Black cricketers in RSA (25 Nov 1997)

November 1997

Black Cricket

MICHAEL OWEN-SMITH

IT HAS been the ultimate development week in the brief history of the United Cricket Board of South Africa. Black cricket has had its moments in the past, notably when Basil d'Oliveira was called up for his England test match debut and when Omar Henry was picked first for the World Cup squad in 1992 and then later for his test match debut against India. But surely neither of these events can claim the significance of what has happened around South Africa in the course of the past 10 days. D'Oliveira and Henry were players who prevailed over enormous odds and obstacles to achieve the highest honours the game has to offer; what has happened now is the clearest evidence possible that black cricket is about to explode into one of the most exciting revolutions the game has known. Saturday a week ago, Geoffrey Toyana of Soweto came out to bat at No 7 for Gauteng against West Indies A and made a sparkling unbeaten 44 in a home total of 372 for seven declared. Last Wednesday, Roger Telemachus was a shock withdrawal from the South African tour party for Australia and was replaced by 20-year-old Makhaya Ntini who became the first black to represent the new South Africa at cricket. Two days later it was the turn of Lulama Madikizana who made his maiden SuperSport Series half-century and in the process shared a century partnership for the last wicket with Mornantau Hayward that erased a provincial record that had stood for more than 70 years. One day later, another 20-year-old, Lungile (Loots) Bosman, who hails from Galishewe township, Kimberley, celebrated his first-class debut by making 96 for Griquas against Free State at Springbok Park. Had he made another four runs, he would have become the youngest player since 19-year-old Jonty Rhodes in 1988 to score a first-class century on debut. Bosman's innings - he is incidentally a Xhosa - included a Griqua record fifth-wicket standard of more than 200 with local dominee Piet Barnard that erased a provincial record that was almost as old as the Eastern Province one. "It has been a week of enormous significance for South African cricket," said UCB managing director Ali Bacher. "The most important thing is that it is going to provide so much hope for the many aspiring cricketers in our townships. They have seen what can be achieved and nothing will stop the momentum now." Perhaps this does also show that the UCB's development programmes are working. Both Toyana and Bosman are the products of regional academies of excellence organised by Conrad Hunte, former vice-captain of the West Indies and chief development coach of the UCB. "I couldn't quite put my finger on it when I first saw Bosman play," Hunte recalled yesterday. "But I felt at the time there was something special about him. I am not saying that he has anything like the same talent but he plays the game with a style and with a lateness of stroke that is reminiscent of the great Frank Worrell. "On the strength of what I had seen back in 1995, we immediately included him in the South African team for the Zone Six development tournament in Tanzania and he was nominated for this year's Plascon Academy in Johannesburg." Bosman is a righthanded batsman with an attacking outlook and he complements this with medium-pace seamers. "He struggled when he first came to the academy," said Bacher. "But he provided the justification of holding the academy course over a period of several months. He just needed to build up his confidence. "That came when the academy played a match against a side that included several members of our national squad. He hit Pat Symcox for a couple of big sixes. That was the impetus he needed and he never looked back. "From there he went to this year's Zone Six tournament and made 80 off 70 balls against Zimbabwe." When he made his debut for Griquas in a Standard Bank league match against Natal in Durban, he gained one immediate fan is Northern Cape premier, Manne Dipico, a cricket fanatic, who sent his family a bouquet of flowers. Hunte is also excited about the ability of Toyana. "He needs to tighten up his shot selection but there is no doubting his ability. He also went through the regional academy route to the Zone Six tournament and he learned a lot when he spent this past summer on the grounds staff at Lord's as part of the agreement which we have with the MCC." Bacher was equally impressed with his innings for Gauteng. "He has a nice attacking flair and he gave the visiting spinners a rough time. There is a genuine feeling that he is not all that far off the Gauteng limited overs side at the moment."

Source: MICHAEL OWEN-SMITH