Border U19 stars set for UK tour
BORDER cricket’s two most encouraging rising talents, Sinethemba Qeshile and Jason Niemand are ready to show their class when they head off next week with the South Africa U19 team for their tour of the UK.
The former Hudson Park High School students, who only matriculated last year, will be eager to impress, along with former Border schools star Thando Ntini, who now falls under the Western Province banner.
Preparations have progressed well and are near completion for the team, who gathered in Pretoria for their final week of the camp.
Coach Lawrence Mahatlane and his side will take on England in a Youth Test and One-Day International (ODI) series from July 8-29.
“The boys have been good,” said Mahatlane.
“They have all arrived fit. We’ve been together here since Saturday and they have managed to pass all their fitness requirements.
“Due to conditions around the country (in winter) not being able to have turf facilities, we have been very blessed to arrive at the Centre of Excellence and access to quality facilities,” he said.
On Tuesday, the U19s took their preparation one-step further when they began their three-day warm-up match against the Northerns senior provincial team at Groenkloof Oval.
Mahatlane believes this fixture will provide the perfect challenge for his charges against tougher opposition, while recreating the pressure they are expecting against England.
With only a handful of the 15-man squad having played red-ball cricket, Mahatlane and his coaching staff are looking to work on the players’ qualities in the longer format.
“Only five of the 15 guys have played in a three-day or four-day competition or match,” he said. “So just teaching guys how to play four-day cricket, how to play time cricket, how to bowl and bat for the whole day, has been crucial.
“So, our main focus over the past five days has been on red-ball skills.”
The SA U19s will take on their English opponents in two four-day Youth Test matches and three ODIs, and Mahatlane believes the players selected will be successful and make their country proud.
“When we leave the country, we are looking to be victorious in both series,” Mahatlane said. “We are hoping to be very competitive. They (England) are in the middle of their season, we’re in the middle of our off-season so it is important that we get cricket fit, as quickly as possible, and go out there and compete,” he said.
Top-order batsman, Wandile Makwetu, is heading to his first tour as captain of the national team after his appointment in May. He will be the most experienced member of the squad, having participated in two ICC U19 World Cups and taking part in a total of 28 Youth One-Day Internationals and two Youth Test matches.
“This has been one of the best camps I’ve been to so far,” said Makwetu. “It has been really exciting. The guys came prepared, everyone is looking strong and I think these next three days in camp are going to be really important for us as we try to really hone in on our skills.
“The preparation that has gone on in the camp bodes well for England,” he said.