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:

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So please join our Patreon today initiative today. Even a tiny amount can make a big difference.

Robin Peterson prioritises getting all Warriors players "on the same page"

By Marc Jacobson

The Warriors aim to tie up some loose ends as they approach the new 2023/24 season, which is set to commence at the end of September.

The cricket calendar is expected to be stacked in all the local regions of South Africa, and it’ll be further congested by the second campaign of the SA20.

The Sunrisers Eastern Cape – who form part of the glitzy league and who won the inaugural tournament – is based at St. George’s Park, the same venue as the Warriors. However, they operate completely separate.

The Warriors had a tumultuous season last year, and more results went against them than for them. Franchise cricket in SA is a competitive landscape and success is never guaranteed, regardless of how well a team may have done the previous year.

The Gqeberha-based side placed seventh in the CSA One-Day Challenge and sixth in the T20 Challenge before losing out by a whisker in the 4-Day Series, placing second behind the Dolphins and falling short by a mere 0.32 log points.

The side showed revivified and emboldened signs but failed to really make a statement as a collective.

Warriors head coach Robin Peterson, however, remains cautiously optimistic about the dawn of the new season.

This is based on his ability to create clear channels of communication within the camp and to get their systems functioning without a hitch.

“[Preparations] have been good. Everybody’s on the same page as far as what’s expected of them,” Peterson told Cricket Fanatics Magazine.

“The team has set some goals for themselves in terms of what they want to achieve.

“I think everybody’s pretty much on the same page – the guys are looking in good knick,” he said, adding that they’ve also had a “turnover of players” ahead of the new season. “Everything’s looking good.”

In terms of individual performances, the Warriors did boast several players at the top of the bowling and batting charts last year, even when results hadn’t fallen in their favour.

Tristan Stubbs – a Proteas regular in recent times – was the second-highest run-scorer in the one-day tournament last year, having scored 361 runs at an average of 60.16. Diego Rosier was sixth (305 runs at 43.57) and Jordan Hermann ninth (297 runs at 49.50).

Akhona Mnyaka was the highlight with the ball, having taken the third most wickets in the same league (15 scalps at an average of 24.13).

Ziyaad Abrahams closely followed, having taken 14 wickets at 26.64. Beyers Swanepoel was seventh with 12 wickets at an impressive average of 18.83.

In the T20 tournament, the Warriors batters struggled more to get going, with their highest run-scorer – Hermann – placing ninth. He scored 186 runs at a strike rate of 116.25.

Their bowlers struggled even more, with their highest wicket-taker – Glenton Stuurman – only positioning 14th.

The Eastern Cape franchise had a lot more to brag about in red-ball cricket last season – which showed in the team’s solid log standing with four wins out of seven.

Proudly, they acquired both the first and second spots of the highest run-scorers list in the form of Matthew Breetzke (727 runs at 60.58) and Hermann (618 runs at 61.80).

Swanepoel also topped the wicket-taking standings, having bowled superbly to claim 33 dismissals at a brilliant average of 16.12.

Peterson said they’ve maintained the core of the squad from last season, but that they’ve tweaked their bowling attack slightly.

Among those changes include the addition of Jiveshan Pillay (from the Titans), Liam Alder (from the Lions) and Sean Whitehead (from South Western Districts). All-rounder Patrick Kruger (from the Knights) also joined their roster.

“We’ve added to our squad – we’ve got a better overall squad now, let’s put it that way.

“We also had six players in the academy, which was most important for us. Sometimes pre-seasons can be a bit laborious and long, so the fact that guys were away playing, doing fitness and being engaged in cricket was more of a benefit to us as a group.

“We only had five players here (in the Eastern Cape) and the rest were either overseas playing SA ‘A’ or franchise cricket around the world.
“It’s been a bit different, but we communicate with all the players pretty much every week while they’ve been away so everyone’s on the same page.”

With regards to the different formats – where the Warriors were evidently a bit inconsistent last season – Peterson said they “just try to nail the basics” in terms of preparation.

