Full speed ahead
There may not be a better chance for SA’s depth in terms of bowlers to stake an early claim for the T20 World Cup in Australia next year, writes Khanyiso Tshwaku
The scary thing is the guy can still improve, rapidly
Mandla Mashimbyi Titans assistant coach
● At 36, Dale Steyn (Cape Town Blitz) is a sprightly old bowling stager who at the time of writing is the Mzansi Super League’s top wicket-taker.
However, the international train may have left him as 29-year-old Junior Dala (Nelson Mandela Bay Giants) and Steyn’s teammate Sisanda Magala (28) have asked the necessary fast-bowling questions.
The queue ahead of them contains Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje; fast bowlers who match them for pace and guile.
However, 2020 is a Twenty20 cricket World Cup year and injuries, which waylaid SA’s Cricket World Cup progress earlier this year, remain a present threat.
Titans tyro Dala was peerless in last season’s Momentum 1-Day Cup with 27 sticks at 16.59, while Magala (Warriors) was fourth with 14 at 34.71.
In the Cricket SA T20 franchise challenge, which won’t take place this season because of the restructuring of the domestic game, Magala was seventh (nine at 23.44) while Dala was fourth (11 at 18.09). There may not be a better chance to state a selection case, especially if they fail to crack Indian Premier League and Caribbean Premier League slots.
Here’s what their respective bowling coaches have to say about them.
Titans assistant Mandla Mashimbyi Dala’s strengths
“There’s always a willingness to learn and wanting to improve. In the last two years, he’s come into his own because I remember he was injured during the Pakistan series and he wasn’t happy with his bowling. In the 50-over game, we used him frequently, but not upfront.
“He bowled after the powerplay as a shock bowler, he’d do so quickly and we set the right fields. He was the top wicket-taker.
“The national team call sits with other people, but if he’s given the right platform to perform and to be successful, one hopes he can carry over that form and perform for domestic teams with the right environment. The scary thing is that the guy can still improve, and rapidly.” Dala’s room for improvement
“What’s happened in the past is that he’s been used extensively as a first change bowler, so when he opens, it’s going to be a bit different because that’s something he hasn’t always worked on.
He needs to be exposed more in that regard and the confidence has to be found to use him in different roles. As a bowler, there’s always improvement from a mental and skills perspective. You can’t master everything and there’s a lot of bowlers who do a lot of things, but don’t master any. The improvement would be for him to master each facet because should he get to the point of mastering them all, he’ll be unstoppable in a similar manner to Steyn.”
He’s got that killer yorker ... and the quick bouncer Mfuneko Ngam
Former Warriors assistant coach
Former Warriors assistant Mfuneko Ngam Magala’s strengths
“He’s loaded with confidence and he’s specific with what he wants to do at practice. He likes to do target bowling instead of bowling to batters, which he feels doesn’t always suit what he wants to do for a specific time. He backs his skills, his pace and how to use it intelligently for specific batters. Critically, he’s got that killer yorker which he’s used very well, and the quick bouncer. He’s very comfortable at the crease because he doesn’t focus much on his run-up. Alongside his game intelligence, he can also bat reasonably well, but it’s often where he’s asked to bat and the different situations he finds himself in that dictates how he bats.”
Magala’s room for improvement
“At times in four-day cricket, he gets a bit bored because of the line and length one needs to keep. He gets excited and likes to think on his feet. He was working on his redball skills in terms of building pressure when I left the Warriors. While I haven’t noticed any glaring weaknesses with regard to Magala, people have talked about his weight, saying he’s big. He’s one of the hardest-working cricketers I’ve worked with. When it comes to the gym, he does all the right things. From the outside, I was one of those who said this guy is big and maybe he’s lazy until I worked with him. If you go to the gym and look at what he does, you’ll be surprised. Maybe he’s not fond of running long distances, but he does it.
“He doesn’t shirk his gym duties at all.”