BECOME A PATRON

By Khalid Mohidin

A very special announcement that I believe will change the face of the way cricket is supported in South Africa.

Hey, guys! Welcome to Cricket Fanatics Magazine. I would like to welcome you to the first and only fan-driven Cricket publication in South Africa.

I started this venture on 1 July 2019 with a vision to get fans from all walks of life engaged with the game and the personalities in cricket.

We want to tell the untold stories of South African cricket and we want fans to be heard.

Since we started, we covered the Mzansi Super League, Women’s Super League, Proteas Men and Women International Test, ODI and T20I series, as well as school and club cricket, with the aim of providing entertaining, engaging and educational content.

But hasn’t stopped there.

We started a Monthly Magazine where we provide multi-media content, including exclusive features, opinion pieces and analysis.

This works hand-in-hand with our YouTube channel where we produce unique cricket shows that allow fans to call in and have their say. 

We have the Daily Show, which reveals all the major talking points in South African cricket.The Sunday Podcast Show where we sit back, relax and engage with the live chat, answering all the questions fans have about us and the game.

We have Off-Side Maidens, the first ever All-Women’s Cricket Show on YouTube, which helps empower women in cricket and gives them a place to share their own views on not only women’s cricket but all cricket.

We have a Legends show, where we interview all legends in cricket.

To produce all of this, we’ve invested a lot of money, time and effort to bring this to you for free.

But to keep this going we need your help. So we have opened a Patreon account.

Today, we are fortunate that technology has enabled anyone to become a patron of creative work, even if they are not a billionaire.

We have therefore launched a campaign for you as a Cricket Fan to become a patron and support us as an independent, bootstrapped publisher.

As a Patron, you also get your voice heard as a Fan.

Plus: You have the opportunity to become more engaged with the content we produce.

Every month we produce at least:

• 60 Website Articles
• 20 Daily Video Shows
• 4 Weekly Podcasts
• Match Previews
• Match Reviews
• Video Interviews
• And more…

So please join our Patreon today.

Parting of the seas: the majesty of Maharaj

By Ravi Reddy

There is a revelational scene in the realm of South African cricket.

In recent times, South Africa was considered the fast-bowling hub of world cricket; producing legends in the form of Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, and many others.

However, the scene in Durban was somewhat biblical and majestic in nature, with a superb bowling performance that could easily be mistaken for the parting of the red sea.

An overcast Durban was greeted with joy and tribulation with the recent performances of Keshav Maharaj. A proud father, Athmanand Maharaj looked on from the balcony with glee and immense pride at what his son (Keshav) had just achieved.

These scenes were soon repeated with a triumphant performance resulting in a totality of 16 wickets in 2 Test matches against Bangladesh:

7/32 – Kingsmead
2/57 – St Georges Park
7/40 – Kingsmead

Maharaj claimed his 150th Test wicket, making him the most successful spin bowler for South Africa since readmission. He rightfully scooped up the Player of the Series award to add to his many accolades.

The scenes exhibited at St Georges park saw the dawn of a new era in South African Test cricket, where the newly combined spin duo, Maharaj and Harmer “did the damage”.

Many spectators deemed the Test series against Bangladesh absolute lunacy in light of playing in conditions favourable to our sub-continental visitors. This particular gamble paid off, with Maharaj picking up 16 wickets and Harmer obtaining 13 wickets since his return to international cricket.

We tried to make contact with Maharaj to provide comment, but he is presently in the process of tying the knot with his long-time partner, Lerisha.

Undoubtedly this has been a life-changing year for Keshav Maharaj, both on and off the field. Years of hard work, determination and family sacrifice have culminated in a blessed and fruitful Test career in particular.

To add to his many achievements in the Test arena, Maharaj also placed a stake in the ground of white-ball cricket (21 matches, 25 wickets at 35.36, economy of 4.77) even garnering a short-lived opportunity to lead the Proteas against the Netherlands in late 2021. 

Cricket Fanatics Magazine had an opportunity to speak with Omar Henry to unpack his views on the recent performances of the Proteas spinner against Bangladesh. 

Henry, the first-ever player of colour to represent South Africa since readmission, was an accomplished spinner in his own right.