“That’s how we operate here. We try to make sure the players have good fundamentals. If you don’t have the fundamentals you won’t be able to really play in any format.

“We try to keep things really simple. If players understand the bigger picture then they’re fine with it. Then there’s game awareness – we want to improve their game awareness and thinking. [It’s about] getting each player very organised in their individual roles.”

The mental aspect of the game probably makes up the most important building blocks to being successful – both as a team, but even more so as individuals. The 44-year-old remains acutely aware of this.

“Everyone’s different,” he said. “One of the questions I ask the players at the end of every season is, ‘What is your mental performance strategy?’

“There’s no point in playing the cover drive if you suffer from anxiety before you even play it or before you even get to the crease, or how you handle pressure. [It’s about realizing] what your tools are to lean on when the pressure is high.

“You can talk them through some experiences you’ve had or great players you played with and how they handled it, but at the end of the day, from a mental side, players have to do it themselves.

“You can’t rely on a coach once you’re in the middle. Coaches are there to give support and advice here and there, but too many things happen in a cricket game that players have to make decisions and trust their choices.

“But to make good decisions you have to be prepared, and that’s where coaches come in.”

The former Proteas all-rounder, who played 15 Tests, 79 ODIs and 21 T20Is between 2003 and 2014, wants his side to hit the ground running and start this upcoming season with a clean slate.

This is especially because, according to him, the fixtures drawn up by Cricket South Africa (CSA) are more unfavourable to them.

“Some teams are playing three or four games when we’re only playing our first game,” Peterson said.

“We’re going to have to be on the front foot in terms of being prepared to play at a very high level right from the start. That’s probably something we’re not happy with.”

Peterson added that one of his main priorities is to build cohesion and chemistry within the squad.

“It’s about connecting the group and asking them questions in terms of how they want their season to function.

“Everyone’s got their skills, but more importantly it’s about what characters we want. We want to be a team that is prepared to scrap and earn everything.

“That comes through when you work with them, as well as the little interactions they have with one another.

“You can have all the talent, but one thing that always comes through is the desire to win. You need to be honest with one another.

“As big as a player is or how experienced he is, they all still need a bit of love and attention – they’re all human beings at the end of the day.”

Domingo Previews Lions 2023/24 Season

By Chris Chiwanza

Russell Domingo rises from his chair, he is headed to the field. The last two weeks have been a whirlwind of meetings, training and the occasional dinner engagement. Tonight he is scheduled to attend another one. He will say a few words there. But, he is not focused on that. There are a few hours before he has to leave the Wanderers to prepare for the dinner.

Domingo arrived at the Wanderers shortly after 8 am. Training starts at 9:30. Most players start arriving at around 8:45. The early birds arrive a little early and go through their pre-training routine.

Today's training is no different from yesterday's, the idea is to build consistency. In the one and half hour period he spends in his office alone, Domingo reviews each player's performance from the day before.

There is feedback on each player from Domingo's backroom staff. Prasanna Agoram keeps what he calls a blueprint of every player. Domingo has an excellent relationship with Agoram.

The pair worked together during their time with the Proteas. A mutual respect developed between the two.

"I am happy to be back together again with P-Dogg. He is a wonderful human being. He has great insights on players, selection and tactics," says Domingo.

The blueprint has technical information on each player on the Lions roster at their peak. Domingo's target is to get each player as close to that blueprint as possible.

"We want to win trophies for the Lions and to do that, we need the players to be at their best. Besides that, our role is to produce players that go on to play for the Proteas. Hopefully, in the next year or two we can have more youngsters knocking on the door to national selection," says Domingo.

It's every player's dream to play international cricket. Domingo will do all he can to see that most of his players have a look in. To achieve those two goals, the players have to be able to perform at their best consistently. That's why he is building each player from the ground up.

"We are working on the basics right now," he says.

The extravagant, inventive, and aggressive shots that players execute are built on the foundation of the basics. Domingo has a former South African great by his side to help his batters: Hashim Amla. The idea is not to turn Lions batters into a team of mini-Hashim Amlas.

