How you can help us

By Khalid Mohidin

Hey, guys! Welcome to another issue of Cricket Fanatics Magazine, the first and only fan-driven Cricket publication in South Africa.

We started this venture on 1 July 2019 with a vision to get fans from all walks of life engaged with the game and give them access to the personalities in South African 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 haven'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.

In the past, the super-rich supported the work of artists as patrons of the art.

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

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 initiative today. Even a tiny amount can make a big difference.

Breetzke flourishes in mid-order, Swanepoel enjoys breakthrough season

By Marc Jacobson

Despite the Warriors having fallen just short of clinching the 2022/23 CSA 4-Day Series title, they had, illustriously, boasted the top run-scorer and wicket-taker for the season in the form of Matthew Breetzke and Beyers Swanepoel.

Breetzke, who usually opens, even had to bat in a more unfamiliar position, down into the middle order, which was, according to him, a “first” for him in his several years of playing professional cricket.

Additionally, he had to face the challenges of playing on more unpredictable wickets along the coast – mainly at his home at St. Georges Park – where “you can’t always be as fluent as, for instance, playing on the Highveld."

But, regardless of the uncharted territories he had to scale, Breetzke relished the opportunities that got presented to him and had received full backing from the Warriors coaching contingent while doing it.

“It’s grown my game,” Breetzke said of his challenges and accomplishments the past year. “It’s been an awesome season. It was always coming, I think, but just maturing and with a bit more experience, I got the big numbers on the board.”

When Warriors coach Robin Peterson initially approached Breetzke about lowering his batting position, he was open to it and unhesitatingly channelled his focus into growing his game instead. This was despite the fact that it was perhaps a daunting prospect at the time.

He reaped the rewards later on, having amassed 727 runs in 14 innings, scoring a stellar average of 60.58. Notably, his teammate, Jordan Hermann, was the second-highest tournament run-scorer, totalling 618 runs at 61.80.

The figures speak for themselves, and much of Breetzke’s success stemmed from making positive changes within his mindset.

“It’s about taking it one game at a time. Mentality-wise, it is a bit different. You’re not facing the new ball anymore, the fielders are a lot closer and they’re bowling a lot straighter.

“But I actually enjoyed having a bit of a break after fielding, gathering my thoughts on what I needed to do. I took that responsibility [upon] myself – batting at number 4 or 5 in 4-day or Test match cricket is probably one of the more important roles.

“I just took that on me… and it worked. Hopefully, it can carry on working.”

The 24-year-old scored three centuries throughout the season, all of which were special because they were similarly “on tricky wickets where I had to graft quite hard”.

However, he singled out his unbeaten 102 against the Lions at The Wanderers as a particularly remarkable outing with the bat.

This is because it was in an iconic ground and an innings where he’d faced four Proteas bowlers, namely Kagiso Rabada, Lutho Sipamla, Bjorn Fortuin and Wiaan Mulder.

A golden thread to Breetzke’s success this past season was his ability to adapt to and play to the various conditions.

In South Africa’s climate, with its interchanging wickets between the coast and at altitude, along with all its unpredictable weather systems, this especially rings true.

“For all South Africans, playing to conditions is important because we go all over the world and sometimes we can be stuck in our mentality to stick to a certain game plan. On certain wickets, you have to have certain game plans.

“The wickets have also changed, specifically The Wanderers, where it has been [full of] pace and bounce over the years, whereas now it has started to turn a bit, keep low, but still nipping a lot. A wicket like St. Georges has gotten a lot better in white ball cricket.

“But for me, honestly, I play to conditions. There is no specific game plan. That’s what works for me.”

On the bowling side of the seam, Swanepoel, who hails from Vanderbijlpark and who was schooled at Hoërskool Garsfontein in Pretoria, was the top wicket-taker with 33 scalps at a superb average of 16.12.

His 4-day season’s economy rate of 2.98 is also among the top of the pile.

