South Africa players help ensure everyone sings the same song towards ICC Diversity Day

Five of South Africa's victorious squad from the opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 started the run-up to the ICC Diversity Day on Friday with a visit to Jeppe High School for Boys in Kensington, Johannesburg.

Makhaya Ntini, Justin Kemp, Gulam Bodi, AB De Villiers and Vernon Philander answered questions from some of the 900 boys at the school on Wednesday morning before joining in a net session and mingling for a mass of autographs.

The visit was to promote the first ICC Diversity Day on 14 September which is intended to show cricket can captivate and inspire people of every age, gender, background and ability while building bridges between continents, countries and communities.

The reaction of the pupils certainly suggested that idea is true as, at the end of the visit, the boys all linked arms on the school playing field to give the players a rousing rendition of the school song.

The words of that song - black and white - reflect not just Jeppe's school colours but also sum up part of what ICC Diversity Day is all about, a fact that was not lost on Ntini, whose appearance drew the day's biggest cheer from the boys.

"You see all the players who have come here today - myself, AB, Gulam, Justin and Vernon and that just shows the diversity of cricket," said the Proteas' fast bowler.

"We are all different colours, we are a rainbow and we are all here together. It is a great aspect of cricket, the game unites us and, just like the (school) boys today, everyone that plays the game is singing the same song."

Justin Kemp added: "This is a very good cause and it's great to come out and share our views and experiences with the young guys.

"You realise cricket is so diverse because it allows you to travel to all sorts of places and there are not many sports that allow you to do that.

"That, in turn, makes you grow as a person because as you visit different places with different cultures you realise life is not just all about the way you do things and your own little patch of land.

"You find out what's out there, you meet different people and learn from them and that is wonderful. There is no doubt that cricket's great strength is its diversity."

On Thursday Pakistan's players will continue the run-up to the ICC Diversity Day when the team's vice-captain Salman Butt and Yasir Arafat visit the Orient Islamic School, Centenary Road, Durban, from 1400.

Then on Friday, during the three matches due to be played that day - Sri Lanka v Kenya from 1000 at The Wanderers, Australia v England at Newlands at 1400 and, from 1800, India v Pakistan at Kingsmead - there will be a series of activities as well as big screen messages and PA announcements at the venues.

The words on the home page of the Jeppe Boys High Schools - https://www.jeppeboys.co.za/ - reflect the type of virtues the ICC Diversity Day is all about.

It says: "Jeppe High School for Boys is Johannesburg's oldest public school having been established in 1890 in Fairview, Johannesburg.

"As noted in the book Historic Schools of South Africa: 'perhaps more than any other Johannesburg school, it reflects the history and changing character of the city and has always been a melting pot for children of diverse socioeconomic, language and cultural backgrounds.'"

The school's old boys include fast bowler Neil Adcock, the first South Africa player to reach 100 Test wickets, ex-South Africa captain Jock Cameron and Jake White, coach of the Springbok rugby team currently competing in the IRB Rugby World Cup in France.

Former international umpire Cyril Mitchley and current Chief Executive Officer of Gauteng Cricket, Alan Kourie, also attended Jeppe.

Kemp also commented on South Africa's winning start to the ICC World Twenty20 on Tuesday evening as it beat the West Indies by eight wickets.

"It was crucial for us to get off to a good start," he said. "At one stage it looked as though we were going to have to chase down a very big score but the bowlers did very well at the back end of the (West Indies) innings to keep the score to around 200 and to win was fantastic."

The ICC World Twenty20 South Africa 2007 involves 27 matches at three venues - Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg - over 14 days with the final set to take place in Johannesburg on 24 September.