Author: captainmorgan

Kearsney College captain Hayden Bishop, whose career in the 1^st XI began at the end of his grade 10 year of 2021, saw it come to an end against St Charles College on Saturday, 11 November.

Now, after only seven losses in 38 matches, he can look back on an excellent season for the boys from Botha’s Hill, and also a season of personal triumph, which saw him set a school record for the most runs scored in a year.

(Feature photo and two others, Justin Waldman Sports Photography)

Bishop finished 2023 with 1 428 to his credit, bettering the feats of former SA under-19 captain Chad Bowes, who opened the batting with Quinton de Kock at the 2012 ICC u19 Cricket World Cup.

A left-handed batsman, Bishop began the season with a bang, making a big splash before the school year had commenced. He explained: “It was so awesome because we started the year and, before we got back to school, we went to the Ihlobo Cricket Festival at Michaelhouse. I got a hundred on the third day and a hundred on the fourth day of that festival.

“After that I came back to school and I had 350 runs before the term started, and I asked our coach what the record was. He told me and I said this is what I’ve got, and I’ve been chasing it ever since.”

Immersed in the game

Bishop has captained cricket teams throughout the different age groups he has played in. Part of the reason for that, he admitted, is he gets bored if he is not immersed in the game. That is also backed up by the fact that he is actually an all-rounder, which is sometimes overlooked because he opens the batting. Bishop, though, has enjoyed plenty of success with his leg-spin bowling.

He credits his father, Gary, for much of that success, and said it was he who inspired Hayden to change from bowling seam to bowling leg-spin.

“He told me I’m not allowed to bowl googlies until I’m 17. He said just bowl leggies. It made me so accurate, and that’s kind of become my trademark. It doesn’t matter where I’m bowling, I feel like I can be the most accurate on the field, and that’s what enables me to bowl lots of overs and trust myself to bowl lots of overs.”

Throughout his cricket career, Bishop said, his dad has been the most influential figure in his growth, that one person he goes to when he needs advice. He knows cricket, and he knows his son. His support is most beneficial from a mental standpoint, Hayden explained.

Batting

In keeping with his desire to always be involved, he gravitated towards opening the batting from the start of his cricket career, especially since it posed a different challenge.

“I’ve always done it and I think it’s quite hard. It’s a niche thing,” he explained. “It’s hard, if you’ve never done it before. I embraced it when I was younger, and it’s just kind of become easy now.”

With a strong top order, Kearsney piled up some large scores during 2023. They scored quickly, which made it appear that they were very aggressive. That’s not necessarily the case, Bishop said.

“Our positivity is not really us looking for boundaries. It’s more that at the beginning of the year we said to each other we were willing to risk a run-out rather than trying to hit a ball for six.

“We are almost looking to get a run off of every ball, and I think that’s what’s made us come across as being so positive. Even if it’s a good ball, we feel like we can score a run off of it, no matter what.”

St John’s Rams T20

That approach served Kearsney very well in the limited overs formats of the game, and one of the highlights of the year was, no doubt, their victory in the St John’s Rams T20 in Harare, Zimbabwe, in September.

The event features mostly Zimbabwean schools, along with some teams from South Africa. On this occasion, the South African representatives included Kearsney, Westville Boys’ High and Clifton College.

Over the years, the Zimbabwean teams have proved themselves a very tough nut to crack, especially on their home pitches. The challenge to win the event is a significant one as South African schools have discovered to their detriment.

Yet, Kearsney, playing in the St John’s Rams T20 for the first time, went all the way, producing a clean record, which included twice defeating the hosts, St John’s (Harare) by five runs. They also beat their neighbours and rivals, Westville, who had beaten them in the 100-ball final earlier in the season, by 35 runs.

Coach Matt Savage was a valuable asset in Kearsney’s run to the title. He had previously been involved with the tournament when he was on staff at Clifton, who have participated in the St John’s Rams T20 more than any other South African school.

“He told us that if anything goes in the air, it will go for six, because the balls just flies up there, and the outfields are so flat and so clean cut that if you get it through the ring, it’s four,” Bishop said.

It helped that shots which would bring one or two at home were going for four in Harare.

The requirements of seam bowlers in Harare are quite similar to what they are at home, Hayden said, but the spinners in Zimbabwe bowl a lot flatter and straighter.

Batting was different, though. He said batsmen from the Zimbabwean schools tended to be aggressive. “They just throw their front leg out the way, and they look to clear everything and go over the top, especially in the first six overs… If you don’t score 80 in the first six, it’s hard to win the game.”

Capturing the title was a huge highlight, he said, especially because the title-decider was against Westville.

“It was so cool because, when we were here, we lost to Westville in the 100-ball final at Kingsmead. It’s always a big rivalry between us and them.”

Michaelmas success

Buoyed, Kearsney returned from Zimbabwe to the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week. There, they enhanced their credentials by winning three out of four – beating KES by 14 runs, Waterkloof by 8 wickets, and St John’s College by six wickets, before a sticky wicket undermined their performance batting first against Affies on the last day. They were the most successful of the KZN schools.

“It’s been an awesome year. Everything this year has been so cool. We really enjoyed it, and I think it’s because last year we only had two matrics in the team, so we basically had the same side That really helped us a lot,” the Kearsney skipper said.

A balanced team

While the strength of Kearsney’s batting immediately caught the eye, the side’s varied bowling attack also played a big part in the team’s many victories. “Our two opening bowlers [Ryan Browning and Sandiswa Yeni] are very good. They are very big threats up front, and we are quite aggressive in the beginning.  We are fine to go for a couple of runs because we know that we’ve got decent spinners who can bring it back in, and medium-pacers who can hold a line.

