Time for Mungroo, Pillay to impress
THE cricket off-season will be a critical period for rising talents Kerwin Mungroo and Jiveshan Pillay who are in the frame for a tour of Sri Lanka with the South Africa Emerging Men’s squad in August.
Fast bowler Mungroo of the Dolphins and Titans batsman Pillay were recently included by Cricket South Africa in the Powerade National Academy intake for 2018 at the Centre of Excellence in Pretoria. The pair were named by CSA among 17 players who are currently involved in a high-performance programme that is aimed at enhancing their skills with the view to promoting them eventually to the Proteas senior national squad. They will be based in the capital until 27 July.
CSA General Manager: Cricket, Corrie van Zyl said the National Academy programme plays an integral role in preparing players for the gruelling demands of the next level.
“The Powerade National Academy programme forms a very strategic part of our developmental pipeline and has as its aim, to prepare young players for the demands of professional cricket. These selected players that are carefully identified include previous graduates of the SA under19s package, performing senior provincial and emerging franchise players,” said Van Zyl.
“This group of players will benefit primarily from an enhanced cricket experience as they work within our system and high-performance programmes.
Pillay was in cricket’s global spotlight earlier this year when he was controversially given out at the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand. Well set on 47 runs against West Indies, Pillay was given out for obstructing the field when he returned the ball to a fielder after a mistimed shot saw the ball land harmlessly at his feet.
Mungroo, 23, and 1.98m tall is yet to make his mark in the senior ranks locally. The paceman from Ladysmith only last month earned a professional contract with the Dolphins, following a strong season for KZN Inland. However, he has already enjoyed some overseas exposure, having played in the Shropshire County Cricket League in England in 2016.
Powerade National Academy Men’s Squad:
Ryan Rickleton (Bizhub Highveld), Jiveshan Pillay (Multiply Titans), Matthew Breetzke (Warriors), Tony de Zorzi (Multiply Titans), Kagiso Rapulana (Bizhub Highveld Lions), Raynard van Tonder (VKB Knights), Thsepang Dithole (bizhub Highveld Lions), Gary Mahlokana (Multiply Titans), Smangaliso Nhlebela (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Junaid Dawood (World Sports Betting Cape Cobras), Onke Nyaku (Warriors), Ethan Bosch (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Nandre Burger (Bizhub Highveld Lions), Kerwin Mungroo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Mthiwekhaya Nabe (World Sports Betting Cape Cobras), Sinethemba Qeshile (Warriors), Lutho Sipamla
Powerade National Academy Women’s Squad:
Palesa Mapoo (Gauteng), Nadia Mbokotwana (WP), Saarah Smith (WP), Nondumiso Shangase (KZN Coastal), Izel Cilliers (Free State), Anneke Bosch (North West), Robyn Searle (Gauteng), Tumi Sekhukhune (Easterns), Stacey Lackay (Boland), Gandhi Jafta (Border), Lara Goodall (WP), Tatum le Roux (WP), Zintle Mali (Border), Faye Tunnicliffe (Boland), Robyn Searle, Alyssa Erxleben, Nobulumko Baneti