A relatively new recruit for the Warriors – having made his debut for the Port Elizabeth franchise at the start of the 2022/23 season – Swanepoel had certainly hit the ground running.

The 24-year-old flew somewhat under the radar on the domestic scene, before making an initial breakthrough at Northern Cape and then blossoming at a higher level, for the Warriors, this past season.

What makes this season more special is that he was originally offered a one-year contract, and he clearly clutched at it with both hands.

“Coming to the Warriors, I had a big mental thinking [process] about it, because you can’t just come to Division A and walk over like you did in Division B,” Swanepoel said of his initial approach to the season.

But with the full backing from Peterson, Swanepoel managed to soar in ways he didn’t expect. “He said if I’m fit I will play in every format of the game. This was quite a big thing coming into a Division A team with the likes of Glenton Stuurman and Marco [Jansen] being around.

“If a coach tells you he’s backing you 100 per cent, then you know you have the freedom to play and do whatever you need to do to make a success. Robin really implemented [that] very well when I came here at the beginning of the season.

“To be honest, I didn’t believe the season was going to go that well. I was planning for a good, average season, and then getting another contract [while] progressing every year. I have a philosophy that it’s easy to get to number one, but it’s harder to stay there.

“Getting better will be the big challenge for me moving into the next season.”

"You don't need to change who you are to succeed" – Tony De Zorzi

By Naeemah Benjamin

"I think if I had to tell myself something at the beginning of the season," said Tony de Zorzi. "To that version of myself, I would just say keep working hard, don't change who you are. You don't need to change who you are to succeed. Just keep believing in yourself and eventually you'll get the rewards."

The 25-year-old made the move from Titans to Western Province in 2020 where Ashwell Prince was at the helm.

He wasn't just knocking on the door, he was banging on it. He averaged near 50 for the past 3-4 seasons and averaged 101 in the 2022/23 season alone, largely because of his unbeaten triple hundred against the Itec Knights.

He ended the season with over 800 runs in the first-class and one-day circuits combined. The dream for every cricketer is glaringly obvious – representing your country. 

A calm-headed De Zorzi silently went about his work and put in the hard yards. Finally, that chance came when Shukri Conrad, whom he's worked with before at the national academy, became the Proteas red-ball coach.

But what does De Zorzi think earned him the call-up?

"I wouldn't be able to pinpoint one specific thing. I think there's been a lot of things that have come out in a couple of seasons being at Province.

'I enjoyed my time working with Ash [Prince], it's a nice group of players [at WP] so we're playing good cricket and it always helps you to perform better if you're in a good team.

"Working with Snakes [Nackerdien] has also been very fruitful. I've enjoyed my time with him as well. There's been a lot of things that have worked out.

"Moving to Cape Town, being in a good team, working with good coaches and living in a nice city makes it easier to transition."

He came onto the local scene late in the 2016/17 season where he made his Sunfoil 3-Day Cup debut. He then went on to make his CSA Provincial One-Day cup challenge debut.

All of this came after being the Junior Proteas skipper at the 2016 U19 World Cup in Bangladesh.

De Zorzi has also captained Cricket South Africa's Emerging side, the SA Invitational XI vs the Netherlands, and the WP Blitz, so he's no stranger to leadership roles.

De Zorzi made his international debut after his call-up to the squad against the West Indies.

Despite a short stay in the first innings where he was bizarrely run out trying to sneak a risky third run, his stay at the crease seemed controlled and composed.

He showed glimpses of what he's capable of and improved as the series continued to score his maiden Test half-century in only his second match.

With a longer stay at the crease and yet again an innings of utter control and authority, he looked assertive and played sensibly. 

"Playing for South Africa or reaching that goal was amazing. Sharing a change room with guys you look up to is also obviously exciting, he" said about his debut.

"On the day I was playing, I felt nervous but excited. Would've liked to capitalise on the first innings, to get run out was very annoying but I still felt like there are things I could take away from that."

