Makhaya Ntini, Mfuneko Ngam and Monde Zondeki have one thing in common, they are all pace bowlers, who represented South Africa. Now, a new generation of young batsmen are coming to the fore, carrying the dream of one day representing the Proteas.

 

Omphile Ramela started his cricket on the back streets of Soweto and his first taste of cricket came from the country’s longest running development programme, Bakers Mini Cricket. Ramela was unlucky to miss out on a place in the SA Schools XI, when he was part of Gauteng’s Under 19 squad in 2005/06, but he refused to give up on his dream. After spending some time at the Lions Academy in Potchefstroom, he moved to the Boland in 2008, to further his studies at the University of Stellenbosch, and his career has grown in leaps and bounds. Ramela is the current captain of the Boland Senior First Class team and the Maties team, who took part in the National Club Championships. From scoring his maiden First-Class hundred, to making his debut for the Nashua Cape Cobras, the 2009/2010 season has been a breakthrough one for the former St Johns scholar.   

 

“This season has been very special for me. Starting off at the Standard Bank National Cricket Academy during the winter to making my Franchise debut, it has been filled with memorable moments. I think every time I do well for my club, province or franchise it always is a special time,” commented Ramela.

 

Former Proteas coach, Mickey Arthur, called Temba Bavuma “an organised cricketer”, after the youngster held his nerve against the Proteas in a warm-up match for a bizhub Highveld Lions combined XI. Bavuma made his debut for the Lions in 2009 in the MTN40 competition, and blasted 152 for the Highveld Strikers in January. The former U19 and SA Schools player, is a short, nifty player, but is explosive with the willow in hand, much like his favourite cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar. His unbeaten 152 for the Highveld Strikers against Easterns counts as one of his memorable knocks, in a young career that holds much promise.

 

Another Gauteng product making waves in the game, is former Queens College boy, Grant Mokoena. Mokoena made headlines when he was selected for the SA Schools side after a sterling  performance for Border at the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Under 19 week in 2005. He was then selected as part of the touring SA Under-19 squad to the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2006, which also included Richard Levi, Wayne Parnell and Dean Elgar. 2009 has been his come-back year, after an absence of nearly two seasons from topflight First Class cricket. He has impressed for the Highveld Strikers and against the visiting England High Performance XI in December. He scored a superb 121 against a world-class attack, which included Ryan Sidebottom and Liam Plunkett and although his career has been temperamental, he has shown the signs of the brilliance that he can still achieve.

 

Easterns are currently fourth in the CSA First-Class Three-Day Competition, and despite a dominant showing from their experienced campaigners, they have a few youngsters breaking through and scampering up the ladder. Opening batsman, Tumelo Bodibe, was part of the 2009 Standard Bank National Cricket Academy intake and has lit up the amateur scene this season, with his naturally aggressive talent.Mangaliso Mosehle is a class talent. Hard work, dedication and self-belief drive the former SA U19 wicket-keeper, with many tipping him for international honours. Named as the CSA U19 player of the year last season, Mosehle brings more to the table, than just raw innate talent behind the stumps, he is no slouch with the bat. He won the prize at the most dedicated student at the Standard Bank National Cricket Academy and is hot on the heels of Titans’ wicket-keeper, Heino Kuhn.

 

“Tumelo has improved so much in the last three years. He is more confident and has a huge desire to do well. He has proved himself to be one of the leading openers in first-class cricket, especially after scoring his maiden century and his technique is also one of the best around.

 

“Mangi’s talent speaks for itself. He is an extremely hard worker, he puts in extra work in his own time and is no doubt one for the future. Both youngsters are always willing to learn and have the right mind sets to take their cricket further,” said Easterns coach, Geoffrey Toyana.

 

One of the Nashua Dolphins’ upcoming youngsters is 19 year-old Khaya Zondo. Zondo had a dream start to his cricket career when he joined the likes of Herschelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje and JP Duminy as one of the youngest players to make a First-Class debut at the age of 17. Last week Friday, he gave a strong indication of what he is all about, when he put on a superb 70-run fourth wicket partnership under pressure with David Miller, in the Standard Bank Pro20 match against the bizhub Highveld Lions.  Zondo scored his maiden First-Class century for KwaZulu-Natal against Namibia last month and has been on the fringes of the Dolphins setup, with that more likely to change, after the KawZulu-Natal Franchise made a pledge to give more opportunities to their home-grown talents.

 

Young talent is abundant in the country, and with the correct measures in place, and the right support and mentoring, it is only a matter of time before these young cricketers truly make their mark in the game. Many have spoken about the dearth of the African batsmen, but the resources continue produce uncut diamonds, that need some shaping in order for them to sparkle.