"Like most things, your understanding of batting increases as you play against different opponents and in different conditions more. Experience is the foundation of wisdom," says Domingo.

Amla has seen the game from multiple angles and has performed at every level. Domingo couldn't have asked for a better batting coach to work with. If there is anyone who understands the importance of adapting your unique style to the basics of cricket, it is Amla.

When Amla made his breakthrough in international cricket, it did not take long for him to be criticized for having an unorthodox style. It was blamed for his early failures as he adapted to international cricket.

Amla tried to alter his style to suite the textbook, but he later found that he performed better if he remained true to himself and made sure that he had the basics in place.

Domingo and his team are doing the same with the bowlers. Crawl, walk and then run. Breaking down a player's game is easier when they are in a small group.

Many things will go unnoticed in sessions where the players train as a large group. Smaller groups allow for intimate interaction. Each group practices for two-and-a-half hours before it makes way for the next one.

The DP World Lions have a large squad, and small groups of six or seven players allow Domingo to focus on the other basics that he is intent on: the basics of coaching.

Domingo has been away from South African cricket, coaching abroad, and has lost touch with most players - especially the up and coming group. Working with small groups of players allows him to get closer to the players and understand them better as individuals.

As the players start trickling in, Domingo wraps up his pre-training activities, and heads for the nets. Dom Hendricks, his four-day and one-day cricket is in the distance. Domingo did not make captaincy changes when he arrived.

Making wholesale changes in his first season also upsets the team dynamics, it breeds paranoia. Domingo isn't one to shake up the team for the sake of shaking it up. His primary objective is to create an environment where players feel psychologically safe and can thrive.

"I know Dom very well. I tried to sign him for the Warriors after his Under-19 year. He is a good cricketer with a good head on his shoulders. He has grown into a great leader," he says as he heads towards his captain.

It's time to put in the hours, the 2023/24 season is around the corner. 

Squad: Temba Bavuma (Protea), Reeza Hendricks (Protea), Rassie Der Dussen (Protea), and Kagiso Rabada (Protea), Bjorn Fortuin (Protea), Sisanda Magala (Protea), Ryan Rickelton (Protea), Dominic Hendricks, Wiaan Mulder, Lutho Sipamla, Junaid Dawood, Zubayr Hamza, Tsepo Ndwandwa, Tshepo Moreki, Delano Potgieter, Joshua Richards, Mitch Van Buuren, Duanne Olivier, Codi Yusuf, Evan Jones, Malusi Siboto, Connor Esterhuizen. High Performance: Wandile Makwetu; Cole Abrahams; Marco Van Biljon; Muhammed Manack; Ronan Herrmann; Nqaba Peter.

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.

Justin Ontong Previews the Rocks' 2023/24 Season

By Stuart Judge

We chatted with Justin Ontong, who has been appointed as the Head Coach of the Boland cricket team.

The biggest takeaway from the interview was that Ontong is not only a coach who thinks about improving players from a technical level, but, also on an emotional level.

The conversation started with understanding his coaching philosophy.

“My coaching philosophy is to create an environment where players of varying skill levels and levels of experience can continuously grow."

When he was asked about values that he tries to instill in his players Justin Ontong stated:

“Hard Work and Confidence. I want to create an environment where everyone feels like they can be themselves. I also want to instil a growth mindset in all my players as everyone can continuously grow regardless of their experience in Provincial or international cricket.

"As a coach you have to be one step ahead of the curve. You have to see whether your players are struggling technically or psychologically and implement the appropriate strategies to fix it."

It was evident that Ontong’s coaching philosophy centred around creating an environment where players work hard and feel comfortable enough to be themselves.

In 2023, we had recently seen how other coaches (such as Brendon McCullum who was the Head Coach of England), used a similar approach to good effect with the English Test side.

Ontong explained how he would be applying his coaching philosophy.

“Whilst the general principles and values of hard work and inclusivity would remain the same, I would adapt my coaching philosophy dependent on the format.

"Due to the structures of the formats being vastly different, you as a coach need to clarify an individual’s roles depending on the format.

