David Terbrugge makes a name for himself (25 Nov 1997)

November 1997

David Terbrugge

MICHAEL OWEN-SMITH

THERE HASN'T been much cause for enthusiasm at rain-soaked Newlands for the past three days. While cricket could have been played at Newlands in September for the first time in about 20 years, the weather has returned with a vengeance in November, washing out a full day of last weekend's match between Western Province and Free State and large periods of the current fixture against Gauteng. But the match has at least served to launch the SuperSport Series career of flame-haired 20-year-old Gauteng fast bowler David Terbrugge. The RAU commerce student impressed many good judges with his stock away swinger allied to a good degree of bounce, not to mention his ability to hit the seam and exploit a helpful pitch. This is very much the comeback year for Terbrugge who missed a full year's cricket after suffering a stress fracture of the back. "It happened before I went with the SA under-19 team to England in 1995 although I did not realise it at the time," he said. "Fortunately I have made a complete recovery and I am hoping that injury is a thing of the past." He took one for 46 in four spells that amounted to 25 overs. He probably needs to add a yard or two of pace to trouble the very top batsmen but he still managed to beat edge of the bat an impressive number of times against Western Province's top order. "It got frustrating beating the edge so many times," he admitted afterwards. "But Ken Rutherford - the Gauteng captain - kept on encouraging me by saying there would be days when I would not bowl nearly as well but would pick up five wickets." A bit of a Shaun Pollock look-alike, does he have the notorious short temper that is traditional for red-headed fast bowlers. "I don't think so. Not at the moment any way. Maybe I will develop it once I have got myself more established in the Gauteng side." And who have been his bowling role models? "I don't see myself as an out-and-out fast bowler like Allan Donald. I have modelled myself more on the lines of Clive Rice, Richard Hadlee and Fanie de Villiers. "I have found Fanie particularly inspiring as he has also had to come back from serious injury."

Source: MICHAEL OWEN-SMITH contributed by management