Local quick bowlers fast-tracked by CSA
AGROUP of local quick bowlers will have their development fast-tracked after they impressed during an initiative by Cricket South Africa (CSA) to unearth South Africa’s future speedsters.
Chatsworth pair Kovilan Pillay, 14, and Fahyaaz Rahiman, 17, and Xolani Shezi, 18, of uMlazi participated in the Audi Q5 Fast Track final in Cape Town recently, where they were among the country’s top 24 bowlers whose pace and accuracy came under scrutiny.
The innovation used the Audi Bowling Lab (a set-up which uses world-leading Pitchvision technology to assess a bowler’s action, line, length and speed) to identify young talent across the country.
Bowlers from Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Western Cape were selected by former Protea fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam for the national final.
In Cape Town the youngsters were put through their paces by the likes of Corrie van Zyl (CSA cricket general manager), Victor Mpitsang (SA u19 convener of selectors), Ottis Gibson and Hilton Moreeng (Proteas national coaches), and current Proteas bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dane Paterson, Dwayne Pretorius and Shabnim Ismail.
The scouting team took the boys and girls through a series of training sessions and motivational talks before assessing their bowling potential using the Audi Bowling Lab.
“I was immensely impressed by the level of talent we witnessed here today,” commented Gibson, the recently appointed Proteas head coach.
“Having come from a fast-bowling background I am very excited about this initiative. South Africa has a great fast-bowling tradition. My hope is that one of the young bowlers will continue that legacy in the future,” added the West Indian great.
Kovilan, of Newhaven Secondary, has been playing for Chatsworth Sporting Cricket Club from the under-9 age group, and is part of the Chatsworth Hub and the Regional Performance Centre’s (RPC) development structures.
“By winning the Durban event he has done us proud,” said his father, David Pillay. “He was like the baby in Cape Town, among 16 and 17-yearolds, so he’s still got another four years in this. It’s tremendous experience for him and a dream come true to meet Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell and Ottis Gibson.
“They spoke to him, gave him advice about going forward, and Dale Steyn said to him and Fahyaaz that they must keep it up, and he hopes to see them in his shoes one day,” Pillay added of his son, who is a left-arm bowler, but bats right-handed.
RPC head coach Darryll Govender, who accompanied the trio to the Mother City, said they had bright futures if they maintained their growth.
“Kovilan did quite well considering his age, but overall the experience was the main thing. They can take a lot from it. Speed wasn’t the only factor – they were also measured in terms of their accuracy in hitting a mark and hitting the stumps, for which there were extra points,” said Govender.
“The boys will be more closely monitored in CSA’s programmes. They’re on the system and scouts will be aware of them, so this is a stepping stone, and if they keep working hard then doors will open.”
His words were echoed by Ritesh Ramjee, the amateur manager for KZN Cricket, who said they were awaiting the list of the top 20 performers from the provincial scouting mission, so that those cricketers can receive extra high-performance coaching from the province’s best age group coaches, besides the regular training they receive at hub level.
Rahiman, who also plays for Chatsworth Sporting, had already been spotted a few years ago. His prowess with the ball earned him a full scholarship for cricket at Kloof High when he was in Grade 8.
The all-rounder, currently in Grade 11, opens the bowling for his school’s first team, and plays in the second team at club level.