Cricket’s greats’ kids come into bloom in World Cup
● The last time a Ntini and a Waugh locked horns was 15 years ago in Durban when South Africa pulled off their highest successful test run chase at home in a dead rubber.
With the International Cricket Council Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand just around the corner, there is a possibility of Masimphuthando (Makhaya Ntini’s son) facing Austin (Steve Waugh’s son) for South Africa and Australia, respectively, to proceed out of the group stages.
In 2002 they were toddlers when Steve played the last of his 16 tests against South Africa while Ntini took five of the 390 test scalps he was still accruing.
Before the 17-year-old Ntini junior, who is a bowling all-rounder, can focus on next month’s age-group showpiece, he still has to navigate the Under-19 Khaya Majola Week that starts in Johannesburg today.
It’s worth remembering that most talented 17-year-old cricketers are in East London taking part in the Under-17 week.
After all, there are 57 cricketers who will be turning or are 17, while there are 11 16year-olds at the Under-19 week.
“I think at the end of the day we all develop at different speeds. I may have developed quicker than some of my peers but I’m not the only 17-year-old who will be at the Coke Week,” Ntini said.
“Sometimes it is difficult to see some of my peers that I grew up playing with are still at the Under-17 week but they will progress to this level. I think it is what it is.”
Ntini is not weighed down by his father’s considerable international success and the fact he was South Africa’s first black African international in 1998.
It’s a hard act to follow but the young Ntini won’t be the first and the last cricket player to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Having skipped mini-cricket for the hardball game at the age of seven, it was clear Ntini was always going to go places.
“Funny that I haven’t always been reminded of my father’s legacy but you can’t just block it out.
“You have to get used to it. There’s nothing you can do about it and it’s always going to be there. You just have to live with it,” Ntini said.
“I’ve always played hard-ball cricket and when I was in Grade One, I played for the Under-9A and I have forever stayed in the Ateams and I think my move to Wynberg in Cape Town has accelerated my development because I’ve been able to access the expertise and the resources that have been availed to me by Western Province cricket.
“It’s also about being able to represent the bigger side when it comes to Colts-level because that’s allowed me to compete at a higher and competitive level regularly.”
Sometimes it is difficult to see some of my peers that I grew up playing with are still at the Under-17 week but they will progress to this level. I think it is what it is Masimphuthando Ntini South Africa’s Under-19 all-rounder