“Keshav Maharaj will be the best we have ever produced,” said Henry, while referencing that he did not have a personal relationship with Maharaj, but worked closely with young stalwarts Senuran Muthusamy and Prenelan Subrayen during his tenure at KZN.

Maharaj’s stats were deemed aspirational among these two stalwarts, resulting in Muthusamy making his debut in India back in 2019.

“Another significant aspect or dimension of Maharaj’s game is that he was a natural leader and led by example. He was never afraid to experiment and worked very hard on improving his game," Henry added.

To add to this dynamic, Maharaj even threw his hat into the ring when the selectors were in the process of identifying a new captain to succeed Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock.

Maharaj has proven to be a menacing force with both ball and bat in hand, steadily easing the South African Test ship to calmer waters on the ICC Test Championship table.

Below are the best bowling figures in an innings from Keshav's most recent season in 4-Day cricket (2020-21). 

Among the top 25 bowling performances listed in that season, over 40% were spin bowlers.

Muthusamy and Linde were the only bowlers to make their debut for South Africa in the last 2 seasons from those featured in the top 10 of the listing below.

Out of the 25 best bowling performances (in an innings) in the 2020-21 season, Keshav Maharaj provided 4 of them (2 of which occurred in Johannesburg, South Africa). 

To add to those impressive efforts, Maharaj led the pack with the most 5-wicket hauls among the bowlers in the 2020-21 competition (4 x 5-wicket hauls in 9 innings at an average of 20.47).

This set an even better standard for the most recent domestic season in South Africa, 2021/2022.

In this particular instance, Simon Harmer led the pack with an impressive 44 wickets in 7 matches (BBI 7/76) .

A close second featured Western Province Blitz' Kyle Simmonds with 33 wickets (6/109 BBI) at a steady average of 26.

Shaun Von Berg came in at 4th with 27 wickets at average of 30.92.

So what can we take from this? What are key learnings?

For starters, spin bowling has become a clear priority in South African cricket. The only time we usually see 2 spinners bowling in the attack for SA is when there is a tour of the subcontinent.

Not only has the calibre of spin bowling talent been increased in domestic cricket, but conditions at specific cricket grounds have also become more conducive for spin bowling. As per my discussion with Omar Henry, Kingsmead was not known for its spin bowling favourability – instead, it favoured seam bowling in the past.

Simon Harmer is more than a supporting act. Harmer and Maharaj share the same qualities. Both are very strategic bowlers and have moved from a containment role to an attacking one.

The conveyor belt of spin bowlers should not be ignored in South Africa. Irrespective of age, we have Muthusamy and Linde who have represented South Africa already and are certainly key prospects to re-join the team.

Subrayen and Von Berg have yet to represent South Africa but display key competencies and experience to warrant selection at some point.

We have developed a capability of beating subcontinental teams in conditions which suit them. South Africa managed to upset Bangladesh at home but did so with favourable spinning conditions and not conditions that favoured SA's "conventional" seam bowling attack. SA possessed a lethal spinning duo, with experienced leaders at the helm in the form of Maharaj and Harmer (with many prospects waiting in the pavilion).

Maharaj has leadership competencies. This was apparent in the way he commanded his field whilst bowling and regularly corresponded with Harmer as a strategic partnership. This is an important point to consider in light of the incumbent Test captain clocking 35 years of age very soon. Elgar may have two more seasons left in the tank but will likely need to identify a successor should he hang up the cricket spikes soon.

Lastly, Maharaj is no mug with the bat. A highly aggressive batter, Maharaj is not known for playing the anchor role or rotating strike necessarily. Hit or miss has somewhat been his mantra, scoring his fourth 50 in the match against Bangladesh. An average of 15 is not necessarily going to make the greatest bowling attacks in the world tremble, but it has proven useful in recent collapses of the SA batting order.

Keshav Maharaj has shown what hard work and determination can truly achieve.

He has written his name in the annals of SA cricket, has matured and improved his game significantly over time.

Maharaj will be the best spinner SA has ever produced and reaching 300 Test wickets for South Africa seems a distinct possibility. 

Only time will tell...

Mandla Mashimbyi on winning 4-day competition with Titans

By Keanan Hemmonsbey

Four-Day Domestic series trophy-winning coach, Mandla Mashimbyi, speaks about what it takes to make the step up to international cricket.

