Kass is not over cricket, yet
WHILE she might not have struck boundaries as a cricketer, Kass Naidoo broke new ground for women when she became a cricket commentator in 2003.
Then, she became the first South African female to commentate and anchor SABC’s cricket coverage, ahead of former greats of the game.
Seizing her opportunity, 37year-old Naidoo’s delivery on air has been a marvel and meticulous and she has since established herself as a leading female face and voice of South African cricket.
Naidoo, married with three children, continues to be the flag-bearer for women in sport as a TV and radio sport anchor, after devoting a few years to cricket administration and motherhood.
And with her online site gsport4girls, which she cofounded with her husband Ryk Meiring, Naidoo has been able to draw more attention towards the achievements of female sports stars, via social media networks.
But for the “tomboy” teenager from Asherville, cricket has always been her game. Playing outdoors with her two brothers and watching TV with her dad, especially Benson and Hedges limited overs cricket, and the Rothmans July Handicap, Naidoo was addicted to sport.
After matriculating, she got a student loan, and with support from her parents, Naidoo got a journalism qualification from Durban University of Technology.
Working for the Mercury as a news reporter, she developed a penchant for finding the “story behind the story” while covering happenings in court, was her first job.
A bold move to break away from her “safety zone” in Durban and relocate to Joburg, to chase her cricket commentating dream, got her the rewards she was looking for.
She continued working in media when she got to Gauteng.
Jobs as producer of TV and radio shows edged her closer to where she wanted to be.
However, the country’s cricket culture was redefined when Naidoo debuted on screen during the 2003 World Cup.
She hit her audiences for a “6” with her composure, eloquence and, most of all her knowledge, of the game throughout that series. Naidoo had arrived. “I fell in love with cricket at age 14, after that nothing else mattered. Boys, parties, movies… Nothing could come close to my love for cricket.
“I worked tirelessly on my dream since then to get ready for life as a commentator.
“I attended matches, read cricket books, talked to everyone about the game, and lived the reality even before I got the opportunity.
“So, by the time I appeared on TV for the first time in 2003, I felt ready,” revealed Naidoo.
But calling the shots in a male dominated profession was not straightforward, she said.
“It was difficult to walk into a commentary box filled with former players and take the hot seat as main anchor and the first woman in South Africa to commentate.
“There were no rules for women and the sport, I made my own rules along the way,” was her plan of action.
Working with some of the best cricket brains like; Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, Jack Bannister, Makhaya Ntini, Ravi Shastri, Nasser Hussein, Wasim Akram, Nei Manthorp and Robin Jackman, was Naidoo’s honour.
But Naidoo said there were others who were “not happy” with her petite presence in the commentary circles.
“The established commentators were extremely helpful, especially someone like Robin Jackman, but there were always some who were unhappy with me there.”
Once she complained to colleague Harsha Bogle about how tough it was being a woman commentator.
“I expected a warm hug. Instead, he told me to grow a backbone and become stronger. His advice stuck with me because things don’t get easier, you have to get tougher,” was her philosophy.
Leaving commentating in 2007 to become a mother was a big decision, Naidoo admitted. “If you love something enough let it go… “was her reasoning.
She made a return, not as a commentator, but as Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) commercial and corporate relations manager in 2008
“Having never played the game, I thought why not learn how to run the game,” she admitted.
Naidoo resigned after investigations into the “bonus saga” that gripped CSA in 2012, had been completed.
“I never worked harder in my life. I gave that job my all. So, it was doubly traumatic when the media dragged my name through the mud, even though I had not been accused of anything.”
Naidoo said she fell out of love with the game after that episode but has since rekindled her love for cricket and also invested more energy into gsport4girls.
In May 2013, she made a return to radio as sports show presenter and Naidoo has done some TV work too, including hosting SABC’s coverage of the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Having three children to contend with these days, presents its challenges, she said. With the support of her husband, who she met during her days as a student at DUT, Naidoo declared she was completely focused on being a good mum.
“We commit daily to making things work.”
To her advantage, Naidoo is good in the kitchen and acknowledged her mother’s assistance on that score.
“It took me a while to learn the art of cooking a good curry. For many years I had my mum on speed dial, so she could talk me through a recipe.”
For the future, Naidoo said she loved the media space and enjoyed sport.
“You can be sure that it will follow me wherever I go.”