"An example of this would be a player who bats at number six in One-Day Cricket would generally be labelled as a finisher and has to find boundaries at will, whereas in four-day cricket the same player could bat at six, but, could be tasked with rebuilding the innings."

He also further emphasized that the overhead and pitch conditions also factor in how any coach should prepare for a match regardless of the format.

Integration of young players into domestic cricket will also be crucial which is what he also included when expanding on his coaching philosophy.

“As a coach, I believe that young players should be introduced gradually to domestic cricket. If you look at the composition of the Paarl Rocks Squad, we have a lot of experienced players such as Pieter Malan, Janneman Malan, Stiaan Van Zyl, Glenton Stuurman and Shaun von Berg.

"We also have a talented group of young players such as Akhona Mnyaka and Michael Copeland. I believe that both the experienced and inexperienced players can learn from each other and push each other for places in the squad.

“As a young player at the Lions, I learnt from experienced players such as Neil McKenzie and Adam Bacher. I saw positive traits in their behaviour and tried to take on key characteristics which could help me improve as a player."

Ontong also stated that younger players are starting to play with less fear as they are exposed to more global leagues.

He believes that as a coach you need to focus on the young player’s strengths and make sure that you get the best out of them.

“The formats seem to be getting shorter. More T10 Leagues are popping up around the world and we have also seen tournaments such as the Hundred influence the player's technique."

There is no doubt, however, that the players with Proteas experience will also be vital to his side.

We have seen guys like Janneman and Pieter Malan recently play for South Africa.

Ontong highlighted that it is crucial that as a coach he ensures that he gets the best out of them to help them get back into the national side.

“It is highly important to explain that there is a clear pathway or goal that they (the Malan brothers), can work towards. At the start of 2024, there will be a clash with the SA20 and a Test series against New Zealand.

"Both brothers are highly experienced and they know how to get big hundreds. An opportunity to be selected for this series will give them an extra incentive to perform well to be selected."

 One can deduce that by giving experienced players a goal to work towards, there would be an increased likelihood that they could be selected for the national side in the future if they performed well against New Zealand and had a strong domestic season.

Janneman in particular had a difficult year, and we all know he is a highly reflective cricketer. From his past selections in One-Day Internationals and T20s, we have seen him constantly prove his worth as an international cricketer.

Ontong believes it is only a matter of time before he gets recalled to the national setup.

“As a coach, it is your job to support your players. We all know that he (Janneman Malan), is a top-quality batsman and he is one of, if not the most hard-working players I have seen.

"I often have to tell him that he is hitting too many balls. He has an incredible attitude, however, he is his harshest critic. The margin for error in top-level sport is so fine, and I often tell him that he is one shot away from scoring a big hundred."

Whilst he gave no quantifiable prediction about how the Paarl Rocks should perform, Ontong stated that he was optimistic about the upcoming season.

When asked about the recent signings that were made before the start of the 2023/24 season he said:

“Keegan Petersen is an experienced player (at international and provincial cricket). He knows how to score big hundreds and we saw his quality in the test series against India where he was named Man of the Series.

"Akhona Mnyaka is a talented left-arm seamer who has a high level of potential and I am confident that he will do very well.

"Glenton Stuurman is also an experienced first-class cricketer and he has the potential to be in the mould of a Vernon Philander, however, this will come with time and the more he practices."

The signing of Petersen will be an important factor for Ontong, and he gave us extra insight into what he brings to the Rocks environment.

“As a Provincial side, it is important that we comply with directives given by the national coaches (Rob Walter and Shukri Conrad).

"In Keegan Petersen, we have a batter who can bat anywhere between position three and five and he also can score big hundreds regardless of where he bats. Keegan also has outstanding leadership qualities and he is an excellent tactician of the game.

"In the short time I have worked with him, I have observed his leadership qualities first-hand, and if senior players (such as Janneman or Pieter Malan and Stiaan Van Zyl) get injured, I feel that Keegan could easily step into the role of being captain."