Mandla Mashimbyi led the Titans to the first Four-day trophy since the return to the provincial, two-tier system was reintroduced in 2021.

Mashimbyi’s Titans team is littered with experienced international players such as Junior Dala and Lizaad Williams as well as players with Test match experience in Simon Harmer, Theunis de Bruyn and Heinrich Klaasen.

This ensured the Titans squad remained formidable in their quest for domestic glory. Their campaign, however, got off to the worst possible start. The Titans found themselves languishing in seventh position after two rounds of action.

The formula for turning their fortunes around started with a mental shift, according to Mandla Mashimbyi, Titans head coach who spoke to Cricket Fanatics Magazine exclusively.

“We just had to make a mental note, mental commitment to say ‘listen, guys, we need to step out of this now and actually get up and going’ and as a team and leadership group said ‘listen, this is how we’re going to do it’

"People really started getting attached to the badge and understanding what it means. We have a legacy to look after and we have a legacy to leave behind. We have to leave this place better than we found it,” said Mashimbyi.

The right headspace for growth

These mental shifts are important for players to develop at domestic level in preparation for the trials and tribulations of Test cricket. Being able to pick yourself up after being down is an important trait necessary to thrive at the highest level.

However, the onus is ultimately on the player to develop and grow their game whilst plying their trade at domestic level, according to Mashimbyi.

“It starts with the player himself to be honest. When they come into the [professional] environment they need to have some sort of goals and ambitions and desires to play for their country.

"What you do then as a coach, you provide an environment that’s going to be conducive to that player's progress that’s going to enable him to eventually get to the next level. For instance, at the Titans, we pride ourselves on our work ethic and how we train.

"We need to be deliberate in terms of how we train and that will put things together for the player to make sure that when he makes the step up, he doesn’t feel out of depth and that he will fit in with what’s required at international cricket,” said Mashimbyi.

Creating the perfect environment to foster that growth, however, is the job of the coach, according to Mashimbyi.

“Creating environments where players feel like they belong, creating environments where he feels like he’s got a voice, creating environments where he or she feels he can grow from a skills point of view and as a person as well. That for me, speaks to a lot of coaches’ ability,” said Mashimbyi. 

Building partnerships

Creating open relationships with players is vitally important for a coach. Cricket coaches act more as a mentor for players compared to other sports where coaches are more actively involved in the play-by-play actions of their team, on the field. Whereas cricket coaches focus more on the long-term development of players.

“As the coach, you want to be a sounding board, you want to be the guy that asks the right questions, you want to be the guy that brings clarity in terms of the mindset that the player needs to carry throughout their playing career. How you challenge a player is to ask where he wants to go and what are the things that are required to get there,” said Mashimbyi.

Building and sustaining that relationship between player and coach enables the future sustained success of the player.

“Then you actually get the player to believe in processes because we all want to be somewhere but we forget that we need to do certain things to get where we want to,” said Mashimbyi.

Building pressure from one end

Many Test cricketers make their debut later in their career, some even in their 30s. Mashimbyi believes this is important as players are able to perfect their craft at domestic cricket and then immediately excel at the highest level.

“I think you get your exception, you get players that just figure out their mode of being good and are just world-class at a young age but they make up a small percentage. I think the rest, think they need to ‘pay their school fees at the provincial level.

"Fail, succeed, fail again, succeed, until you get to the point where you understand what it means or what it takes for you to be successful,” said Mashimbyi.

Mashimbyi uses Vernon Philander as an example of someone who spent a long time plying their trade at domestic level and used that time to iron out any creases in his game.

“Look at Vernon Philander, he played provincial cricket for the longest time. He understood his game, he took time to be who he is in world cricket. When his time to step up came, he understood exactly what he needs to do, how he needs to do it. I think a lot of people need to take a lot of learning about how he went about things.

“I don’t think Vernon played for 10 years but he’s one of the greats. So people need to look into actually saying 'I want to accumulate as much as I can from an experience point of view, provincially, so that when I make the step up, there’s there are no holes in my game that will hinder me being a successful international player,' says Mashimbyi.

Turning over a new leaf

Titans middle-order batter, Theunis de Bruyn, is one of the exceptions Mashimbyi speaks about. The lanky right-handed batter made his Test debut at 24-years-old in 2017, an age relatively young for Test cricket.

