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

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