriors all-rounder, Ayabulela Gqamane. "Aya [Gqamane] was also in the same shoes as me at the time.

"The Border Cricket Union were not giving us anything promising nor lucrative, so we decided to leave for England that year.  We kept each other in contact of our performances on a weekly basis. Aya got home-sick and ended up going back to South Africa." said Mzaidume while reminiscing about the early days in the cold English weather with his former Border teammate.

Mzaidume explained that he's got a year and a half left until he's legible for county cricket.

He recently toured Port Elizabeth with the Northamptonshire second side to play in pre-season games against the Warriors and a few other local teams. The English clearly see something in Mzaidume the South Africans were not.  His recent performances on the cricket field are the main contributors to all the success thus far. After his first tough season in England, Mzaidume stood strong, obtained 43 wickets in the second season, 45 wickets in the third and 47 wickets in the fourth.  The South African-born, now overseas wonder-kid also made raves in Melbourne, Australia where he recently picked up match figures of 9-47 in 20.4 overs for the East Malvern Tooronga Cricket Club. 

He'll hope to surpass the 50 wicket-barrier when he returns back to England from his winter-break later on this year. Mzaidume gives credit to his father and the rest of his family for his current success. “It was my desire to make dad proud for all the sacrifices he had made for my brothers and I. "My dad would drive me from Port Alfred to East London for cricket every time I had to attend training, and then drive would drive me back in the late evening. Just the one trip to East London from Port Alfred is over 100 km. He really believed in me. That belief he had shown in me was one of the reasons I decide to look for opportunity elsewhere."

-Mandilulame Manjezi
www.jizzyjakes.blogspot.com
@JizzyJakesTheIn

The Tsolekile-de Villiers Saga

MANY people didn’t expected Highveld Lions Wicket-keeper batsman, Thami Tsolekile to be dropped from the South African squad –including Tsolekile himself concurs his franchise coach, Geoffrey Toyana. “Thami was very disappointed to hear that he had not been selected for the New Zealand tour to South Africa -especially after he was promised to play. But you know Thami, he’s a fighter and I can assure you he shall keep pushing the boundaries.” said Toyana.

After being promised by Cricket South Africa (CSA) convenor of selector, Andrew Hudson, to take over the glove duties in the Test series against New Zealand, Tsolekile was astonished to have not found his name in the South African Test squad to play the Black Caps. Knights and Titans batsmen, Dean Elgar and Jacques Rudolph, were still kept in the Proteas Test squad despite them both failing in Australia when given a chance with the bat.

The two batsmen had scores of 43, 9 not out and 9, 77 respectively in their recent Sunfoil Series matches coming back from their tour of Australia. Elgar grafted 21 runs off 52 balls in South Africa’s first innings against New Zealand in the first Test match; then scored a beautiful century in the second and final Test match against the Black Caps at St Georgies Park, Port Elizabeth. Tsolekile scored an unbeaten 88 against the Warriors and 46 against the Knights in that similar time frame as Elgar and Rudolph.

CSA selectors simply don’t have confidence nor are they supportive with Tsolekile’s abilities with the bat despite him relentlessly producing the goods for the Lions outfit. This also forms speculation around Tsolekile’s sudden CSA contract when he had not yet played for the Proteas since 2005. When Neil McKenzie’s international career was resurrected in early 2008 thanks to good knocks playing for the Lions, he took his golden opportunity by scoring 226 runs and obtaining the highest partnership record for the first wicket of 415 runs, along fellow opening batsman Graeme Smith against Bangladesh. He then scored an unbeaten 155 against India in Chennai then followed it up by an important and very patient 138 runs off 447 balls at Lords against England in 2008. McKenzie had scored 1050 runs in the calendar year of 2008.

After a dismal series in Australia and constantly being exposed with the new ball by the Australian fast bowlers, McKenzie was dropped from the Test side –despite scoring a desperate 59 runs not out in Melbourne. McKenzie was never looked at again for Test cricket selection. Rudolph was blessed with the same opportunity similar to McKenzie when he was selected to play for the Proteas in the summer of 2011. Since then Rudolph has played in 13 Test matches and has only managed to score one century and three half-centuries against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and England. Many could argue that McKenzie deserved more time, just as Rudolph, especially with the figures he had produced with the bat in just 2008.