Despite having a Test match century behind his name, de Bruyn struggled to establish himself in the Proteas team, averaging a meagre 19,45, and ultimately being dropped in 2019.

However, De Bruyn, now 29 years old, has emerged as a big-game player for Mashimbyi. In the Titans’ final game of the Four-day cup tournament against the Lions, a game they needed to win to clinch the title, De Bruyn scored an impressive 143 which played a big role in determining the outcome of the match and ultimately the title.

Second chances need to be extended to players who have gone back and proven they can succeed at Test level, even if they have failed as youngsters before, according to Mashimbyi.

“Theunis is a world-class player, he’s been through a lot in the last few years. The Theunis that I’m seeing this year is bringing new energy, he’s hungry to succeed.

"I think it won’t be long before we see him back in that Proteas change room. He obviously needs to put in the performances but I think he’s one of our best batters currently in domestic cricket.

“I think it is in his hands in terms of how many performances he puts in but I believe he will make it count internationally and actually do well because he had to go through what he had to go through to be who he is today. I think the world can’t wait and see what he can do when he gets his opportunity again,” said Mashimbyi.

There are very few players that make their Test debut at a young age and immediately excel, like Graeme Smith or Kagiso Rabada. Some players make it to the pinnacle of cricket at an early age and then struggle, like De Bruyn.

While others make their debuts much later and take to the summit like a fish to water, Like Philander.

What Philander has proven is that working on your craft day in, day out at domestic level with the help of your coach by ironing out all the creases both on and off the field before you reach the Test arena can lead to tremendous success.

While De Bruyne has travelled a familiar path, he will look to emulate the success obtained by Philander. 

Q&A: Sipokazi Sokanyile

You studied towards an LLB in Education and later Public Relations, how did it happen that you became involved with cricket? 

I started studying towards an LLB straight out of high school. It was an old dream of mine to become a child advocate. I’ve always wanted to work with children and do everything that I could in my power to ensure that they had a safe home and community environment which was something, and it still is something, that I’m passionate about.

But, I realised while I was in Law school that I’m not enjoying what I’m doing and you know when your heart and your spirit are not in what you’re doing then you tend to not put your best into it.

I knew quite early on, only after I started law school, that I wasn’t really in this as much as I should’ve been and so I asked my parents if I could change my studies which I did. I went to UJ and studied Public Relations. I studied Law at UKZN at Howard College and then moved home to Johannesburg.

I started my PR diploma and got an internship at CSA in my 2nd year. How I made the switch to cricket, I honestly have no idea lol.

It was 2008 and I was watching the Proteas playing in Australia and Graeme Smith broke his hand batting in that famous Test match. I just remember watching that match with my mom, I looked at her and said: 'I love cricket. I love everything about it.' 

Watching the Proteas, I was always inspired. They just had a culture about them where it always looked as though they were willing to lay all out on the field and represent their country with absolute grace.

There was always this strong feeling in me that made me want to be a part of that because it felt as though they were doing something far greater than themselves. I have been incredibly blessed to have reached my dream and now I’m part of that environment.

What do you enjoy most about your job? What are the challenges?

I enjoy that not every day is the same. I enjoy that I get to live my dream every single day. I wake up and I keep pinching myself and reminding myself every single day that I am here and that this is what I’m doing for a living which is crazy. I find that insane haha.

I enjoy working with such amazing people, we have some great people in our media contingent. I get to meet new people almost daily because of the amount of travelling that we do. 

We stay mostly in hotels and we’re always exposed to different people, and to see how beloved the Proteas are by the country and the impact a team can have on a nation – the fact that one smile from a cricket player can completely change the future of somebody else. 

One nod, one smile, one wave and a little child can be inspired to become a future Protea one day.

Being part of something greater than yourself, that's what I love about what I do and the fact that we get to impact and affect so many different people in a very positive way. 

The challenges, I would say, as much as the travelling is a blessing it’s also a challenge because we don’t get to spend as much time with our families as we used to be able to, particularly during this COVID pandemic.

I’m glad that we’re kind of winding down in terms of the pandemic because I have not spent this much time away from my family ever, so that has been a big challenge for me because when you pour into everybody else, you need the people that pour into you, make you whole  and happy the most. 

