How Martin Coetzee fell in love with Hong Kong cricket

When Martin Coetzee was let go by Lions in South Africa in 2019, he felt like it was curtains on his cricket career.

He had hovered on the fringes of the first-class set-up for years without really breaking in. As he contemplated what next - "the thought of moving to another provincial team, or quit cricket altogether and explore another path, like coaching" - the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

He was 29, and time was ticking.

Then came the move to Hong Kong, far from a cricketing decision. His wife, Lindy, a teacher, had just landed a job at a private school, and the couple decided to take the plunge into the unknown.

Just prior to leaving South Africa, though, Coetzee was told casually by his wife's school principal, "Don't forget to pack your cricket bags." The principal happened to be a former New Zealand first-class cricketer, Ben Hart.

"It seemed an odd comment at the time," Coetzee laughs at the memory. The 36-year-old top-order batter is now in Dubai, part of Hong Kong's squad at the Asia Cup. "I thought at best this may be a way to play recreationally, get to know a few people at the cricket club, it will help with keeping myself in shape. Nothing more."

When they landed, Hong Kong wasn't the buzzing global hub he had imagined it to be. Covid restrictions had made the city unrecognisable. "Restaurants were shuttered, masks were compulsory, and residents had to line up for regular blood tests," Coetzee says.

But amid all that, Coetzee found comfort in the fact that he could get outdoors for a few hours. And that outdoor place happened to be the Hong Kong Cricket Club.

"I turned up there with no expectations honestly, it was just to get outdoors, rather than being locked in," he says.

Over time, Coetzee discovered the city's cricket culture was far more organised and ambitious than he had imagined. He saw talented players fiercely compete, and was explained the pathways into club cricket and possibly international cricket if he stayed the course.

"That got me dreaming," he says. "Suddenly, a three-year qualification criteria didn't seem to matter, I thought let me start playing and put myself up there. Yes, the wait was long, at times frustrating, but in that period, I played a lot of club cricket, made a lot of friends and enjoyed competing. It got me hooked.

"It's only then I thought of all the things I take for granted back home. In South Africa, you tend to take some things for granted - outdoor nets, fields, space," he explains. "In Hong Kong, the biggest challenge is facilities. Say, just leading up to our prep tour here, all we had were indoor nets. No grass. It makes you appreciate what you had growing up. But it also makes you work harder."

By the time Coetzee's qualification period ended, he went on to become one of Hong Kong's key batters and a regular fixture in the national squad. When not playing, he is a professional coach at the club he represents.

"It still surprises me how much Hong Kong has given me," he says. "You won't believe it, but there's a rivalry that is always packed," he says. "Kowloon Cricket Club and Hong Kong Cricket Club - mate, it's fiercely competitive as well. The talent is immense.

"My own team-mates - Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Challu - these guys are all so dedicated. It makes you feel good to be playing with a group that's as enthusiastic and keen to show what they're capable of. From day one, Hong Kong cricket felt like a family.

The "family" has recently had to channel the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2026 T20 World Cup - their chances at the Asian qualifiers were scuppered by the weather.

"Yeah, that still hurts," Coetzee says. "We were having dinner last night, watching the tennis [US Open final] and one of the UAE lads just mentioned it as a joke and it actually still stung a little bit.

"We are very disappointed with that, but with the new coach [Kaushal Silva] and the whole new group and vibe we have got going, we try not to think about that too much, and we are excited about everything that's ahead. The next week or so is a good example. There's always the next one to qualify for."

The game has also taken him places - Nepal, Oman, and the UAE - he never imagined visiting when he was lying on a South African rugby field with a broken leg, convinced his sporting life was over. That injury when he was 17 had driven him back to cricket, but the end of his Lions contract had almost pushed him out for good. Yet here he is, living a second chance, wearing new colours, and having a new perspective at 36.

"We love the city so much," Coetzee says. "We're based just outside the hustle and bustle, in Green Pulse Bay. We can see ourselves living here for quite a while. The cricket crowd is growing, the local kids have so much talent, and the passion is unbelievable.

"I never thought I'd find this in Hong Kong. But now I know exactly why Ben told me to pack that cricket bag."