Many wicket-keepers speak of the profession in a prestigious manner. They’re dedication to the art of wicket-keeping is unbelievable. All these wicket-keepers started their cricketing careers with the gloves from high school cricket then grow up with the skill into professional cricket. AB De Villiers’ journey into the keeping duties is simply a mockery towards the art of wicket-keeping. Picking and choosing which format of the game you want to take wicket and not take wicket is a spit on the face for those other wicket-keepers who work tirelessly on their keeping skills. You can’t compare De Villiers with New Zealand wicket-keeper, Brendon McCullum, because he initially is a wicket keeper. So if he feels that the gloves are affecting his batting in certain formats of the game, he can by all means drop the gloves and instead focus on his batting. He is a wicket-keeper batsman –not a part-time wicket-keeper batsman like De Villiers. If De Villiers is serious about wicket-keeping then he has to take the gloves for all formats of the game just as Mark Boucher had done.  

So what are the verdicts that come out of these statistics? Firstly is that it’s not a matter of coaches or the selection panel being racist as people are quick to assume, but a matter of inconsistency within the South African selection panel. It is evident to similar statistics to these that player selections for different players are biased. Secondly, it’s vividly evident that certain players in the national team just do as they please and the management team will in a posh manner accept any demands made by these players. According to Herschelle Gibbs’ book, To the Point, similar tales are highlighted in this article exist within the South African cricket camp.   

What’s now done certainly cannot be undone. CSA have already granted Tsolekile a CSA contract, despite the selectors not eager to use his wicket-keeper services for the national side. Arguments and debates won’t solve Tsolekile’s problem. Tsolekile has to be given a chance if he continues with his form in domestic four-day cricket. And when he’s given the opportunity, De Villiers has to play as a batsman. It’s that simple. It’s unquestionable that Tsolekile has the best wicket-keeper skills in South Africa at the moment. Statistics of recent seasons and performances prove it.

-Mandilulame Manjezi
@JizzyJakesTheIn
www.jizzyjakes.blogspot.com

Young Gems Are All Set To Sparkle

[This is my first newspaper article -20 December 2012 for the Daily Dispatch. A very special moment for me, achieving such in my 1st year of journalism. The Dispatch is only available in the Eastern Cape so many people in other provinces weren't able to read the article. Well here it is. Hope you enjoy it. :)]

IF you ever have the opportunity to enter the Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium’s reception office in East London, being conscious of it or not, your curiosity will instantly kick in once you see the trophy cabinets.

On the wall of fame, you’ll discover an array of cricket players and coaches originally from the Border Cricket Union on display.
 One will see Makhaya Ntini, Raymond Booi, Angelique Taai’s
framed portraits in their South African blazers.
 A sense of pride will instantly flow through your veins like a witchdocter being hit by an epiphany.

But the names mentioned here are just the minor successes Border Cricket have managed to propel to national stardom in recent years.
 The current crop of black cricketers in Border Cricket –ranging from school to professional level –the future seems brighter than ever for South Africa’s historical cricketing region.

Already this year Border Cricket have witnessed some brilliant individual performances.
Border amateur opening batsman Vuyisa Makhaphela’s innings of 165 of 501 balls against KwaZulu-Natal Inland was a sign of a batsman steadily emerging.
 Border U19 left-arm seam bowler, Ngazibini Sigwili, has shown tremendous progress.
 His 6/25 against Namibia U19 in the schools inaugural Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week, proved to both Border coaches and selectors he’s truly a talent ready to blossom.

The Border Cricket Union has set up various programmes to develop and maintain Border talent from the time they leave school.
 Border Cricket coaches’ manager, Deon Muller, explained passionately how the current system works to assist black cricketers in the region graduate to provincial and hopefully international cricket honours.
 “We have academies put in place for all the various regions that fall under Border Cricket,” he said.


 “People have asked me questions about why a player like Mkhululi Calana is not playing for the Boder amateur side despite him playing for the SA Schools’ Colts last year.
 “This is simply because we are still working with him at one of our various cricket academies.
 “We want to make sure so that when he gets the chance to play amateur cricket, he’s ready and not just pushed into the set-up when he’s not prepared for the type of cricket played at a higher level.

These academies Muller speaks about are training camps that take place throughout the year to monitor the consistency and form of young cricketers.
 Academies for cricketers still in school usually train between May and September.
 Academies for potential amateur cricketers take place in the latter end of the year from September to next year April.

Border Amateur coach, Frank Plaatjes, commends Border Cricket Union for its consistent work and dedication in ensuring black cricket transformation in the region.
 “Some coaches around the country don’t have faith in their black cricketers but our approach is different,” he said.
“In the past few decades Border Cricket has shown its outmost dedication towards our black players and in return they have shown their appreciation by excelling far beyond of what is expected of them.”

-Mandilulame Manjezi
 @JizzyJakesTheIn