ANDY COLQUHOUN, Johannesburg | Wednesday 6.50pm.
SOUTH Africa’s first black test cricketer Makhaya Ntini, cleared of rape on appeal in October, has boosted his chances of a test return by being named to play England in two tour matches.
The 22-year-old pace bowler will spearhead a combined Border/Eastern Province attack in a limited-overs game on Thursday and in a four-day match starting on Saturday.
President Thabo Mbeki and Safety and Security Minister Steve Tshwete, amongst other dignitaries, are expected to attend Thursday’s match.
Ntini was sentenced to six years in prison in April when he was found guilty of raping domestic worker Nomengezi Matokazi in a toilet at his home cricket ground of Buffalo Park in East London.
He was cleared in October when the Grahamstown High Court ruled the case had not been proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Anti-rape and womens’ groups were outraged by the United Cricket Board’s decision to stand by the player after his initial conviction.
He remained on a UCB contract although he was dropped from South Africa’s World Cup squad.
Since being cleared he has appeared in four first class matches for Border and became the first non-white South African to take a hat-trick in first class cricket in a Super Eight match against Free State on December 5.
”He has developed a natural aversion to the media but in general terms he has been brilliant,” Border coach Graham Barlow said on Wednesday.
”He began steadily, bowling line and length, but has got his speed back now and I would say that at the moment he is probably back up there as a contender for the test side.”
Ntini played the first of his four tests against Sri Lanka in the 1997-98 season and has taken 10 test wickets at an average of 35,80. — Reuters