I’m grateful and lucky to be surrounded by so much love in this team. This team is your family away from home, but you do have your centre, your people, your core group.

It’s been really difficult missing out on really important family occasions because we’re in bubble environments and if you leave you can’t come back into the bubble on a tour, and those kinds of restrictions.

So missing really important family functions – family events, family milestones, my brother getting engaged and I wasn’t there – things like that have been very challenging for me because I come from a very close-knit family and we’ve always been present for one another’s stuff and this has been difficult.

What are the top 3 songs on your playlist?

- Jireh Jehovah by elevation worship
- The one you love by elevation worship 
- Most beautiful by Maverick city music

I’m pretty big on gospel music because it helps to keep me centred and maintain my balance and my mental health.

Also why I haven’t been affected too much by the bubbles is because I’ve been very conscientious about maintaining my spirit and doing that spiritual maintenance work. 

Who is your biggest inspiration? Who motivates you?

My biggest inspiration is my mom and my dad. They are my inspiration because I wouldn’t be here without them but also, they set an example for us on how to live and how to behave. 

I learned everything about myself from them – work ethic, how to treat people, ambitions, life lessons, financial lessons, saving rather than spending (haha), and just how to be a really good human being. 

We honestly grew up in a very loving home. I can impart those kinds of lessons and be the person that I am because of the example set for me. My parents inspire me. 

I’m also inspired by single parents and single moms in particular. My job at CSA sees me working particularly in development cricket. There are lots of single parents and single moms who have done everything that they can to ensure that their children have everything so that they can chase their dreams, even when resources are limited. 

I’m inspired by people who will sacrifice large parts of themselves, whether it’s financial, time, emotional, or spiritual. Those who give to others and who go over and above the call of duty. Those who have to do double, triple and quadruple the work for them to be able to provide for those that are in their care. 

What was your experience like at your first major ICC event?

My first major ICC event was in 2010. There was an ICC event hosted in SA in Potchefstroom it was the ICC women’s cricket challenge and it was meant to be the first of many. But then that was the first and the last of it.

Then I went to:  

• The 2012 U19 World Cup in Australia
• The 2012 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka 
•  2013 I went to the ICC women’s World Cup in India. 
• In 2014, and 2015, I kinda missed out on a few international tours due to budget constraints
• 2016 I did the U19 World Cup in Bangladesh 
• 2017 I went to the Women’s World Cup in England 
• 2018 was the Women’s T20 WC in the West Indies as well as the U19 World Cup in New Zealand
• 2019 I did the ICC Men’s cricket World Cup which was my first Men’s cricket 50-over World Cup

So, I’ve been blessed to be able to take part in so many ICC events. 

Each one is very special in its own right because of the memories.

I would say my favourites would be the 2017 and 2019 World Cups. 2017 was our modern team's first time reaching a semi-final even though we have reached an ICC women’s World Cup semi-final in 2002 or 2003 prior. 

So, it was the first time we had been able to reach that far in a tournament and just the team environment, the buy-in to the mission and the entire tour was remarkable. 

Then the 2019 World Cup I was working for the ICC. I was headhunted by them. They sent an email to the then CEO requesting for me to join their team for the WC. I honestly believe that it was through the work that I did there that I was promoted to the job that I’m in now. I’m grateful. 

That was an amazing tour, the best tour of my life, and the best working environment I’ve ever experienced. I can’t wait to one day work for the ICC again. It was the most remarkable experience. I learned so much in the space of 2 and a half months.

I grew personally as a human being, I grew professionally, I grew maturity-wise as well, it was life-changing and the best team that I’ve ever been a part of.

What message would you like to give young girls/women who aspire to enter the sports industry?

The best piece of advice that I can give is to be a fan of a sport and not a fan of a team. Teams fluctuate, people come and go, but be a fan of the sport and be a fan of trying to leave a place better than the way that you found it. That’s always the mission when you want to enter into an environment. 

Particularly for women, I would say that it’s important for you to have very thick skin and not be offended easily and quickly. Be very strict about speaking out for yourself.