“I wouldn’t say that bowling is our strength,” Hayden shared, “but I think the way we use our bowlers has become our strength.”

Meaningful performances

Recalling his personal performances, an unbeaten 157 at Michaelhouse during the iHlobo 1st XI Festival in January was meaningful, especially because he carried his bat through the innings. It was a personal highest score.

The most satisfying innings he played, though, was at the Independent Schools Cricket Festival at St Alban’s College in February, Hayden said. The TC Mitchell Oval is known for being flat, he added. “We played there for our provincial week last year, so I knew what the track was like.

“I struggled for the first two days [of the festival].  I think I got maybe seven, and then I got a first-baller on the next day. So, I said to myself that night if I stay in for 30 overs [on the third day], I’ll score a hundred, and that day I stayed in for 35 overs and I got a hundred.

“It was just so special… It showed me that even if you are struggling, it’s just one innings [that can change everything] and it made me feel good.”

Opening partner

Something that helped his game during the course of the year was opening the batting with Dylan Wiggett, a right-hander, Hayden said. Forcing the bowlers to switch up their lines put pressure on them, he explained.

Wiggett also complemented his approach. While Bishop prefers to play himself in, Wiggett is more inclined to go after the opposing bowlers earlier in his innings.

“He plays lots of shots up front, and if he thinks the guy is not bowling well, he’ll go over top and take the game to them. It helps me on the other side because I don’t really want to be doing that… I don’t feel pressure at all because he’s doing what I need him to do on that side, and I can just play how I want to play.”

Despite the different approach, the two openers tended to accumulate runs at much the same pace.

Special memories

Now that his days leading the Kearsney 1st XI are done, Hayden said he is going to miss the school’s picturesque AH Smith Oval. Looking out upon it, he commented: “It’s so special being here, when we all sit up there under the pavilion, on those benches, just looking over the field and having the scoreboard in front of us.

“I think it is the best view I’ve seen in schoolboy cricket, and the parents have a jol over here every Saturday. They come and set up a braai, so it’s cool for all of us, I think.”

The future

There’s one last tilt at schoolboy cricket that awaits Hayden. He was recently named in the KZN Schools team to contest the Khaya Majola Cricket Week in Makhanda from 16 to 20 December.

After that, he will be heading to the University of Pretoria, where he will be pursuing a B.Com degree. He doesn’t yet know what career he wants to follow, he admitted, but he wants to give cricket a full go at Tuks and see where it takes him.

He appears to have the necessary skills to succeed at the next level: leadership, batting, bowling, and a steely mental make-up.

That’s reason enough to remember the name Hayden Bishop. Where might cricket yet take him?

Young South African hockey goalkeepers have an opportunity to train under a man regarded by many as the best keepers’ coach in the world today. Martin Drijver, known as “The Goalie Guru” will be heading up a camp at Hilton College from the 6^th to the 8^th of December.

Coaches, especially, are bring targeted and are being offered a special discounted rate to enable them to learn from the best. Outfielders, too, will also be able to sign up for top class coaching.

Drijver is a full-time goalkeeping coach and runs The Drijver Goalie Academy in The Netherlands. He has also trained net-minders all around the world, including in The Netherlands, Spain, India, and Malaysia, among others.

South African standouts, Rassie Pieterse and Sanani Mangisa, who both enjoyed long international careers as two of the best in the game, benefitted from Drijver’s coaching and knowledge.

Goalies that have received tutelage from the Dutch ace have appeared in seven Olympic Games, including Great Britain legend Maddie Hinch who, in a legendary performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics, saved all four Dutch attempts in a penalty shootout to secure the gold medal for her team.

As a goalkeepers’ trainer, Drijver has been involved in an incredible four Olympic Games, 10 EuroHockey Nations Championships, six World Cups, 11 Champions Trophies and one FIH Pro League.

He played for The Netherlands in all of their junior national teams and helped the Dutch win a bronze medal at the Junior World Cup in 1979. His father, Han, played in two Olympic Games.

At the Hilton camp, Drijver will be assisted by Chaka Ngubane, who has 12 years of experience tutoring goalies to his name. His current work includes coaching goalkeepers at Hilton College, St John’s DSG, Michaelhouse, St Anne’s and Maritzburg College.

While at school, Ngubane earned national colours at the under-16 and under-17 levels. He has since coached seven goalkeepers who have made South African Schools.

The latest is Maritzburg College’s Nick Holmes, who will be jetting off to Malaysia with the national under-17 side, for the Mirnawan Cup, which takes place from 18-26 November.

Outfielders

The coaching for outfielders will be led by Hilton College’s 1st team coach, former South African international Damian Kimfley, a South African Hockey Association (SAHA) and International Hockey Federation (FIH) level 3 coach.

Kimfley is also the head coach of the KZN Inland u18A team and assistant coach of the KZN Raiders. Under his guidance, the Hilton 1st XI finished 2023 ranked second in the country. In 2022, his side was ranked number one.

Besides coaches, the camp is open to hockey players of all levels and caters to boys and girls from the ages of 10 to 18, with accommodation available either on or off the beautiful Hilton College campus during the event. Meals are offered with either option.

Coaches, especially, are being encouraged to take advantage of this rare opportunity, with the exceptional discounted rates.

