Sharing talent and a wealth of experience
AT 26, Cody Chetty is starting to approach his prime as a cricketer.
Since making his first-class debut at 17, Chetty has established himself as a gritty, middle-order batsman for the Hollywoodbets Dolphins, contributing some match-winning performances in previous seasons.
His batting efforts caught the attention of the national selectors over the years and they included him in the South Africa A and Invitational XI teams.
While his desire to play for the Proteas has not diminished, Chetty has also advanced as a coach.
A former SA Under-19 player, he has joined forces with the Penzance Cricket Academy, headed by Zayne Bux, where he will coach and mentor young players.
“I am very excited about this opportunity,” he said. “I just want to give back to these kids. I have not coached much but I’m happy to share my experiences.”
Chetty, who has a Cricket South Africa Level II coaching licence, hopes to coach full-time eventually.
The academy has four practice nets, fitted with floodlights to ensure coaching continues when the sun goes down.
“We are trying to attract players to train under lights,” Chetty said. “It is different, but we feel that this is where the game is going. Kids must get used to playing in these conditions and adapt from a young age.”
Having come through the junior ranks at Chatsworth Sporting, Chetty understands the importance of developing a solid set of skills at an early stage of junior cricket.
“Much of our focus at the academy will be on basic skills.
“Imparting life skills and improving the character of the youngsters is another objective. With older players, we will look at refining their technical skills and bringing in specialists to cover all the bases.”