When you are in a male-dominated environment, particularly in the beginning stages of your career, there will be a lot of people that will undermine you and that will not take you very seriously just because you happen to be a female. You need to establish authority very quickly so that people know not to speak over you and when you open your mouth people will listen. 

Also, there’s a lot to be said about keeping quiet in the beginning stages. Get to know some of the older people that are there, and learn as much as possible, speak less and learn more. 

Listen more, and when you do speak you’ll end up speaking a whole lot of sense, which will have their eyes grow big because of the amount of knowledge that you have gained because you’ve spent a lot of time listening and learning.

Don’t be afraid to learn and don’t be afraid to not know things because not knowing means that there is room for growth and there’s always room for growth in all of us.

Who is your favourite cricketer? Female/male

I don’t have one haha.

Okay no, my favourite cricketer of all time is Graeme Smith and I say that because he’s the reason I am here after I watched that match in 2008. That was the moment I decided that I am going to work for CSA. I told my mom that I want to work there and then she said let’s have a look at their website. 

We got onto the CSA website and back then luckily everybody’s email addresses were on the Contact Us page and I found Kass Naidoo’s details because she was in the communications department.

That paired well with PR which was what I was studying. Graeme was the catalyst and his performance in Australia and that team’s performance was the catalyst to me being here. I’m going to get so much heat from this hahaha oh wow. 

What was your journey like en route to being the Media Manager for the Men's side? 

I started as an intern in 2009 and then I was promoted to Social Media coordinator in 2010. In sports, people have multiple roles even though there is one specific role that is next to your name. 

In 2010 I started being a media liaison and started learning how to write match reports and learned about the different departments that we have at CSA, and then I was the Social Media coordinator.

Then I was promoted to cricket development media officer for cricket development in 2011 which included everything from KFC mini cricket to the SA 'A' team. 

So, I’ve been a part of many school age-group cricket from U13, U15, U17, U19 for both girls and boys and then the CSA national academy.

Basically, administratively, I have taken all the steps that a cricketer would’ve taken in their career from mini cricket to the Proteas and because I did that and because I know the business so intimately, that is what prepared me best for this job.

It’s the best preparation you could ever get. 

Can you give us some insight into the work you do, leading up to a series?

First, I would start with a media plan. I would sit (because some of us still work from home haha) and I’ll work on a comms plan for that specific tour and break down that comms plan according to the formats that are going to be played.

Then I further break that down into who are the players that I would like to give a bit more prominence and then work on getting more interviews with those players so that people can get to know them a little bit more.

Then we’ll go on to making a squad announcement for each format and generally we’ll do one format at a time, but if the selectors have made their decisions for all 3 teams, if it's going to be a multiple format tour, then we'll announce the squads. 

Then we enter into camp and we just begin with a management meeting, discuss our plans for the tour, have a team meeting once the players arrive and we’ll give them the agreed-upon plans for the tour. 

I will then send out a media advisory that will have the practice and the media schedule that was discussed in the management meeting.

We then we go according to that schedule making sure the correct information is given to the media and any interview requests which I facilitate. We go about all those media activities. 

At the end of a tour, I will also do a post-tour report which gives a breakdown of my experience of the tour. Almost like a SWOT analysis –what we learned, liked, what worked, what didn’t work, problems I encountered or I see coming, etc. 

What is your favourite country for a tour? 

I would say a tour to the West Indies. It’s the Caribbean, everybody wants to go to the Caribbean. My favourite country in the Caribbean is Barbados, I adore that country.

The people are the most amazing people you would ever meet. I feel so at home when I’m in Barbados people think I’m from there haha. 

The islands are so different yet the same in so many ways. The food is great, everything is rich, the colours are richer, everything is green and lush because of the weather conditions, everything is beautiful. It’s like being in paradise.

I still find it so crazy that people live in those regions and get to call them home.

I also get along quite well with the ladies from the West Indies Women’s team. I have quite a lot of friends there, more than half the squad are my friends. It’s always a reunion.

The men’s and women’s coaches and management, I get along with them quite well because I’ve known them for many years. 

Most of the men’s team management comes from coaching the women’s team so I know them from back then. It’s like coming home whenever I go to the West Indies.

It’s far away from SA and expensive so I’m grateful that, through my job, I’ve been able to visit places of that kind and hopefully one day I’ll be able to go back again.