He embodied exactly what it means to represent your country when he received his maiden cap. The emotions were raw and real but also a clear representation of what it truly means. All the sacrifices behind closed doors.

He explained his emotions, and his routines ahead of his debut, which also saw his mother, Natasha, watching on in the stands.

"Every player sets goals but there are things out of your control and that's in terms of coaches, selectors, you know a couple of bad decisions as a batter, so all you can do is set a goal of trying to be consistent on and off the field, have fun and hope you get rewarded.

"In my video there I was crying when I got my cap because obviously of all the sacrifices that you go through and the ups and downs of being a cricketer. The abuse you face on and off the field, all those kinds of things and the emotions - they come to you eventually so it just came all at once.

"I know everyone's different. The emotions you feel like it's a culmination of all the things you went through in your career so to make a Test debut is, of all the formats, really special. But I don't think any of them are lesser.

"I felt everything come to the forefront. Ultimately you want to do well once you get to that level and just stay true to who you are on and off the field. Try your best to repeat them and give yourself the best chance of succeeding."

"Generally, in terms of mental routines and stuff, I like to pray a lot, I like to meditate in the mornings, have a coffee and go through my journal, where I write about things I did well and things I didn't do so well just to make sure I process things. It gives you a chance to pick up on things you did/didn't do well."

De Zorzi is part an important part of Conrad's plans for the future and a key part of the new era. Given their past, it was logical to ask him about the coach and his mentality.

"I've worked with Shuks at the national academy so I know he's an honest guy. You always kind of know where you stand with him and I think he's very respectful.

"I think he encourages everyone to be themselves which is something I respect and appreciate and I think a lot of the guys do too.

"Ultimately I think he always shows players respect and backing. I've experienced that before and we are experiencing it now in the national team."

Getting to know Craig Alexander

By Stuart Judge

Craig Alexander (the recently appointed Head coach of the North West Dragons) is meticulous with his planning, recruitment strategy and overall game plan. Whatever your provincial allegiances are, there is a compelling attraction for this to be one of your favourite teams.

During the course of the off-season, the North West Dragons signed the following new players: Migael Pretorius, Wihan Lubbe, Ruan de Swardt, Raynard van Tonder, Gideon Peters, Lesiba Ngoepe, Bamanye Xenxe, Meeka-eel Prince, Hlompho Modimokoane and Rubin Hermann.

Alexander emphasized that the recruitment of these players will supplement the high quality squad members that were retained: Nicky van den Bergh, Senuran Muthusamy, Lesego Senokwane, Duan Jansen, Grant Mokoena, Kerwin Mungroo, Caleb Seleka and Dwaine Pretorius.

Alexander highlighted that the new signings were introduced specifically to help the North West Dragons improve their red-ball form.

He explained that due to the promotion and demotion policies (for Division One and Division Two), it was important for his side to hit the ground running in terms of getting results and performing consistently.

He frequently highlighted that the union would work very closely with feeder organizations such as schools within the province and North-West University to ensure that the province also produces its own players. This highlights the fact that Alexander is focused on the long-term sustainability of North West Cricket.

It is evident that he wants his side to play a positive brand of cricket where players are able to express themselves freely as individuals.

“I want the side to move away from a mindset of survival to a mindset of thriving”.

He also stated that he wants to chat with his coaching staff individually to confirm what they feel is the best game plan going forward.

When asked about the coach’s conference that took place at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, he emphasized that the conference was very beneficial for the provincial coaches to collaborate with our two national coaches Rob Walter and Shukri Conrad.

He highlighted the fact that as a result of the provincial teams supplying players for the national team, he felt that it helped to clarify how they could up-skill players so that they can achieve the highest possible level.

Alexander also explained that he felt that the recent SA20 competition was very beneficial for giving young players a platform to perform on the global stage.

He also said that he felt that the event was well-marketed and it could only benefit South African cricket as young players were given a platform to interact with top international stars.

