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.

Understanding BMT

By Abhai Sawkar

BMT - Big Match Temperament. There’s an array of definitions for this initialism, but ultimately, it all revolves around being able to thrive in high-octane encounters as well as sensibly addressing the situation at hand and acting accordingly.

Leading up to this year’s ODI World Cup, there have been heated discussions on where the Proteas stand when it comes to BMT. Recently, the batting has turned a corner, and the top 6 are looking better than ever whenever they’re batting first. However, chasing continues to be a talking point, since they haven’t had anywhere near the same level of success when batting second.

South Africa stumbled and spluttered to a 39-run defeat against the Netherlands, and barely managed to scrape by against Pakistan in Chennai. Even though the latter was a victory, it still was a wake-up call for the batting lineup to not lose any composure, especially when the equation is looking relatively comfortable. But among the positives is the carefree approach with the bat, even when a cluster of wickets has fallen. It’s almost akin to how England went about en route to their 2019 title.

Poor death bowling and indecision with the bat from the top order both were very critical errors that toppled the Proteas against the Netherlands. Then again, take nothing away from the Dutch bowlers, as it was a stellar effort to take down SA for the second consecutive time in an ICC event.

Unsurprisingly, there are burning questions pertaining to how SA takes on a chase, whether it’s a middling total or a more imposing score to hunt down. Even when they were cruising against Pakistan with 6 wickets in hand and around 70 more runs remaining, there still were nervous faces in the Proteas dugout.

In his book “The Art of War”, Chinese general Sun Tzu outlined the keys to success with many powerful statements regarding decision-making skills, handling tension, and methodical ways and means to overcome and conquer challenges. And these are not only applicable on the battlefield, but also in professional sport, and life in general.

“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before the defeat.”

It’s clear that the South African batters are ready to counterattack whenever needed, but doing so in a more prudent fashion is most important. During the chase against Pakistan, Aiden Markram had batted through much of the innings, but had a lapse in concentration while trying to go for a big shot off legspinner Usama Mir. This dismissal would expose the lower order against the pacers. Fortunately, Keshav Maharaj managed to hold his nerve and score the boundary that would take the Proteas over the line.

South Africa barely made it in a chase of 271, but Afghanistan aced a chase of 283 at the same venue against the same opponent. Unlike the Proteas, the Afghans had a solid 130-run opening stand between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. The platform was established, and the experienced pair of Rahmat Shah and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi were able to take the game deep, punish the poor deliveries, and clinch the victory.

The more aggressive approach isn’t always ideal for SA, especially given the relative scarcity of batting depth. Marco Jansen has continued to impress at No 7, but he’s still acclimatizing himself and steadily making progress.

Let’s segue to another example, but from a different sport. During the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club, Tiger Woods had dominated for the first three rounds, and trailing behind him by 2 shots was South Korea’s Y.E. Yang.

Prior to the final round, Yang seemed relatively unfazed. He mentioned in an interview that he’s only won once on tour in his entire career, and he’s facing a juggernaut who has won a whopping 70 titles (with 14 major events included). Regardless, he trusted his natural game and backed his strengths.

Woods and Yang were in close contention in the first nine holes. Yang went from 2 behind to sharing the lead halfway through the final round. Woods briefly reclaimed the lead, but Yang would produce the magic on the 14th hole, which would dictate the rest of the round.

Just off the green, Yang would chip in for an eagle (2-shot gain) and surge into the lead for the first time. From then on, it was Woods who was feeling the heat, but Yang remained steadfast for the remaining 4 holes, clinching his first-ever major title.

It was a full-circle moment, as the seasoned champion caved in under pressure following a game-changing momentum shift late in the round. It may have been termed an upset by many sports news outlets, but the better player throughout the tournament earned the spoils of war.

Now it’s time to snap back to cricket from the golf. The Proteas’ defeat against the Netherlands had plenty in common with the 2009 PGA Championship.

The 2023 Cricket World Cup has the 10 best ODI teams from the Super League, and there are no pushovers whatsoever. Nothing can be taken for granted, and the margin for error is often very minuscule.

Maharaj's BMT

By C.S Chiwanza

Behavioural scientists say that temperament is the way we interact with our surroundings. Therefore, in cricket or sports, it is the way players/athletes behave or react to their surroundings.

If we take that definition and use it to define big-match temperament, we arrive at the conclusion that it is how players behave in high-pressure moments.

Without a doubt, all professional athletes have the temperament to compete with other extremely talented athletes. But not all of them possess the ability to not only perform against the best but to exceed what many thought possible when confronted by extreme pressure.

