Match one, two ducks
Ashwell Prince scored hundreds and captained at school, but made two blobs on first-class debut
14-Jan-2010
Ashwell Prince: two zeroes, followed by many hundreds • Paul Kane/Getty Images
First bat
It was an old Gray-Nicolls that was lying around my parents' house. It used to belong to my dad and then my brother, and the first time I picked it up I was about two or three.
It was an old Gray-Nicolls that was lying around my parents' house. It used to belong to my dad and then my brother, and the first time I picked it up I was about two or three.
First hundred
The first hundred I scored was when I was at school. I lived in Port Elizabeth and went to Parkvale Primary School. I was playing junior cricket and that was where I scored my first century.
The first hundred I scored was when I was at school. I lived in Port Elizabeth and went to Parkvale Primary School. I was playing junior cricket and that was where I scored my first century.
First captaincy experience
This was also at school. Even though they gave everybody a chance to be the captain, I was usually the one who got to captain the most.
This was also at school. Even though they gave everybody a chance to be the captain, I was usually the one who got to captain the most.
First duck in first-class cricket
The first time I got a duck in first-class cricket was in my first match. It was the 1995-96 season, and I was making my debut for Eastern Province against Boland. Roger Telemachus got me out lbw for a duck in both innings.
The first time I got a duck in first-class cricket was in my first match. It was the 1995-96 season, and I was making my debut for Eastern Province against Boland. Roger Telemachus got me out lbw for a duck in both innings.
First match-saving knock
The first time (well, the first one I can actually remember) was in a franchise game. The Warriors were playing the Cobras in Paarl and we [Warriors] were set 268 to win in our second innings. We were 206 for 8 with only Makhaya Ntini left to come in. Wayne Parnell and I stuck it out for 18 overs and I made 72 not out.
The first time (well, the first one I can actually remember) was in a franchise game. The Warriors were playing the Cobras in Paarl and we [Warriors] were set 268 to win in our second innings. We were 206 for 8 with only Makhaya Ntini left to come in. Wayne Parnell and I stuck it out for 18 overs and I made 72 not out.
As told to Firdose Moonda, a freelance writer based in Johannesburg