When asked about how he thought the tournament could improve, he said:

“In the future, I would like to see more local coaches involved in the coaching staff and have the opportunity to rub shoulders with esteemed coaches and ex-international cricketers such as Stephen Flemming (Head coach of Joburg Super Kings) and Simon Katich (Head coach of MI Cape Town).

"However, this will be more likely to happen organically as the tournament progresses and as this was the first year that the tournament was held, there are areas that would need to be addressed”.

Alexander emphasised that he thought that social media platforms are useful in fostering fan engagement and ensuring the long-term sustainability of provincial and international cricket for South Africa.

“It was one of the biggest learnings that can be taken from the SA20 is how well they fostered fan engagement."

Alexander is a meticulous planner who considers addressing all aspects to help his team improve at a higher level. You could see that he is someone who eats, breathes and lives this sport daily.

A few general questions so that readers, can get an insight into what Alexander enjoys.

Which coaches in your past (other sports included in this response), influenced your decision to go into coaching?

As I inherited the squad from Justin Sammons, I would say that he played a big role in my professional development. Another coach that had a big influence on my professional development was Monte Jacobs.

What type of movies or television shows do you enjoy?

I do not really have enough time to watch movies or television shows, however, if I had to pick it would mostly be comedies or documentaries.

What activities/ things do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy playing golf. I also enjoy spending a lot of my free time with my family when I can.

Malcolm Nofal on Promotion with KZN Tuskers

By Abhai Sawkar

There’s no doubt that the 2022-23 domestic season has brought about success for many. Those who tirelessly gave it their all reaped well-deserved rewards as the games went on. Malcolm Nofal’s resilient comeback and gradual ascent have certainly been an inspiring story.

Having scored 213 runs (average of 42.6) and taken 13 wickets in the 5 games he played, his versatile involvement as a sturdy middle-order batter and a tight left-arm spinner has propped up his team, as they went from strength to strength. The season would culminate in the best possible news.

“It’s been one hell of a season with the boys. I’m over the moon about what’s happened this last season at the Tuskers,” said Nofal to Cricket Fanatics Magazine. “And I’m so proud to have just been at the park playing with a seriously talented bunch of guys who are all hungry to do well. I feel a massive sense of pride and gratitude for how we got promoted - it’s the language we’ve been speaking since September last year.”

Nofal returned strongly to top-flight cricket in South Africa during the 2021-22 season, with a breakthrough season for Limpopo. It may have been a mixed bag of a campaign across formats, but it was the much-needed confidence builder for the experienced left-hander. Much like his stay in Polokwane, a place where he hadn’t previously gone, Nofal was ready to embark on a new journey after the Hollywoodbets Tuskers signed him for the next season.

“Yeah, Polokwane was really good for me personally. It was a hard place to play cricket but that’s exactly where you discover your hunger and desire to achieve bigger and better things. After that, I moved to Pietermaritzburg and honestly, the team we had was something special and we created history.”

Relocating to Pietermaritzburg presented Nofal with a familiar situation, but as always, he was prepared and on top of things. It’s a testament to his strong work ethic as a selfless team player who constantly strives for excellence.

“With regards to adjusting to new environments, you have to make sure you’re always putting your best foot forward and making sure you adapt to the new team and culture. Being a team man and being there for guys makes your adjustment that much easier.”

The time spent at Limpopo made Nofal and his side more resourceful, and they gave multiple oppositions a run for their money. They didn’t always have official first-class status, but that would serve as the ideal motivating factor, and many of the favourable results did not go unnoticed.

“Truth be told, playing conditions in Polokwane were pretty tough. Grounds weren’t necessarily the best, but we had to use that to our advantage. PMB is something special in my eyes. It’s a historic place to play cricket filled with a lot of tradition. I’d say the wicket in PMB is just right and it often stays a little bit low.”