Coaches’ cost: R1 990 on campus, R1 490 off campus.
Players’ cost: R2 790 on campus, R2 290 off campus.

To secure a place, please click on the link –

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYGpJUWIXMshONN1q2JA7jrOin_f2x5HLID0pJl8S6VTKsxQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

Michaelhouse was delightfully decked out in dashes of pink for the annual PinkDrive end-of-season clash against their old rivals, Hilton College, in basketball, water polo and cricket. The Roy Gathorne Oval, especially, was attractively decorated with pink in support of the cancer-fighting non-profit organisation.

SuperSport Schools also came to the party, pulling in some top commentators, including Brett Proctor and Jon Kent, to offer insight into the contest out in the middle.

The outfield was heavy, which made boundaries hard to come by, so the modest run-scoring should probably be viewed with some leniency.

After Ross Boast won the toss, he decided that Hilton should bat first. They were made to graft hard by a disciplined Michaelhouse bowling attack. Run scoring was not easy, but the first seven players in the order managed to make it into double-figures.

The only thing that brought them to a proper halt was a pause in play at 11:11 to remember those who had given their lives in service of South Africa on Remembrance Day.

Ivan Lockem was the key performer for the visitors, top scoring with 69 runs from 91 balls, which included five boundaries, some of which he manufactured with his trademark inside-out drives over cover, thus taking the heavy field out of the reckoning.

Captain Ross Boast contributed a brave 37 from 39 deliveries, smashing one six. He struggled in the heat and felt unwell. Later, in a big setback for the visitors, he managed only three overs as their main strike bowler before having to leave the field and take a lie-down.

Left-arm spinner Cameron Strudwick bowled magnificently for Michaelhouse, sending down 10 overs, five of which were maidens, and picking up 2 for 13, with his victims being both openers, Ben Hockly and Charles Swart, for 13 and 21 respectively.

The seamers, Michael Thornton and Ross Moller lent good support, with Thornton capturing 2 for 38 in nine, and Moller returning 2 for 36 in seven.

Hilton managed to bat out their 50 overs, just, finishing on 204 for 9.

Michaelhouse enjoyed a good start to their reply, with the opening pair of Seb Hofmeyr and Ethan Muir putting on 57 for the first wicket before Hofmeyr fell to Murray Loughor-Clark, bowled for 27.

Dylan Hewlett weighed in with 10 before he, too, was bowled, with the leg-spinner, Nic Chantler, doing the trick to reduce House to 78 for 2 in the 20th over.

Then, two balls later, Hilton made a massive breakthrough, with Michaelhouse’s outstanding captain Murray Baker, the most consistent top order batsman in KZN during the fourth term, caught by Jared Kitto off of Chantler for a duck. His dismissal changed the complexion of the match.

Seven runs later, opening batsman Ethan Muir, followed Baker back to the pavilion after falling LBW to Murray Loughor-Clark for a well-played 43 from 65 balls, three of which were sent to the boundary.

Luke Payne and Murray Hall-Jones then did some good repair work, sharing a stand of 37 before Payne was out for 12 after pulling a long-hop from Charles Swart straight to Ivan Lockem at mid-wicket. Swart, though, wasn’t done, and he did a superb job as the seventh bowler utilised by Hilton on the day.

When Hall-Jones was bowled by Liyema Nela for 32 in the 35th over, with the total on 136, Hilton were clearly in the ascendancy. From there, the end came quickly.

It was accelerated by a spectacular catch, taken by Ben Hockly off the bowling of Swart. Cameron Strudwick attempted to turn a ball to the leg. It looped up and looked as if it had enough on it to elude Hockly at short mid-wicket. Hockly, though, leapt high into the air, timing his jump perfectly, and snatched the ball out of the sky, at full stretch, with his right hand. That stunning bit of fielding reduced Michaelhouse to 137 for 7.

Two runs later, they were eight wickets down when the usually reliable and stubborn Nathan Hoatson was bowled by Nela for five.

Michael Thornton resisted with 11 from 11, but Tom Mitchell became another victim of the Hockly and Swart combination as Michaelhouse were bowled out for 159 after 40 overs, leaving Hilton the winners by 45 runs.

Swart starred with 3 for 26 in seven, while Chantler also sent three men packing, giving up 33 runs from his eight overs. Nela and Loughor-Clark bagged a brace each from the six overs they both bowled, with Nela’s costing 26 runs and Loughor-Clark’s 22.

It was, in the end, a convincing victory, but it was hard-fought throughout. Ivan Lockem’s top score in the match of 69 proved crucial, while Charles Swart’s three-wicket haul was a somewhat surprising but extremely telling contribution with the ball.

Summarised scorecard

Hilton College 204/9 (Ivan Lockem 69, Ross Boast 37, Cameron Strudwick 2/13, Ross Moller 2/36, Michael Thorton 2/38); Michaelhouse 159/10 (Ethan Muir 43, Murray Hall-Jones 32, Seb Hofmeyr 27, Charles Swart 3/26, Nic Chantler 3/33, Murray Loughor-Clark 2/22, Liyema Nela 2/26)

Hilton College won by 45 runs.

 

Combinations and familiarity go a long way in team sports, so the inclusion of four girls from Durban Girls’ College (DGC) in the South African under-17 hockey squad to contest the second edition of the Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia, from 18 to 26 November, should help the team to gel quickly.

The tournament is named after former Malaysian star Dato Mirnawan, who played in three Olympic Games for his country, and who now serves as the national men’s hockey team’s manager.