"It is important for any successful sports team to have a core group of multiple leaders instead of being over-reliant on one leader”. He openly praised his senior players by saying that they were all great tacticians who could fill in if Pieter Malan got injured.

 With national experience as a player under his belt – two Tests, 28 ODIs and 14 T20Is – Ontong will also be drawing learnings from his time as a Proteas player.

“The biggest learning that I have taken away from the Proteas is centered around man-management and ensuring that the players are in a good state of mind which allows for players to perform at an optimal level.

"The players in the dressing room are a family away from a player’s biological family and players often spend long periods on the road travelling and playing four-day games which indicates that it is important that they get along."

Ontong rightfully places a great emphasis on mental health and promoting an inclusive environment.

We have seen how similar philosophies have been shared in other sports such as Formula One, where we see team principals such as Toto Wolff (the team principal of Mercedes AMG) talk about ensuring that not only the drivers but all employees of the organization are in a good state of mind.

"In a South African context, we have seen the Springboks create a family culture where all the players are valued and treated equally. Society has also become more aware of mental health illnesses and it is important for the management to consistently observe the player’s psychological development."

Q&A: Joshua van Heerden

By Jessica & Janine October

You made your T20 debut for EP in September 2018 at the Africa T20 Cup, 1st Class debut in October for the 2018/19 CSA 3-Day Provincial Cup and List A in the 2018/19 Provincial One-Day Challenge in January 2019. 

You were also named in the T20 Squad for EP in the 2019/20 season for the CSA Provincial T20 Cup in September 2019. When did your cricket journey begin and how has your career developed?

My cricket journey started by watching my older brother and playing garden cricket with him. I watched most of his training sessions and we spent hour after hour playing garden cricket in summer. I played most sports at school and still love any sport with a ball. I have been lucky to have an older who helped me develop my game and allowed me to be exposed to a higher level at an early age. 

You were named in the squad for Border Division 2 in the 2021/22 season and after a 2-year stint at Border, you signed with the Titans as a rookie for Division 1 in the upcoming 2023/24 domestic season. Describe the intensity between the two Divisions, how much different is Division 1 from Division 2?

I haven't played a match in Division One yet so it is hard to make a direct comparison. The cricket in Division 2 is very competitive and I think it will stand me in good stead for what lies ahead. 

What are your expectations for yourself going into the upcoming 2023/24 season?

I hope to add value to the Titans set-up and contribute to what is already a very successful franchise. 

Would you consider yourself an all-rounder?

It's a work in progress, I have a lot to learn and I'm sure that the Titans environment will accelerate my learning. Hopefully, I will get a few bowling opportunities in the games ahead. 

Tell us a bit more about your “comeback” after your knee injury in 2021. How did this injury affect you?

I had to have a knee reconstruction done in October 2021 which meant 9 months on the sidelines. Working in a corporate environment during my rehab allowed me to appreciate how lucky we are to play cricket for a living. Hopefully, it is something I can carry with me for the rest of my career. 

In October 2022, you were named in the squad for Germany at the Tri-Nations Series in Spain and debuted against Italy, how did this come about and what was your experience playing in the Series?

I am lucky to have German citizenship from my Dad's side of the family. It was an awesome experience being able to travel overseas and play cricket in different conditions. The players love cricket over there and I have really enjoyed the 3 series I have played so far.

What was your experience like at the CSA Awards, and winning the Division 2 One-Day Cup Player of the Season award? What does this award mean to you?

It was awesome to be around proteas players and be in a social space with them. It was a proud moment which I hope to build on in the 2023/24 season.

Who inspires you or motivates you the most in your life and in cricket?

My Dad has played a huge role in my life so far and his dedication to horse racing inspires me every day. 

Are you following any series at the moment?

I have been watching Lincoln Lawyer but unfortunately, I only have 2 episodes left... 

You’re at the cinema, are you going for the new Transformers: Rise of the Beasts or Barbie?

Transformers

What are your top 5 hype songs on your playlist?

Calm down - Rema
Rockstar - Dababy
The business - Tiesto 
Pursuit of Happiness - Steve Aoki 
Nail tech - Jack Harlow