“What keeps me motivated is waking up in the morning knowing that I get to live out my dream. There’s still very much a burning desire to accomplish some goals and I feel I’m on the right track as long as I keep doing the right things. I haven’t really changed much in terms of my game - I’ve mostly kept it simple, but one thing I’ve done is try to replicate my best game and bring intensity during training and matches.”

The fate of the Tuskers firmly rested in the result of their final game of the season against the South Western Districts. Only a victory would earn them a promotion, and understandably, the nerves were real. Top that off with a difficult surface to bat on, and it was a sticky situation to address.

However, the visitors remained steadfast throughout the three-day tussle. The early lead was priceless, and Nofal’s second wicket would ensure that SWD would end up behind by 23 after their first innings. And despite an all-round masterclass from Sean Whitehead in the second innings, the home side would come up short by 37 runs, thanks to a spirited display from seamers Keith Dudgeon and Alindile Mhletywa.

The low-scoring thriller confirmed a second-place finish for the Tuskers and the welcome to Division 1 next season. It was a memorable feat for the KZN-Inland side, and they’re now set to lock horns with the top teams from the erstwhile franchise setup.

“That last game defending 175 at Oudtshoorn was a serious shift from the boys. We were aware of what was at stake and there was a belief that we were just going to get the job done no matter what. It was something special to be a part of and something I’ll remember for a long time to come. Our approach in high-stakes games is all about sticking to the basics, like hitting the top of off stump for long periods of time and bringing intensity when batting and fielding, and when those things click for us, we’re pretty hard to stop.”

Now that the dream has become a reality, a stern test awaits Nofal and his team. Many of the sides in Division 1 have several players that have made it to national selection. Not only are the Tuskers blessed with experienced players, but they also have promising youngsters in the mix as well.

“We’re really looking forward to Division 1 cricket, and I strongly believe that we have a lot to offer and can’t wait to back ourselves and showcase our skills and strengths against some seriously good cricketers. One thing I’m very excited about is competing against the best there is in domestic cricket and wanting to not just be able to compete but also be the title contender. We have new faces in the team so in terms of preparation, we will get aligned with management and resume the process.”

“Our culture this last season has been good. The guys are buying into what type of cricket we want to bring to the table and execute. There’s probably one mantra we live by, and that’s having an unapologetic dogfight attitude that brings the best out of everyone - just being tough out there and willing to go above and beyond for this team is what makes us click and gel.”

Nofal will have the off-season to unwind and then gear up for the greater challenge in store. He has put together reliable contributions with both skills across two seasons, and the focus going forward will be zoned in on continuing from where he left off with more and more match-defining performances.

“My plans for the winter are to stay at home and have a solid winter preparing for a massive upcoming season. My main goal, personally, is to be among the top all-rounders in the country and be a consistent match-winner for the Tuskers.”

The recently completed season has been a watershed period of time in many ways, both on and off the field. Nofal was regularly among the runs and wickets, and later this year, he will tie the knot. At the moment, he’s spending quality time with his family as well as planning ahead for the big day.

“Life’s been good the last few months. We went to Johannesburg, and currently, we’re in the bush enjoying the downtime with my fiancée and my family. Plus we’re also busy organizing our wedding at the moment, which is happening in September. So with all things considered, there’s so much to look forward to, and I’m itching to get back to it.”

Nofal will live out another dream, but at the same time, he has maintained his calm and measured approach of taking it day by day. The excitement is palpable, though - a fruitful third domestic season could have even higher honours in store.

Q&A: Matthew Boast

By Jessica & Janine October

How and where did your cricketing journey begin?

My cricket career began at the age of 7. I’d say a bit earlier than that, on the lawn of my grandparents’ house. My grandfather used to throw a couple balls to me and I’d stand in front of a tree and mess around like that but I probably go into it at the age of 7 playing red ball hard ball cricket. It just took off from there.

You were selected to compete at the CSA Senior provincial competition in Bloemfontein in 2021, what were your thoughts going into the tournament?