Two of those DGC players – Emily Macquet and Tara Pakendorf (who played together at Chelsea Preparatory School) – were also named in the SA under-18 A squad following the Inter-provincial Tournament (IPT) in Bloemfontein during the mid-year holidays.

Mmamorena Manthata of Cornwall Hill College and Georgia Pollock, from St Mary’s DSG, were included in the under-18A line-up, too. Pollock is the daughter of Proteas’ legend, Shaun Pollock.

She’s joined in the u17 squad by her schoolmate Cassandra Forbes, while the two additional DGC players are Caprice Bengston and Ruby Kraus.

While KZN Coastal has six representatives in the national squad, there’s another one from the province in the form of KZN Inland’s Thabelani Metu. The remainder of the 18-player squad is evenly spread among six other provincial teams.

Jehan Abrahams and Leah Petersen fly the Western Province flag, while their next-door neighbours, Boland, have Logan Marthinus and Tanya Pieterse in the squad.

Southern Gauteng has a trio of players in the line-up, including sharp-shooter Amber Fairon, Ifeoma Ndubueze and Hannah Quinton.

Their neighbours, Northerns, supply Luane Janssen and Mmamorena Manthata, while goalkeeper Matheo Manzi is from Mpumalanga, and Akhile Mdlalane from Border.

The South African under-17 boys’ team will also be competing in the Mirnawan Cup.

The girls’ squad will be managed by Sheridan Duncombe. Waterkloof’s Omari Pienaar Geyer is the head coach, and her assistant coach is Ilse Davids, who earned 183 caps for the national women’s team before retiring from the international game in 2018. Lisa Bone is the team’s physio.

SA u17 Girls’ Team

Jehan Abrahams (Wynberg Girls’ High, Western Province), Caprice Bengston (Durban Girls’ College, KZN Coastal), Amber Fairon (Dainfern College, Southern Gauteng), Cassandra Forbes (St Mary’s DSG, KZN Coastal), Luane Janssen (Hoërskool Waterkloof, Northerns), Ruby Kraus (Durban Girls’ College, KZN Coastal), Mmamorena Manthata (Cornwall Hill College, Northerns), Motheo Manzi (Hoërskool Middelburg, Mpumalanga), Emily Macquet (Durban Girls’ College, KZN Coastal), Logan Marthinus (Bloemhof, Boland), Akhile Mdlalane (Cambridge High, Border), Thabelani Metu (Lilyfontein High), Ifeoma Ndubueze (Northcliff High, Southern Gauteng), Tara Pakendorf (Durban Girls’ College, KZN Coastal), Leah Petersen (Stellenberg, Western Province), Tanya Pieterse (Paarl Gimnasium, Boland), Georgia Pollock (St Mary’s DSG, KZN Coastal), Hannah Quinton (Monument, Southern Gauteng)

One of the best rivalries in South African school’ sport resumes on Saturday, 11 November, when Michaelhouse welcomes Hilton College to Balgowan for a full day’s action of basketball, cricket and water polo.

The spotlight, though, falls on the annual PinkDrive cricket match, which sees the two schools partnering in support of the non-profit organisation, which promotes the awareness, early detection of, and screening for gender-based cancers in South Africa. Its message is “Early detection will help to prolong a life“.

Expect, then, to see the colour pink liberally displayed all around Michaelhouse’s beautiful campus, with supporters encouraged to show their support by wearing something pink.

The schools are running a PinkDrive campaign on the Sport for Lives website, at https://sportforlives.org/campaigns/pink-drive/. There, anyone and everyone is invited to make a donation.

The description of the initiative reads: “Boys, parents, friends and family are encouraged to donate ahead to get a tree wrapped in honour of a special person who is either a cancer survivor or is fighting the battle, or perhaps someone who they have lost to cancer.

“We invite anyone, no matter what team you are supporting on the day, to get behind this incredible initiative.

“Join us in activating generosity by donating a once-off amount (minimum is R350) to wrap a tree now or before Friday 10th November.

“We will be selling pink caps leading up to the match, as well as on the day, and all proceeds will go to this campaign.”

Kath Boast, the mother of Hilton College captain, Ross Boast, organised the event last year, when Hilton hosted the game. She said the Hilton-Michaelhouse rivalry is not all-consuming for the boys who play in the match.

“It’s very close to the boys’ hearts. My son, for instance, his aunt has breast cancer, and is putting up an amazing fight, and I think for the boys to play for something other than just the result of the cricket match, and to really have their hearts in it, is something very special,” she said.

“A lot of them write messages on their socks, and they wear all the pink ribbon. It’s a really special day. We get the trees sponsored. It is an amazing campaign.”

It’s the third year that the PinkDrive game is being held, but the first time that it is being held at Michaelhouse. That’s why, from the House side, Jo Baker, the mother of Michaelhouse captain, Murray, is organising things, along with the school’s Director of Sport, Ryan Strudwick.

It’s possible the boys see it a little differently – for matriculants like Murray Baker, it’s their last home game – but Joe echoed Kath Boast when she said: “It’s about the cricket, but it’s not about the cricket. The focus is about mixing the cricket with a fundraiser, trying to raise awareness for the PinkDrive campaign.”

The online link, she said, has been shared with parents and the staff of both schools.

“Both schools are very traditional, and we have played each other for many years, and there is always a big rivalry. Hopefully, they will remember why they’re playing the match. Both sides will give it their best shot, I am sure,” Jo said.

While the results are important, the PinkDrive is also an occasion for both sets of parents to enjoy the day, focus on something even more important than a result, that being life, and to enjoy one another’s company.

