Ntini‚ Coetzee can showcase SA's emerging fast bowling talent in 3Team Cricket

16 July 2020 - 15:06

By Khanyiso Tshwaku

Thando Ntini and Gerald Coetzee will have an excellent opportunity to again show their burgeoning wares and also showcase South Africa’s young fast bowling depth at Saturday’s 3Team Cricket tournament at SuperSport Park.

The young duo step in for Kagiso Rabada and Sisanda Magala‚ who’ll miss the tournament because of compassionate leave while proven limited overs spinner Bjorn Fortuin replaces Chris Morris.

While South Africa’s pace bowling stocks contain young and talented individuals like Lungi Ngidi and Lutho Sipamla‚ fast bowling is hard and attritional work that often comes with injuries‚ even if bowlers are well managed.

Coetzee‚ who’s yet to turn 20‚ has already played in two Under-19 Cricket World Cups while he skipped three-day cricket and moved straight to Four-Day Franchise cricket. That’s how highly Coetzee has been rated and if he can remain injury-free‚ he’ll be an asset for South African cricket.

The same is very much applicable to Ntini‚ son of legendary Proteas fast bowler Makhaya. He has already shown he belongs at franchise level with excellent performances for the Cape Cobras in the Momentum 1-Day Cup last season. He’s moved to the Titans where he’ll be expected to pick up from where he’s left off.

Like Coetzee‚ he’s also an Under-19 World Cup representative‚ but went through the first-class path before he exploded in the Momentum 1-Day Cup with 14 wickets at 28.28. Given the opportunity to prove himself by coach Ashwell Prince‚ he made the most of it.

These two youngsters will be the ones to watch when cricket eventually resumes full time‚ but with that quite far from the horizon‚ Saturday’s tournament will have to do.

Squads:

Mr D Food Kites: Quinton De Kock (captain)‚ Temba Bavuma‚ Jon-Jon Smuts‚ David Miller‚ Dwaine Pretorius‚ Lutho Sipamla‚ Beuran Hendricks‚ Anrich Nortje. Coach: Wandile Gwavu.

OUTsurance Kingfishers: Heinrich Klaasen (captain)‚ Reeza Hendricks‚ Janneman Malan‚ Faf du Plessis‚ Thando Ntini‚ Gerald Coetzee‚ Glenton Stuurman‚ Tabraiz Shamsi. Coach: Mignon du Preez.

Takealot Eagles: AB de Villiers (captain)‚ Aiden Markram‚ Rassie van der Dussen‚ Kyle Verreynne‚ Andile Phehlukwayo‚ Bjorn Fortuin‚ Junior Dala‚ Lungi Ngidi. Coach: Geoffrey Toyana.