Just the wicket for cricket bat refurbishing team
An Eastern Cape business specialising in cricket bat refurbishment has knocked one out the park by partnering with world-renowned cricket equipment manufacturer GrayNicolls.
The 2nd Innings, based in Port Elizabeth but catering to cricketers around the country, has become a tried-and-trusted service provider not only to clubs and schools, but also some of South Africa’s premier players.
In only three short years, former professional cricketer Peter Furstenburg and partner Vuyani Matches have taken the home-based workshop to new heights, with many of the Warriors and Eastern Cape semiprofessional players now visiting the Walmer property to have their bats refurbished.
One of these stars is South Africa T20 all-rounder and Warriors captain Jon-Jon Smuts, on whose recommendation GrayNicolls agreed to partner with The 2nd Innings.
The partnership means cricketers playing the Gray-Nicolls brand in the Eastern Cape can now easily take their bats to The 2nd Innings for rehandling and other refurbishments, instead of sending equipment away to other regions.
Furstenburg, 31, said as a firstclass cricketer he had been fortunate to have sponsored equipment, but it was only when his career ended at the age of 27 that he realised how expensive bats, protective gear and other items had become.
Wanting to stay involved in cricket, he then happened upon the idea of providing refurbished equipment at affordable prices.
As word of his exploits spread among club and school cricketers, more professionals began to seek out his services. Furstenburg also runs another business, Change Gear, with a focus on schools where old sporting equipment is handed in, refurbished and sold.
“A lot of the professionals started coming to me for bat refurbishments.
“Guys like Jon-Jon and [Cape Town Blitz’s] Malusi Siboto. While the big bat brands are made overseas, they outsource their refurbishments, and that’s how the partnership arose.
“Jon-Jon suggested the idea of a partnership with Gray-Nicolls. So that’s how it happened. He chatted to them, I forwarded Gray-Nicolls my price list, and they got back to me last week confirming the partnership. I think partnering with such a big brand will be great exposure for the business.”
Furstenburg said while he had always enjoyed woodwork at school, he had essentially taught himself the art of bat refurbishment – skills he had now passed on to Matches.
The 2nd Innings also expanded to produce “baggy” cricket caps and branded wickets for clubs and schools in 2018.
Smuts said he had known Furstenburg for several years, and was pleased his business was doing well.
“I have had to send my bats to Joburg to get refurbished, which obviously has meant I’ve had to wait for them,” he said.
The Dispatch left a message for Gray-Nicolls South Africa’s Mike Andrews to return the Dispatch’s call, but he had not done so at the time of writing.