Sunday Times

Living her dream Eventful journey for shy girl from the Cape who is on top of her game

Shabnim Ismail learnt to play cricket on the school fields with ‘Big Vern’ and now she has two major prizes in the game

- By MAHLATSE MPHAHLELE mphahlelem@timeslive.co.za

● For Proteas women speedster Shabnim Ismail, the foundation was laid at the grounds of Cravenby High School in Cape Town in the presence of Proteas players Vernon Philander and Beuran Hendricks.

The right-arm quickie, who is SA’s alltime women’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs and T20s, started her career on an open school field with former Proteas fast bowler Philander and Hendricks.

It was on those fields at Cravenby where, with Philander, Hendricks and other teenagers, they ran in and bowled ball after ball with no expectatio­n of ever turning profession­al or even representi­ng their country.

“I used to also play with Vernon Philander and Beuran Hendricks on an open field at Cravenby School and Webner Street Primary School. We used to just run in and bowl as many balls as we could for fun,” recounted the 32-year-old Ismail, who is one of the fastest female bowlers in the world with consistent speeds of over 120km/h.

About 11 years old

“I think I was about 11 years old when I met them [Philander and Hendricks] and at that time we didn’t know that we were going to be profession­al cricketers. To be honest, we were just playing for fun and we got to know each other very well. We progressed together through the ranks of semi-profession­al to full profession­al.

“After a few years of toiling, things started to look up for us as our careers began to kick on. For me, when I turned 16, I made the Western Cape team and between the age of 17 and 18 I was selected for Western Province and the SA national teams. It was at the same time they were also making moves in their careers.”

During the recently completed ODI series against India, which the Proteas won 4-1, Ismail became the first SA woman to take 150 ODI wickets.

In January, she was the first SA woman bowler to claim 100 wickets in T20s and her 6/10 against the Netherland­s in November 2011 remains the best bowling figures by a SA woman in ODI cricket.

Before the first T20 against India yesterday, she was standing on 150 ODI and 106 T20 wickets from 106 and 96 matches respective­ly since she made her debut in 2007.

“As a youngster, it was just about fun and the adrenaline of running in and bowling. But it has turned out to be a career that has taken me a long way from Cravenby to significan­t milestones for my country. I am at a stage where I feel my cricket is getting better and this is because of the support we get from Cricket SA [CSA] and our sponsors Momentum.

“I was one of the first players to get a contract from CSA and I want my journey to be an example for young lady cricketers who are coming through the system.

“They must know that this is a sport for women and not only men. I want them to believe that they can play for their national team and be like me, Marizanne Kapp, Lizelle Lee, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Lara Goodall, Tumi Sekhukhune, or any other player they like.

“They must know that they are allowed to dream of becoming profession­al cricketers,” said Ismail, who is ranked third in the ODI and second in the T20 bowling rankings.

Growing up in Cravenby, there were temptation­s that could have derailed her but she kept her eyes on the prize.

“I never allowed distractio­ns to get in my way. I focused on cricket and when I arrived at Primrose Cricket Club at about 20 years old, my first coaches told me that cricket has the power to change my life.

“Things started to change for the better and I had a tough choice of sticking to my day job as speed-point technician or to pursue a career as a cricket player. I took the decision to follow my cricket dream and looking back now I don’t regret. I am talking to you from India having won a series here and with some important milestones to my name.

“I want to make special mention of Ashlyn Kilowan, who played an important role in my career. She used to fetch and take me to training, which was really nice of her because she knew my background. She took me under her wing and she always sent me messages before matches to wish me well and after to point out a few things.

First bowling coach

“In 2009, I met my first bowling coach, Henry Williams, and he has mentored me for the past 12 years and that is also part of the reason for the success that is coming about.”

Ismail also played in the Australian Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) where she won the tournament with Sydney Thunder last year.

“I have been playing internatio­nal cricket now for about 13 years and one of the highlights of my career was playing WBBL. I actually played in the final for the Sydney Thunder and where I was the player of the match. It was the first time I played and won a final and I still can’t explain that feeling.”

Ismail also said beating India on the subcontine­nt proves that they are improving and her bowling style is about consistent pace.

“We were here about two years ago and India gave us a thrashing. We have returned and managed to win the series and that shows that women’s cricket in SA is really growing and improving. It is a huge positive for us as a group to come to India in their conditions and win a series.

“I am a side-on bowler and I am a fan of having good pace and consistenc­y as well. That is the one thing that I try to do better. I know people always say at the age of 32 you know your game very well but I still have a lot of things to learn in this game.”

It has been an eventful journey for the shy and simple girl from Cravenby blessed with the talent of bowling fast, and “Big Vern” and Hendricks know about it very well.

I want my journey to be an example for young cricketers Shabnim Ismail

Proteas cricketer

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 ?? Picture: Gallo Images ?? Lizelle Lee
Shabnim Ismail is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in the world.
Picture: Gallo Images Lizelle Lee Shabnim Ismail is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in the world.
 ??  ?? Tumi Sekhukhune
Tumi Sekhukhune
 ??  ?? Ayabonga Khaka
Ayabonga Khaka
 ??  ?? Marizanne Kapp
Marizanne Kapp
 ??  ?? Anneke Bosch
Anneke Bosch
 ??  ?? Lara Goodall
Lara Goodall

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