Newly Appointed SA U19 Coach, Shukri Conrad, had his first go at his new task and sees a bright future for South African cricket. 

Only a few local coaches can compete with Shukri Conrad as far as local coaching experience is concerned. For me, he is the best fit for the job, particularly at this stage where the U19 space is a bit disturbed and distorted.

For me, Conrad’s experience is just what is required to bring about calm and order to U19 cricket. Not only because of his experience, but also because of his unique style of coaching.

When you deal with scholar cricketers, you need to be as open as possible and allow the boys freedom to find their own game by not asserting your own approach in them but by encouraging the youngsters to be free and inventive.

“I’d like to coach players their technique and not a [other] technique,” said Shukri Conrad exclusively to Cricket Fanatics Magazine. 

“So whatever ability and talents and skill set they have, I’ve got to make sure that I improve that skill set, not necessarily try and break it down and take out the coaching manual and say: ‘right, this is how it’s supposed to be done.’

“So I think that’s really my mantra that I operate from. And it’s about allowing the players to be who they are. And we need to embrace that diversity in our country.

“As long as their thought processes are fine. And that’s the one thing that I’ll always ask a player: ‘what were you thinking’. And if your thought processes are fine, then the execution we can always work on we can throw balls and you can work on an execution.

“There needs to be a feelgood factor about cricket again. And if we can start developing really hardened, tough and smart cricketers, then I’ll be really happy.”

The quality of South Africa U19 sides have been on a downward spiral after the World Cup winning squad of 2014 which included the likes of Kagiso Rabada & Aiden Markram. 

The appointment of Conrad suggests that Cricket South Africa sees an opportunity to strengthen our pipeline with the help from Conrad, his team and experience. 

“So firstly, the reason behind the camps were quite simple. I’m starting on a real clean sheet so to speak. So obviously having been involved at the National Academy level I know the landscape of the U19 but I don’t particularly know the players,” he admitted.

“It’s really about making sure that we harness this talent properly. Judging by the responses I got from the boys and the scouts, they were exceptionally happy.”