Jo Baker explained: “There’s great camaraderie between the parents. We are hosting them for lunch. We’re doing a burger braai lunch, with a gin bar, which will be great.”

For some of the players, there’s also the not so small matter of a matric maths exam on Monday to consider. Jo Baker said she advised her son, Murray, who has enjoyed a spectacular run with the bat this term: “Take a deep breath and remember what the day is about. It is your last home game, and just try and manage your time, structure it, and do the best you can do.”

When it comes to traditional rivalries, it is, for the most part, pointless trying to pick a potential winner. Those rivalries tend to turn traditional metrics on their head. One senses, though, that there is a real sense of excitement in the air, not just about the showdown, but about the occasion of the PinkDrive. The aim is that it, at the very least, will be the winner on the day.

It couldn’t have been much fun for teams facing any KES cricket B team that included David Teeger.

As an orthodox Jew, Teeger’s beliefs prevented him from travelling by anything but foot on Saturdays to matches. That meant, in his younger days, that he would often turn out for B teams at home while the KES A side played away.

The thing is Teeger wasn’t simply an A team player at one of South Africa’s leading cricket factories, he was one of the best players of his age in South Africa.

Earlier this year, in fact, he captained the South Africa under-19 team in Bangladesh.

Throughout his playing days at KES, which ended this year – he’s currently busy with his matric final exams – the school did its best to accommodate him, Teeger said, with appreciation: “Our Head of Sports (Eugene Marx] put in a good word, so we didn’t end up playing too many away games for the A team. Then, when we were away, I played for the B team.

“The opposition were not too pleased to be on the receiving end. Luckily, in those weeks when I did play B team cricket, we often played an A team of another school. I don’t think it was fully fair, but…”

A huge honour

Teeger said representing a cricketing institution like KES is a huge honour: “The names of the players that have come out of the school go on and on and on. With that, people can say that there is pressure to perform at King Edward. But I think it’s more of an expectation.

“When you’re a King Edward cricketer, there’s a certain level of expectation, especially when you’re playing for the 1st team, and it’s not arrogance, but you play and own that you are playing in the 1st side of one of the best cricketing schools in the country.

“I always viewed that as a privilege to occupy one of the 11 spots in the school with one of the greatest cricketing heritages in the country. Embrace that and enjoy it and live through that heritage.”

Mentor

Even before Teeger attended King Edward VII, the home of the Jimmy Cook Cricket Academy, the former Protea opener made his mark on the young prodigy, and he continues to do so today, at the age of 70.

“He’s meant probably the most out of anyone to my cricket career,” Teeger said, the enthusiasm in his voice spiking as he discussed someone who clearly means a lot to him.

“I’ve been with Mr Cook since I was seven, and he is probably the reason I went to King Edward VII. I went to a religious Jewish day school in primary school, and I didn’t think it was a reality [that I might attend King Edward VII], or at least I didn’t think it was, and it was only because of Mr Cook… I went to his clinics every Sunday.

“I still go to him for private lessons. He moved down to Cape Town at the end of last year, but we still find time to have sessions together. It’s not just his coaching expertise, his interpersonal skills are also a huge asset, and I think that’s often under-rated in coaching.

Describing what Cook has brought and continues to bring to his game, Teeger elaborated: “He instils this confidence in you, in almost any cricketer, that I have never seen. You get guys who are not that naturally gifted playing ridiculously well because they go to Mr Cook. I think he is an incredible man. He’s been instrumental in my cricketing career, but also in shaping me as a person.”

Listening to the stories of a man who was a key part of the all-conquering “Transvaal Mean Machine”, who in a three-year spell with Somerset dominated county cricket, scoring over 7 500 runs, is hugely inspiring, Teeger added: “I think Mr Cook’s story-telling ability is probably among the best I have ever heard. The way he tells the story, and then you reflect on those stories and realise he’s talking about Sachin Tendulkar, or he’s talking about when he was coaching AB de Villiers.

“You look at these players and you idolise them. They’re like Gods in other countries, and Mr Cook is chatting to you about them like he’s their coach, and you know he’s their mate.”

The lessons he has learned from Cook go way beyond cricket, Teeger explained: “It’s also the person he is, not just the cricketer and the cricket coach. Mr Cook, in every facet of his life, is a wonderful role model, and he is probably the biggest role model in my life.”

Role models

There are others who have served as role models for David Teeger. His father, James, for example, was a fine cricketer himself, who played for Transvaal between 1991 and 1993. And, one year ahead of him at KES, Dean Bacher, who was captain of the 1^st XI in 2022. Bacher meant more to Teeger than simply being a cricket captain. The similarities the two shared, including their religion, helped Teeger to plot his path to success.

“Especially when you’re going through those tough times, he’s a guy I lean on, and I ask him for advice. What would he do in a situation? Because we have lived similar experiences.

“Our home life, our background, our religious upbringing, all of that is similar, and we were probably the two most similar people at the school, maybe even in the country. I don’t think you get two 1st team cricketers, both captains, and both come from a religious upbringing. Our friendship really did grow from that.

“It definitely helped,” he added. “For example, when you’re unsure how to deal with a player/coach matter, or strategy on the field, all the small things, that helps. On the field, the friendship that you form over the years helps in trusting a guy’s decision-making. When I don’t fully know what to do and Dean tells me, I am going to trust him because of the friendship we formed over the years.”

