Proteas debut for Stuurman
The SWD cricket team that will participate in a Bio-Secured Environment (BSE) in Paarl from 19 February to 7 March has been announced.
SWD will compete in Pool C together with Boland, Border and KwaZulu-Natal. Each team will play two three-day and three one-day matches.
In an abnormal season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this series of matches will be SWD’s only taste of cricket and the team will be extremely keen to make full use of the opportunity. The new coach, Alan Kruger, and his troops made the best of the current situation and prepared with various inter-squad matches.
The newly appointed captain, Kelly Smuts, as well as Simon Khomari, Sintu Majiza, Levin Muller and Regan Rhode will all make their debut for SWD.
Majiza is a product of the SWD development programme.
After representing SWD at u.19 level he spent two seasons at the Cricket
South Africa's Fort Hare Academy at Alice. Rhode, a promising leg-spinner from Oudtshoorn, caught the eye in the inter-squad games where he convinced the selectors. Jean du Plessis, who represented the Cape Cobras in the recent Momentum One Day Cup, is also released and will be a key batsman for the Oudtshoorn-based team.
The SWD squad of fifteen players are: Kelly Smuts (captain), Travis Ackermann, Herschel America, Kirwin Christoffels, Jean du Plessis, Neil Hornbuckle, Simon Khomari, Hanno Kotzé, Sintu Majiza, Renaldo Meyer, Levin Muller, Tsepo Ndwanda, Heath Richards, Regan Rhode and Jhedli van Briesies.
Cricket lovers in the South Western Districts were on the edge of their chairs last Saturday when former SWD cricketer and Oudtshoorn-born Glenton Stuurman made his international debut for South Africa.
The 28-year-old Stuurman was included for the second T20 international against Pakistan at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore. Although he went for 28 runs in his two overs, the Proteas still won the encounter by six wickets thanks to a record-breaking bowling performance by Dwaine Pretorius, who claimed 5/17.
South Africa lost the series 2-1 after Pakistan won the decider on Sunday by four wickets. www.georgeherald.com
Talented Christen Strydom and her horse Ruggens Coco showing their class at the recent open showjumping day which was held at the George Riding Club.