Nonkululeko sets her sights on the summit
● Nonkululeko Mlaba may be softspoken, but if she decides to take after her hero, Imran Tahir, the 20year-old left-arm spinner from Ntuzuma, outside Durban, could become an effervescent and important asset of the women’s national team.
With Kingsmead being KwaZuluNatal’s cricket centre, Mlaba made trips there where she watched Tahir delivering with perfection his legspin craft.
“He’s got a lot of energy, he’s got so much enthusiasm and he loves his work. It also helps that he’s one of the best in the world in his art. I’d regularly see him there, especially during his time at the Dolphins,” Mlaba said.
“In one of the few times I bumped into him, I’d greet him and ask him for advice, even though we’re different types of bowlers. It didn’t matter because the important thing for me was the lessons I was taking from him because he’s vastly experienced.”
If the women’s team’s trip to England had not been called off, Mlaba would have had a chance to improve on her showing against England.
In the World Cup group game against England in Perth, Mlaba opened the bowling and although her four overs shed 31 runs, she played a critical role in tying down the batting as the other four bowlers collected the eight wickets.
SA went on to win by six wickets and Mlaba opened the bowling in three of her four games.
Her economy rate also improved significantly with each game and she also took wickets.
Opening the bowling, especially in a crunch game against a strong England side, was a huge challenge for the Lindelani Cricket Club and Thandolesizwe High School product.
“I’d never used the new ball before until I got to the national academy. I was so surprised and it was something very new to me. Once I started doing it, though, I became used to it.
At first I was so nervous, I was worried because I didn’t want to let the team down or the ball could slip
My dreams unfolded right in front of me Nonkululeko Mlaba
SA cricketer
out of my hands,” Mlaba said.
“It was my first World Cup game and I was opening the bowling. There were seasoned players in the team and I was given the new ball. I was so excited, but there was the crowd and I needed to make sure I did everything right. I took it as a form of massive trust in me as I could contribute better in the team. It also made me feel better about myself because it was a new thing for me.”
Mlaba’s World Cup exploits earned her Cricket SA’s women’s newcomer of the year award in June, but if Covid-19 had not got in the way, it’s a certainty she would have added to her nine T20 caps. She’s yet to make her ODI debut.
The women’s team had engagements against Australia (home), the West Indies and England (both away) that were waylaid by the virus.
Not worried by uncontrollables
Mlaba wasn’t worried about those uncontrollables as the family-orientated cricketer wants to build on her gains when the game finally returns.
She looked back at the T20 World Cup, CSA’s only shining light in a turbulent two years for the beleaguered organisation, as one of her highlights. She wants to be the best bowler in the world and is willing to put in the hard yards.
“I had fun at the World Cup. I enjoyed seeing new places and meeting new people. On the field, I was pitted against the best in the world and it meant the world to me because these are things I only saw on TV. Being in the thick of things really opened my eyes and my dreams unfolded right in front of me. It’s not often you get to play against the best in the world,” Mlaba said.
“Now, I just want to be one of the best bowlers in the world. That hasn’t happened yet, but it will happen.”