“The most special moment”

Teeger’s last match for KES was rained out, but that didn’t prevent it from being memorable, he said, calling it “probably the most special moment of my life.”

Observing his faith, he would walk to his team’s matches on a Saturday, but when that last game arrived, his team was waiting for him, joining him for one last walk to a match.

He said: ” When the guys showed up, it was a total surprise. I remember my dad rushing me to get going at 06:30. I said we always leave at 06:45. He was rushing me to get down the driveway, and then at the bottom of the driveway the team was waiting there. That was a really special moment.

“It shows that I served the school. But I think it is testament to the team culture that we built and the ethos of KES. You know that they are willing to walk 45 minutes on a Saturday morning, wake up an hour-and-a-half earlier as a team, and do that special thing.

“It’s not a once-off occurrence. We do that special stuff like that all the time. That was one of the special things that went into the public eye, but I think that is really testament to the team culture of the King Edward 1st team, which was definitely built by Dean, and hopefully I followed on in those footsteps. Lastly, it’s about the ethos of the school.”

Finding words for what he felt at that time is tough, Teeger said. It left him desperate to score a century to thank his teammates, but some dreams are simply never meant to be. The memory, though, will remain with him always.

“It’s testament to what the team built,” he said. “Especially with juniors coming in, we struggled initially when Dean’s year left, and just to see them grow into the position of being a King Edward first team cricketer, buy into the team’s culture and serve the whole team was very rewarding.”

SA Emerging

Apart from leading the SA under-19 team in Bangladesh, Teeger has also been in action for the SA Emerging Team in Division Two of the CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge. It has been a fantastic experience, he enthused.

“It’s a huge honour and privilege to represent your country at any level, playing any sport. Within the emerging space, it’s massive, because you are playing with guys who have played professional cricket for a number of years, guys who played in the SA20, so you feed off of that experience and that knowledge, and I really did try to tap into that.

A student of the game, with a voracious appetite for knowledge, Teeger said he used the experience to learn from others: “I was asking fast bowlers for advice. I am never going to bowl 120 km/h. I bowl off-spin. But it’s about tapping into the knowledge and getting to know the people, as well. That was tremendous. I learned much within that emerging space.”

In the final of the competition, up against the ITEC Knights, who were a perfect seven from seven in their previous matches, Teeger was at his best, leading his team to an eye-opening eight-wicket victory with 105 balls to spare, or in more common terms, 17.3 overs.

“The final was a special effort from the team. The Knights were 220 for 4, they hadn’t lost a game all season, and they were on par for 380. We really pulled it back [restricting them to 276],” Teeger said.

Amidst the run chase and the thrill of the game, he continued to file away knowledge, he explained: “It was about seeing older guys, how they react in certain situations, especially when I was captaining them, because you see how they’re thinking. It develops your cricketing mind and ability.

“Obviously, I played a very good innings, and I am proud of myself for that, but the start we got with the bat was unbelievable, 92 without loss after 10 overs. That set the platform and then I went in and tried to maintain the momentum that we had built.”

That innings he mentioned was an unbeaten 95 from only 70 balls, with 10 fours. Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Richard Seletswane, both of St Stithians, contributed 76 and 35 not out respectively, while Ethan-John Cunningham, formerly the captain of Rondebosch, weighed in with 55 at the top of the order.

Teeger shared his thoughts on playing with the two Saints’ stars, who were also joined by their schoolmate Kwena Mphaka in the side: “It’s fascinating, because at school when we play KES vs Saints, it’s an arch-rivalry. It’s quite funny. You can imagine the tuning in the field and the chirping. I play more with those guys than I probably do with anyone else, especially Lhu-andre, because I play at Old Edwardians with him.

“It’s quite an interesting dynamic when they’re on my team versus when they’re not. The friendships we have formed over the years have been special, and I think it definitely helps when you’re batting together. You understand their game and see what they need to do. You can see them getting agitated and tell them to relax a bit. You know their scoring areas, but I think over the years the more games you play with these guys, the more time you spend with them, it helps on and off the field.”

Looking into the not-to-distant future, Teeger said he wants to take his cricket to a higher level: “My ambition is to try and play professional cricket, and then, one day, hopefully play for the Proteas. That would be the greatest honour.

“I would like to break into a professional team, but I do want to study. Academics are a crucial grounding for anyone. It’s also a back-up. Sport is unpredictable with injuries and all of that sort of stuff. I definitely want to enter the business world as an accountant. I’ll be looking to try and play professional cricket, but I would also like to get an accounting degree.”

One last question was posed: Does he have any role models in the game? His answer, perhaps because it wasn’t a South African, surprised, but it should be clear by now that David Teeger tries to learn as much from the game as possible, and that means not being bound by geographical boundaries. And the aforementioned Richard Seletswane played a role, he said.

“It’s quite funny, because it originally developed from Richard Seletswane, and I have kind of embraced it. He used to call me Sir Kane when I played the KES versus Saints games.

“Over the years, I have developed an admiration for Kane Williamson. People say we are quite similar. I’ll take that. That’s a huge privilege to be compared to a player like him, the way he captains, the way he bats. His temperament stands out for me.

“I try to be myself, but I try to model my game on Kane Williamson.”

 

Durban High School vs Kearsney College

A superb unbeaten 100 by Semal Pillay wasn’t enough as the Clifton College 1st XI recorded a comfortable eight-wicket victory over DHS on the Theobald Oval on Saturday.

The KZN under-16 star played an outstanding innings in the face of a disciplined performance by the Clifton bowlers. His excellence, however, was counteracted by two superb all-round contributions from Shahzaad Perumal and Tim Saulez.