South African players have been accused of not possessing big-match temperament, and not showing up when it matters. Keshav Maharaj has an answer to that. From his debut international match for the Proteas, he has had to deliver under pressure.

********

Keshav Maharaj thought he was there to carry drinks and learn. That is what he told Vernon Philander when the pacer tapped him on the shoulder and asked him if he was ready. The next morning, Maharaj received his Test cap from Hashim Amla. Cap number 92.

When Faf du Plessis threw him the ball in the 19th over after Dale Steyn had hurt his shoulder, Maharaj’s first thought was that his job was to hold up an end while the seamers took the wickets around him. Again, he was wrong. He took three wickets for 56 runs in 18.2 overs in the first innings.

“I didn’t know what to do with the first ball, but something on my shoulder told me ‘you belong here,’” says Maharaj as he relives the memory.

When he walked out to bat after 40.3 overs, South Africa was in trouble. They were on 250/7 chasing 271 to win. Only Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi and Tabraiz Shamsi between Pakistan and a third World Cup victory. Pakistan had Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim and Haris Rauf still to bowl out their 10-over allocations.

Coming into the match, Afridi had taken 18 wickets from 11 innings in the overs between 41 and 50 at an average of 11 and an economy of 6.46 in 2023. In the same period, Rauf took 11 wickets from 11 innings at an average of 15.73 and an economy of 6.53, while Wasim had three wickets in six death innings at an average of 25.67 and an economy of 5.63.

In contrast, Maharaj averaged 14.33 in five, while Coetzee averaged 7 runs in five innings, Ngidi averaged 25 in six and Shamsi had scored one run in three innings for an average of 0.33 at a strike rate of 7.69. The odds were in favour of Pakistan and their seamers.

But, the same voice on his shoulder that gave him confidence on his Test debut gave him confidence against Pakistan’s world-class seamers. After all, Maharaj isn’t as hopeless with the bat as his numbers suggest.

After Kiran More looked into Maharaj’s palms and declared that the ten-three-year-old would be a professional cricketer, Ahtmanand Maharaj set about teaching his son all he knew about the game.

Ahtmanand was a wicketkeeper-batter during his time. Day after day, he fed his son throwdowns and taught him the correct batting technique.

As a youngster, he was a decent enough batter to bat in the top six. When he turned out for Cuckfield Cricket Club in 2013, Maharaj showed up with both bat and ball. On the night that Linda Zondi called Maharaj to tell him he had been selected for the Proteas’ tour to Australia, Maharaj had scored a blistering 71-ball 72 for the Dolphins in a four-day match.

In 2018, as part of his preparation for South Africa’s tour to Sri Lanka, Maharaj flew to Bangalore to work on his bowling and batting with Prasanna Agoram.

“He told me that he did not just want to be the best spinner, he wanted to contribute with the bat as well, and possibly develop into an allrounder,” said Prasanna when we talked about the time Maharaj was with him in India.

 In 2023, the one enduring memory from that tour is riding on a moped with Prasanna at the wheel. “I will never ride on a moped with PDogg again,” says Maharaj.

The work he puts into his batting doesn’t always translate to runs on the field. But, that doesn’t slow him down. Maharaj is a believer in the process.

“Keshav is one of the hardest-working players on the circuit. He has always believed that he has the ability with the bat & decided to put in extra work on his batting as he knows he has always had the potential. So before training, he would come in earlier just to hit balls,” says Duzi Mbata, Maharaj’s batting coach at the Dolphins.

Maharaj’s natural impulse is to attack the bowlers. At training, he focuses on doing the basics well and grooves his technique, but his favourite shot is going over the top straight. More often than not, he falls going for the big shot. Maharaj comes out swinging. Most times, he is there for a good time and not a long time.

Against Pakistan, he adopted the ‘slowly, slowly’ approach. Maharaj scored his first run off the seventh delivery he faced. He faced another seven for his second run.

After facing 19 deliveries, Maharaj had three runs to his name. Then on the 21st ball he faced, he scored the winning runs off Mohammad Nawaz, who lobbed the ball onto Maharaj’s pads. Maharaj helped it behind square on the leg side.

It was probably the slowest seven runs Maharaj has scored in one-day cricket, but like Shamsi’s four runs off six deliveries, they were some of the most important runs either batter has scored in 50-over cricket.

They drew South Africa closer to a semi-final spot. And they shattered the World Cup dreams of more than 200 million Pakistan fans.

Justin Ontong on BMT in the Field

By Werner Erasmus

In cricket, you might have heard the expression: “catches win matches”.

This has held true through decades of fiercely competitive matches, even whilst the spotlight is predominantly focused on batters and bowlers.