In 2021 just before Bloem I was really really excited. It was going to be an awesome opportunity and unfortunately I got injured just before but it would’ve been awesome just to be a part of it and I was super privileged and it felt like such an honour to represent my country for the first time it would’ve been awesome but unfortunately I picked up an injury which just pushed me a bit more to continue to try and be in the set up.

You bowled 3/26 at the U19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies against Ireland in 2022, describe how you felt.

That spell against Ireland at the world cup was something I’ll remember for the rest pf my life. I just felt like everything was going exactly the way I wanted it to go, and it just felt surreal to be in that environment, especially having my family there watching all the way in the West Indies it was a really special day for me. I couldn’t believe it at the time, but it was really special to be out there.

What have you learned from the U19 WC tournament, what have you taken with you into your cricket career? (positives/negatives).

The U19 world cup taught me quite a lot. Being there around those players in that environment it showed me what’s needed to play at the best level or one of the best levels.

If I wanted to make in professional cricket what was needed to be done, just the intensity I thought was something new to me and it helped me perform under pressure. I feel like now under pressure situations I know what to do, go back to basics. It was a really awesome experience.

You made your debut for the SA U19 squad vs Easterns in 2022 for the CSA Provincial T20 Cup in Pietermaritzburg, winning by 5 wickets. How did you feel?

Yes the debut for the U19 side that was a really cool day I remember batting with Brevi [Brevis] for a bit and bowling into that wind against the men’s side it was a new experience for me and being able to be out there representing your country it was something that I will never forget.

As an allrounder, how do you manage to balance both batting and bowling?

As an allrounder, the one thing that I do is make sure that I focus on both aspects with the same amount of time and effort. So, say if I bowl 6 overs in the nets at full pace and really giving it my all I make sure I try to do a batting session after that and then maybe the next time bat first and then bowl after that, and just make sure you distribute your time equally across both aspects.

You also had the opportunity to be a net bowler at the SA20 for the Paarl Royals. How would you describe the experience being around players such as Jos Butler, Jason Roy, David Miller? What have you learned?

Yes being a part of that Paarl Royals set up and being a net bowler there yoh was something special being able to rub shoulders with Jos Butler, Jason Roy and David Miller was really really a big experience for me.

I learned quite a lot about my game there, you’ve got to concentrate on every single ball. I spoke to Miller about my plans after bowling to him and just getting that experience to bowling against guys at the top level in your game. It really teaches you a lot about what needs to be done and what needs to happen in order to get to that standard of playing.

You debuted for the Titans at the CSA 4-Day Series in 2023, what was your experience during that tournament?

My debut for the Titans was something I’ve been dreaming for a long time. For me it’s a really special place and being able to put on that cap and put on that baggy blue was yoh it was a really really cool moment.

My dad actually surprised me, he wasn’t going to be able to make it and I was at 3rd man and I turned around and he was there which made it even more special, for him to be there on my debut game and for us to end up with the win was also really cool to be a part of that, and to get the ball rolling on a good note.

Who is your biggest inspiration as a cricketer?

My biggest inspiration has got to be Vince van der Bijl. He’s my Great-uncle, my moms uncle and he’s been there for me and given me so much advice over the years and just knowing what he’s done in the cricketing space, him being a part of my family. 

So having him there giving me advice has been really cool. The odd phone call really helps when you’re not feeling too good and he gives that advice on what to do, it’s really nice to have someone like that to look up to especially in your family.

Do you support a football (soccer) team? If so, which team?

I do support football, I’m quite into it actually I support Liverpool. Unfortunately, we’re not doing too well at the moment but yes through thick and thin. Ja you’ll never walk alone.

Are you following any TV series?

I was actually following a TV series, but I’ve just recently stopped because of studying and test week coming up but, I was watching The Office and yoh, I’ve been loving it so much.

Top 3 songs on your playlist at the moment?

My top three songs at the moment have got to be:
Breakfast in Soweto – Prince Kaybee
Hall of Fame - The Script
Iris – Goo Goo Dolls