CRICKET: Rupert Cox
DESPITE the mixed success achieved in England by South Africa’s Under-19 cricketers, this country’s premier strike bowler Allan Donald admits to being envious of the opportunities provided by such a tour.
“We didn’t have an Under-19 side when I started out. I didn’t have much coaching at this age group — I simply had to work things out for myself,” Donald reflects.
The Free State speedster, who is enjoying another highly successful season with Warwickshire, made the short trip from his Birmingham home to Worcester during the second Under-19 “test” between South Africa and England — both to assist with some coaching and also to see the Under-19s in action. “It’s the first time away from home for many of these youngsters and this tour will be of immense benefit to them, especially from a mental point of view,” he said. “It will harden them up and prepare them for the battles ahead. They are the future of South African cricket and this tour can only do them good. Their inexperience has occasionally shown … but that will come with time,” he adds.
The success of this tour will not, and should not, be solely reflected by results. At the very least, the tour has provided a good hunting ground for future internationals — better than most people would have you know. England, for example, have had nine former Under-19s representing their country at senior level against the West Indies this season.
One of the disappointing aspects of the tour has been that the team have rarely played well as a unit. Perhaps only two or three players have made an impression in any one match, and this has been particularly apparent in the internationals. Had it not been so, South Africa would have been quite capable of causing a serious upset.
Who then are the South African players most likely to progress? There is certainly a chance for the good majority of them. Neil McKenzie, the captain, had a disappointing tour for one so obviously talented, but his elegant 88 silenced many doubters.
Of the other batsmen, Mark Boucher, Hendrik Dippenaar, Bruce Hughes, Ahmed Omar and Ashwell Prince have all shown glimpses of real flair. But these are talents which need harnessing and nurturing before the fruits ripen. Ahmed Omar’s superb 123, for instance, in the first test was then followed by a pair on the next. Although Omar was suffering from flu at the time, this still illustrates a common weakness.
Much the same applies in the bowling department, where injuries were to prove costly. Makhaya Ntini bowled tirelessly and not without pace, but he often became ragged and wayward. Walter Masemula, on the other hand, swung the ball but lacked pace; rhythm and “nip” evaded him. All too often it was left to Bruce Stigant, a game little slow left-armer, to do the donkey work.
Perhaps the find of the tour has been the Northern Transvaal all-rounder Pierre Joubert who, at 17, is one of the younger members of the touring party. At Worcester, he made an accomplished 90 as nightwatchman (to add to 40 in the first innings) and he bowls an industrious brand of medium pace.