However, fielding is so much more than just catching a ball. It speaks to the very essence of the meaning of “being switched on” at all times.

South Africa has a rich history of exceptional fielders, with the exploits of Jonty Rhodes in the field etched in every cricket lover’s mind forever. One could think of others like Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis and Justin Ontong.

Ontong went on to become the Fielding Coach of the Proteas between 2017 and 2023 and is now the Head Coach of the Paarl Rocks, which makes him the perfect person to tap into for a better understanding of the true value of fielding, especially in white ball cricket where batters put the fielding team under pressure.

“In white-ball cricket batters have become so fearless, especially on good wickets, and they put bowlers under pressure. Fielders should have the same sort of aggressive mindset and think how they can influence the match by applying pressure”, says Ontong.

“Having the right field placements and the right fielders at the right positions is so important. During a game when you do pick up wickets, those first 15-20 balls is so vital to the new batter. That is an opportunity to apply pressure and make it difficult for the batter to get in and force him to make an unforced error and take a risk.”

“One-day cricket is conditions dependant. Some wickets have something in it for the bowlers and then you can keep some slips in place. Other wickets are so placid that a short cover or short midwicket become attacking options, especially with variations like slower balls coming into play.”

“The mindset of a captain in one-day cricket now is that you need to take wickets in order to stem the flow of runs. There is a lot of preparation that goes in before a match to get an understanding of the opposition and the batters.

"The communication between the captain and his bowler is important. On match day you need to be adaptable. The captain needs to get clarity from the bowler that he will be able to execute his plan.

“Generally, the captain will be thinking about how the match might pan out and which bowlers he needs to bowl, which is why responsibility is sometimes given to the wicketkeeper to help with field placements.

"The wicketkeeper becomes especially important when it comes to making sure that fielders stand at the right angles, as he has a better view of the field.”

Apart from the fielding itself, the fielders have the responsibility to keep the bowlers and other players motivated. Ontong emphasizes the importance of keeping the spirits up in the field.

“Fifty overs is quite long and sometimes it can feel like the match is just meandering along. The fielders need to create energy. Sometimes we will give certain fielders the responsibility in little periods to lead that energy in the field, even if only for five overs. That is a way of keeping that sort of energy and intensity going.

"I always tell my players to look at the scoreboard. It will tell you what the situation requires and what the opposition batters might look to do. That sort of awareness comes with playing more cricket.”

Asked about how fielders could show big match temperament (BMT) in the field, Ontong had the following to say.

“You do so much preparation, you have to trust in what you have done leading up to a game. It is important to have absolute clarity on the field and awareness, then you will stay calm within yourself. Sometimes big occasions can get to players.

"Then it is important to have the right guys around, especially leaders to say a few motivating words to keep them nice and calm. Cricket is a team game that is made up of different characters and it is therefore important to understand what makes that person tick and what puts him down. In that moment players need to understand what they can do to get those guys back in the moment.

“It is important to want to crack the game open by trying to be an inspiration in the field. It just lifts the energy in the field. No one wants to drop catches, but it does happen. You have just got to stay strong and focus on the next ball.

"That is easier to do for some players than others. That is where strong leaders become important for that player to know that they have the backing of everyone and that they can still make a play for the team. It is important to create calmness in the environment for players to thrive.”

It is clear that a lot goes into preparation before a match and a lot needs to be taken into account as a fielder when you take to the field.

The main takeaways for fielders are: to stay calm, have awareness, and be willing to make a play for the team.

Q&A: Niharika Raina

By Jessica & Janine October

How did your journey in journalism begin? Were you always interested in the sports media industry?

I really took a huge interest in being a part of the sports media industry as a school-going seventh grader in the 2010-11 season. My English-language teachers knew that I could write well and express my views nicely, apart from speaking well. Plus, I had this habit of reading newspapers since grade 1, thanks to my parents, so some inclination was there from the start.

The idea of being a cricket-covering reporter was literally firmed up after India won the 2011 Men’s ODI World Cup on home soil. It was no looking back since then and that gave birth to a goal of covering the future edition of the tournament on home soil, which will hopefully happen in 2023.

My journey in proper journalism started from being a sports desk intern at the prestigious The Hindu newspaper bureau in New Delhi in June-July 2017. I was an intern under Vijay Lokapally sir, a stalwart of the industry and he has been my mentor-cum-guru since then.

I have learnt a lot about being a good reporter, having a keen eye for stories, aiming for accuracy and most importantly, about being a humble and nice human being too. Eternally grateful for his presence in my life and for the learnings he imparts to me on a regular basis.