Perumal shone with an unbeaten 84 and 3 for 32 in 10 overs, while Saulez’s contribution of 68 not out and 3 for 26 was just as effective and important.

DHS had elected to bat first after winning the toss, and while their first four batsmen made it into double figures, they were made to graft by the Clifton bowlers. Only Pillay played with any freedom.

His century came from 121 balls, but the fact that he struck only four fours was testament to a disciplined and accurate effort from the visitors’ attack.

Opening batsman Ismaeel Omar made 28 from 48 balls, while Sfundo Mthembu added some impetus towards the end of the DHS innings, with 28 from 22 balls, which helped the Horseflies to 212/9 after their 50 overs.

Tim Saulez, who earlier this season set a Clifton 1^st XI highest score record with 166 against Volkskool Heidelberg, showed off his all-round talent with an economical three-wicket haul, and Shahzaad Perumal kept up the good work with his left-arm spin.

Shiraz Perumal picked up 2 for 46 in 10, while Huzaifah Badat put DHS under huge pressure, despite not picking up a wicket, with his return of 0 for 35 from 10 overs.

Clifton, needing 213 to win, produced a controlled and effective response, rolling to victory in the 44^th over with only two wickets down.

Batting at three, Shahzaad Perumal made 84 from 103 balls and struck nine fours. Saulez, who joined Perumal with the score on 77 for 2, was 68 not out from 80 deliveries, which included five fours and the only six of the match.

Together, he and Perumal shared an unbroken stand of 136.

Maritzburg College vs Glenwood High School

If there is one team in KwaZulu-Natal that is hard to predict, it’s the Glenwood 1^st XI. After powering their way to a big win over a strong Hilton College team two weeks ago, they were well beaten by Westville Boys’ High last week, and then comprehensively outplayed by Maritzburg College on Saturday.

Visiting Pietermaritzburg, the Green Machine put up only 108 all out on Goldstone’s, with none of their batsmen making it to 20. It wasn’t as if one College bowler did the damage either. The wickets were shared around.

Chad Mason led the way for College, snaring 3 for 17 from 8.5 overs. Sphamandla Dzanibe did a stellar job, picking up 2 for 14 in four overs, and James Wiggil was miserly and wicket-taking, capturing 2 for 11 in his four overs.

It was a tough slog for Glenwood, and it took them 40.5 overs to reach their 108. However, when the home team set about their run chase, it looked like a different pitch as the opening pair of Liam Armstrong and Caleb Thomas took the game to the Durban boys.

Thomas was slightly the faster, striking an unbeaten 53 from 50 deliveries, while Armstrong weighed in with an undefeated 43 from 58, to see College to a 10-wicket win after just 17.3 overs.

Northwood School vs Kearsney College

At Northwood, Kearsney College were every bit as dominant against the Knights as College was against the Green Machine.

The home team won the toss and elected to bat, which was surprising given the overcast conditions and a track that was clearly going to offer the bowlers some assistance.

They were in trouble from the start as they folded in front of a clinical performance by Kearsney’s opening bowlers, Ryan Browning and Sandiswa Yeni, who set Northwood back on their heels, with Browning, especially, proving dominant.

He bowled his full complement of 10 overs, three of them maidens, and knocked over 4 for 24. Yeni also got in on the action, claiming 2 for 37 in nine.

They received telling support from Ross Coetzee, who snapped up 3 for 18 from his 10 overs of spin as Northwood were skittled for just 107.

Hayden Bishop and Dylan Wiggett then hit cruise control and steered their team to a 10-wicket win, with Bishop unbeaten on 60 and Wiggett on 32 when the Knights’ total was overhauled.

Summarised scorecards

DHS 212 for 9 (Semal Pillay 100*, Ismaeel Omar 28, Sfundo Mthembu 28, Tim Saulez 3 for 26, Shahzaad Perumal 3 for 32, Shiraz Perumal 2 for 46); Clifton College 213 for 2 (Shahzaad Perumal 84*, Tim Saulez 68*) Clifton won by 8 wickets.

Glenwood 108 all out (Chad Mason 3/17, James Wiggil 2/11, Sphamandla Dzanibe 2/14); Maritzburg College 111/0 (Caleb Thomas 53*, Liam Armstrong 43*) Maritzburg College won by 10 wickets.

Northwood 107 all out (Evan Fouche 28, Ryan Browning 4/24, Ross Coetzee 3/18, Sandiswa Yeni 2/37); Kearsney College 108/0 (Hayden Bishop 60*, Dylan Wiggett 32*) Kearsney College won by 10 wickets.

Since the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Week, the St John’s College 1st XI has been in sparkling form, but they faced a stiff challenge on Saturday, tackling an equally in-form Affies‘ team. Together, the two sides produced a fantastic spectacle.

Batting first, St John’s, somewhat predictably, owed plenty to their star batsman, Joe Macrobert, who top scored with 84 after going in at the first wicket down. He was harsh on the Affies’ bowlers, needing only 66 balls for his near-century, and striking 12 fours and a six.

Jacob Smith also made a telling contribution, scoring 57 from 78, with four fours and a six, as he and MacRobert, the player of the match, shared an outstanding partnership of 127 in 19.5 overs.

Meanwhile, five other batsmen made it into double figures without doing too much damage. Cole Francis, with 22, was the best of them.

Still, St John’s put up a substantial 286 all out after 49.4 overs.

