Disgraced cricketer Makhaya Ntini on Wednesday began his appeal against the rape conviction and six-year prison sentence that ended his international career. A packed public gallery came to support him in the Grahamstown High Court. The young pace bowler was accompanied by his fiancee and representatives from the Border Cricket Board. Ntini’s legal team was headed by advocate Jeremy Gauntlett who was assisted by Nazreen Bawa and Dali Mpofu. Presiding judges were Chris Jansen and Josh Jones, and state advocate was Nickie Turner. Ntini was convicted in May of raping 22 year old Nomengezi Matokazi at the Buffalo Park cricket grounds in East London last December.