After being a silver medallist in journalism, I struggled really hard to get a job as a placement drive never happened in university and the places I had approached earlier for full-time work, said hiring froze. Then the COVID-19 pandemic meant no one cared for the careers of freshers, as many went after getting experienced people.

I was in job processes at Wisden India and ESPNCricinfo, apart from trying at other places, but didn’t get a job to resurrect my life and career because experienced folks were preferred by the people there to hire.
A slice of luck, when I least expected it, happened when someone said IANS News Agency was looking for a young person at their sports desk and I entered the process, only to get the job (finally!) and since July 2021, I have been here as a full-time reporter.

In my current role, I am reporting on international and IPL matches, plus covering significant developments in men’s and women’s cricket. Now hoping to report on the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup at home, fingers crossed.

 How were you introduced to cricket specifically?

It’s a very cool tale. Back in 2003, the Men’s ODI World Cup was on, and my father Rajesh, he’s a very serious cricket enthusiast, was keenly following proceedings. I was five at that time and Dad had this idea of getting me to watch the games and learn about the sport. So, my father would be watching India’s games, starting from that group clash against Australia and he got me to sit and watch the matches till the finale.

 At first, it was a little confusing to see the proceedings, but my father was teaching and telling me about what was happening on the TV. Then I started to have a hang of it, being curious about the sport and after the tournament was over, cricket became an inseparable part of my life. So, huge thanks to my father for introducing me to the sport and to date, I have discussed everything about it with him.

Holding a silver medal in BA (Journalism and Mass Communication) at Amity University, being a 3-time alumna of ABCs Women in News and Sport Programme (WINS), as well as having had internships with The Hindu (2017), CNN-News18 (2018), and the Indian Express (2019), you have also been a newsroom reporter at the Talk Journalism summit (2018) and newsroom Editor and Reporter the following year. What challenges have you encountered as a woman in these roles as sports journalist?

Challenges have been aplenty. Like, the idea of being a cricket-covering reporter was a completely out-of-the-box idea for my Kashmiri Pandit family. I mean, everyone in my family is into traditional jobs – engineering, commerce, teaching and government jobs.

So me not being into it and wanting to do something out of cricket reportage was just absolutely out of nowhere. But my parents, Rajesh and Sushma, realised that I could do something out of journalism. So, yes, after I was done with commerce + maths in 12th grade, I jumped straightaway into my journalism degree in July 2016.

Then, my family and I moved out of New Delhi to a place closer to the university and it was a hard call, but was made for my betterment. When internships arrived and assignments came, doing up-and-down with lots of travel time was hard, but was and is still worth it.

On the work front, navigating through various practical skills and thinking out of the box was tough initially, but achieved. During my time at the Talk Journalism Summit, managing time as a reporter and then in the student newsroom co-editor role was tough, because I had the responsibility of seeing what others were doing, giving them events to cover and editing their stories.

But having a calm mind and trust of others was so important in doing full justice to the role. In terms of WINS courses, learning all about podcasting, its editing and production was a bit new, but the trainers were supportive and made life easy, despite me being at full-time work too.

How important is it to have equal coverage of both the women and men’s game? How important is women’s sports coverage where representation is concerned? What does this responsibility as a journalist mean to you personally?

Very, very important to have a balance in coverage of both men’s and women’s cricket. We are living in a world where many are realising how great women’s cricket is, especially after the 2017 World Cup saw India being runners-up and capturing the attention of the fans back home and all over the world.

So, reporters really need to be adept in both men’s and women’s cricket coverage. Representation is truly important in women’s sports coverage, as it aids in telling the full story with utmost accuracy and truth, which is the basis of good journalism too.

Personally, for me, it’s been a huge aim to do as many diverse women’s cricket stories as possible, with all the energy and resources I have in hand. I don’t know if others see/consider me as a women’s cricket covering reporter, but I believe in myself as a capable person to do so.

And yes, I am always open to any kind of help/suggestions given to me for growing as a women’s cricket covering reporter. I do really hope to get a chance to cover a women’s series in this home season and the WPL too; fingers crossed for this!

What was your experience like at the ABC Sport Mentorship programme? What have you subsequently learned that you always take with you everywhere you go?

Being a part of the mentorship programme was a very high on learning experience, especially in terms of managing time and getting things done. Learning about how the best go about their business and discussing a story idea in various ways was so enriching.

The mentorship programme ran during the IPL 2023 period, so it was a huge balancing act of full-time work duties like covering games from ground, attending various broadcasters-related interactions and your daily work too. So, everything on my weekly off days was strictly for the mentorship programme.

In between, the health took a beating due to weird Delhi weather plus work responsibilities and I will always be grateful for the support I got from my mentor Johanna McDiarmid for completing the story in time, as well as to the interviewees for taking time out to speak to me.