All-rounder Divan de Villiers, who seems to always find a way to make an important contribution, led the Affies’ attack, capturing 5 for 45 in 10 probing overs. Wihan Pretorius lent good support, taking 2 for 37 in 6.4.

Affies, in reply, made a slow start and lost Dillon Koegelenberg in the sixth over for a duck, bowled by Alec Loveland. At that stage, the total was just 4/1.

JP Botha and Matthew Seymore set about getting Affies on track and provided the innings with some substance, combining for 68 for the second wicket before Seymore was caught by Luthando Masinda off the bowling of Oliver Tait for 22. After 19.2 overs, Affies were 72 for 2.

Opening batsman Botha eventually fell for 68 from 92 balls, which included five fours, with the total on 123. His contribution proved to be the highest of Affies’ innings.

Six more batsmen made between 22 and 35, however. The issue, though, was that at least one of them should have pressed on and turned a solid start into a more substantial innings.

The consistent Divan de Villiers made 35 from 43 balls, while Ruben Groenewald matched him, but needed only 36 deliveries. SF Vermeulen scored 31 from 30, and Wihan Pretorius struck only one four, but good running between the wickets took him to 26 from 27.

Malan du Plessis, though, kept the Affies’ batsmen in check, taking 3 for 44 in nine overs, while Alec Loveland damaged the Pretoria school’s efforts with an economical return of 1 for 35 from his 10 overs. That, and 31 extras in the St John’s innings, to 20 in the Affies’ innings, proved to be of vital importance.

Zirk Meyer provided the Affies’ effort with a big boost at the end, smashing an unbeaten 28 from only 13 balls, with four fours and a six, while Petrus Rautenbach bashed 15 off six, with two fours and one maximum, but it wasn’t quite enough.

In a nail-biting finish, Affies ran out of overs, and finished on 280 for 7, a mere six runs shy of the St John’s total.

That meant the school from Houghton, Johannesburg, had clinched a big scalp and an eighth victory on the trot since the Michaelmas Week. They also finished off their season with only six defeats from 38 matches, a sterling record.

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

Summarised Scorecard

St John’s College 286/10 (Joe Macrobert 84, Jacob Smith 57, Divan de Villiers 5/45, Wihan Pretorius 2/37); Affies 280/7 (JP Botha 68, Divan de Villiers 35, Ruben Groenewald 35, SF Vermeulen 31, Zirk Meyer 28*, Wihan Pretorius 26, Malan du Plessis 3/44, Alex Loveland 1/35)

St John’s College won by six runs.

The KwaZulu-Natal Inland Schools’ Cricket Association has revealed a 13-player u19 squad, which will do duty at the Khaya Majola Week in Makhanda from the 16th to the 20th of December. It includes five players from St Charles College, four from Hilton College, and two each from Michaelhouse and Maritzburg College.

A look over the line-up reveals a talented, balanced squad with many options, both on the batting and bowling fronts. It appears, though, that the all-rounders, Ross Boast and Bryn Brokensha (in feature photo), will carry a heavy workload, maybe more with the ball than with the bat, which is a favourable comment on the depth of the batting. And both are extremely capable batsmen, too.

The most in-form of the batsmen selected is, undoubtedly, Michaelhouse’s run scoring machine, Murray Baker, who has enjoyed an exceptional end to the year. He’ll provide middle order security along with Boast and Brokensha, although any of the three could come in at the first wicket down.

Caleb Thomas and Sam Brown are specialist openers, while Ntando Zuma is a proven high-quality performer, who excelled for the Coastal Conquerors, made up of players from KZN and KZN Inland, when they won the Cubs Week in 2022. Ivan Lockem, if he gets going, can tear a bowling attack apart. He hits the ball very cleanly.

Matthew Urquhart is a more than useful batsman and an accurate off-spinner, while Cameron Strudwick provides a left-arm spin option, and Nathan Beaumont is a fine leg-spinner.

Matipa and Natanzi Denenga bring medium-paced options to the bowling attack, while Thabiso Ndlela adds a bit of extra pace up front.

The non-travelling reserves include Nathan Hoatson, Asanda Khumalo, and Chad Mason, who all offer all-round skills. Mason might regard himself as the unluckiest player to miss out. He’s performed consistently well with both bat and ball in the fourth term and has made meaningful contributions for Maritzburg College throughout 2023.

Remember to submit your nominations for SuperSport Schools’ “The Class of ’23”. We invite you to be a part of this journey by nominating unforgettable moments, outstanding athletes, and inspiring coaches.

Your participation will help us recognise and showcase the true stars and stories of 2023. Submit your nominations on the following link – https://bit.ly/SSClassof2023.

KZN Inland u19 Squad

Caleb Thomas (Maritzburg College), Ntandoyenkosi Zuma (St Charles College), Samuel Brown (St Charles College), Murray Baker (Michaelhouse), Ross Boast (Hilton College), Bryn Brokensha (Maritzburg College), Ivan Lockem (Hilton College), Cameron Strudwick (Michaelhouse), Thabiso Ndlela (St Charles College), Matipa Denenga (Hilton College), Natanzi Denenga (Hilton College), Nathan Beaumont (St Charles College), Matthew Urquhart (St Charles College)

Non-travelling reserves

Nathan Hoatson (Michaelhouse), Asanda Khumalo (Maritzburg College), Chad Mason (Maritzburg College)

Head coach: David Griffiths (Hilton College)
Assistant coach: Ahmed Amla (KZNCUI)
Manager: Stem Siwela (Weston Agricultural College)