What will always remain with me is having understanding and helpful people in any sphere is a huge plus and managing time meticulously is an absolutely essential skill to have a reporter.

What is the work environment/schedule like between covering a World Cup and the IPL?

I am yet to cover a World Cup game, but I do understand how it would go and I am prepping myself for it. For an IPL game, plus international matches, you have to attend pre-match PCs and have a close look at the practice sessions. On match ways, reach the stadium an hour early, do your laptop + notebook set-up and then see the game keenly.

Since I work at a news agency, so I have to file a toss report, two innings reports and an overall report. Then attend post-game PCs and file that too after reaching home, along with interesting bits in the game added in that stories. It's hectic, but pleasing to get things done to the best of my capabilities.

Since I work at a news agency, so I have to file a toss report, two innings reports and an overall report. Then attend post-game PCs and file that too after reaching home, along with interesting bits in the game added in that stories. It's hectic, but pleasing to get things done to the best of my capabilities.  

With India hosting the up-coming World Cup tournament, what do you think the game means to Indian fans? What does cricket mean to India? What does cricket mean to you?

I do understand that there is huge excitement amongst the fans and enthusiasts for seeing the World Cup happening on home soil, though many didn’t get the tickets for the games they were aiming for.

For Indian fans, cricket is now a deep-rooted part of the culture in the country. It’s like a family member who is there in every household and is present in every moment of happiness and sadness of the people there.

For me, cricket is my ultimate love and life. Like, it's something which has given me a lot of things and learnings in life and continues to do so. Being around cricket and working in it gives me a sense of happiness, purpose and fulfilment.

Are you following any series at the moment? If yes, which ones

Honestly, all eyes are on the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup. I do try to follow other series via scorecards + social media if people are tweeting about it. Like, I will try to follow the Australia v West Indies women’s white-balls series plus the domestic Irani Cup, if I find time from the World Cup action.

Favourite movie?

Very hard one to answer. I am a huge movie watcher, when not at the cricket, and keenly follow the art of cinema and its developments in various languages. Like, I took a crash course in dramatics in 11th grade and studied cinema in two semesters of university.

Plus, I have an uncle working as a veteran actor in Hindi movies, web series and theatre, apart from a distant relative from my elder cousin's sister’s side being a music director in South Indian flicks.

I don’t have a particular favourite movie, but the one which comes into my head immediately is, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, a 1998 rom-com flick featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukherji. I have watched this movie maybe 30-35 times. A recent favourite is Goodachari, a Telugu language spy drama and Jawan, and Bangalore Days, a Malayalam language feel-good youth flick.

 You’ve mentioned that you’re trying to improve cooking skills. Which meal(s) do you enjoy cooking? What does it consist of?

Yes, improving cooking skills is a constant thing. I feel cooking is very much like journalistic work: start from scratch and then use various components in moderation to make a good dish. It’s very therapeutic.

I enjoy cooking non-vegetarian food like chicken curry and egg curry a lot – less in spices and salt. Sometimes I like making a bit of soya and cheese curries, potato and peas dishes, some dry dishes like lady finger and stir-fried veggies, a bit of Chinese and non-wheat pasta, plus grilled sandwiches.

What advice would you give to young/future female sports media enthusiasts hoping to enter the sports media industry?

First of all, be genuinely in love with the sport and that you truly care for all aspects of it, on and off the field, as well as its reportage. Pick journalism as an undergrad degree, as it gives you a headstart which late entrants in the industry can’t get.

Check facts twice or thrice, till you feel it's right to file the story. Be diligent in work and ethics, especially when no one is watching. Read a lot, watch a lot and observe things, then keep it to yourself.

Strictly value your ethics as a human and reporter, and that anything against it should be let go of ASAP, even if others at work are doing that. Try to learn anything about the various industry skills when you feel behind.

Don’t move away even a single inch from what you want in life. When the body and mind demand rest, take it. Don’t burn yourself out in the urge to be productive and take care of your mental health, plus make your well-being a non-negotiable priority.

At times, you will face huge disappointment from people in your family, and friend circle or even from certain decision-making of the top people in the sports media industry. So, accept that not everything will be fair towards you and stop keeping expectations from them to understand you every single time.

When you don’t get something you want, it’s okay to cry and feel sad, but not for long. Figure out what you can do better and when opportunity comes next time, don’t leave any chance to face heartbreak again.

Keep people like parents, friends and well-wishers close, who tell you the absolute truth and give honest feedback. If possible, learn to vibe alone and be ruthlessly honest all the time.