EDITOR'S NOTE

South Africa Youth Cricket Edition


Khalid Mohidin

Founder and Editor - Cricket Fanatics Magazine

This month, we turn our focus to the future of South African cricket by exploring the youth cricket system.

South Africa has a rich tradition of producing world-class talent, and the under-19 teams are crucial in shaping the next generation of stars.

To understand this concept in more detail, we feature insightful interviews with both Dinesha Devnarain, the coach of the South Africa U19 Women’s team, and Malibongwe Maketa, the U19 Men’s team coach, who provide an invaluable perspective on the development of young players in the country.

Our cover star this month is the talented Kayla Reyneke, captain of the South Africa U19 Women’s team in the 2024 U19 Women's World Cup and a key player for Western Province Women. Kayla’s leadership both on and off the field makes her an inspiring role model for aspiring cricketers, and we are excited to share her story with you.

Additionally, we bring you an exclusive look at the experiences of some young cricketers as they make the transition to domestic cricket. Their personal accounts give us a unique insight into the challenges and triumphs of stepping up to the next level in the game.

As the sport continues to evolve, the youth cricket system remains vital to ensuring that South Africa stays at the forefront of international cricket. This issue provides a comprehensive look at the structures in place and the promising future ahead.

So, grab your favorite drink and snack, settle in, and enjoy Issue 44 of Cricket Fanatics Magazine. There's plenty to explore, and we hope this edition inspires you as much as it did us to put it together.

Happy reading!

— Khalid
Editor, Cricket Fanatics Magazine

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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.

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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
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  • 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.

Kayla Reyneke: Writing Her Own Story

By Khalid Mohidin

Kayla Reyneke is no stranger to the cricketing world. A rising talent in South Africa’s women’s cricket scene, she has already made waves at the U19 level and beyond. After a whirlwind World Cup experience, she’s back with Western Province, ready for the next chapter in her career.

"Yeah, it's great to be back home in the Mother City," she says. "I've missed Cape Town, the people, and the sea. But more than anything, it's amazing to see my family again and be back with the girls. I've missed them a lot,” she said shortly after returning from the World Cup.

Her journey into cricket didn’t follow the traditional path. Unlike many who grow up playing with their fathers or brothers, Reyneke's love for the game started differently.

"My parents told me I was a very busy baby, so they always placed a round object in my hand. When I was five, they sent me to play with the small boys, and ever since then, I just fell in love with the game," she explains.

Despite the inevitable challenges along the way, her passion never wavered.

"In Grade 4, my mom asked me if I wanted to stop playing because the red ball was hard and I might get hurt. But I told her no, I was going to keep playing. And from that moment, I never looked back."

Reyneke credits her parents for playing a significant role in her journey.

"My mom has always been there, traveling up and down with me since I started with Western Province U16 girls. My dad too—he took me to games, supported me, just like my mom. Without them, I wouldn’t be here today."

While South African women’s cricket has taken massive strides toward professionalism, the journey hasn’t always been straightforward.

"When I first stepped into senior cricket, I was in Grade 9 or 10, but I didn’t take it too seriously because it wasn’t professional. There were no contracts, no money involved. But even if there wasn’t, I’d still play because I love the game.

Now, things are different. The game has grown so much, and professionalism has changed the landscape. I think it was in Grade 11 when I realized, 'Wow, I can actually make a career out of this.' It was a crazy but exciting realization. The sooner you understand professionalism, the more prepared you are for the big stage."

Her development as a player happened rapidly, with her name being mentioned among the country’s top young talents from an early age. She quickly progressed through the Western Province ranks, making her senior debut while still in high school.

"Everything happened so fast. In 2023, I played in the first-ever U19 Women’s World Cup, and at the same time, I was making my debut for the Western Province senior team. High school was a whirlwind of debuts and transitions—from U16 to U19, SA U19, and now back in senior cricket."

The U19 World Cup was a significant milestone in her career. Held in Malaysia, the tournament tested her and her teammates in unfamiliar conditions.

"That was my first time there. Let's not talk about the conditions—that was crazy! I thought I could escape the heat, but it seems like that wasn’t happening," she laughs.

Beyond the cricket, the experience was eye-opening.

"The people were amazing—so humble and welcoming. Their culture was so interesting. We visited a cultural village, and just seeing how different cultures work was an incredible experience.

Cricket isn’t huge there, but we held a clinic for young boys and girls, and just seeing their passion, despite not having as much exposure to the sport, was inspiring."

Despite the challenges, South Africa’s U19 team put in a strong performance on the world stage.

"The World Cup was a whirlwind. We played every second day, and rain-affected games disrupted things, but we always spoke about being adaptable as a unit. That was key for us.

Making it to the semi-finals was a huge moment. Of course, we wanted to win the trophy, and it was disappointing that we didn’t. But I’m so proud of the team—there was so much growth on and off the field.

This was just the beginning. The exposure at this level prepares you for bigger things. You realize that if you keep working hard, one day, you can knock on the door of the senior team and say, ‘I’m here to prove a point.’"

Reyneke has also grown into a leadership role within the team, showing composure and maturity beyond her years.

"My captaincy style is aggressive—but not in a rude way. I like to think a lot, to be technical. I know what I want to achieve as a leader and for my team.

I’m also very observant. I notice everything happening on the field, and I try to adapt. Captaincy isn’t just about making decisions during the game; there’s a lot that happens off the field too. But I enjoy it. Pressure has to be your best friend in cricket, and I love that.

Being around senior players like Leah Jones and Dane van Niekerk has taught me a lot. I watch how they go about their game, and I learn from them every day."

As a young player already making waves in South African cricket, Reyneke has some advice for aspiring cricketers looking to follow in her footsteps.

"I read a quote the other day from an athlete who said, 'You're running your own race.' That really stuck with me.

Stop comparing yourself to others. You’re writing your own story, at your own pace. Just keep working hard and playing the sport you love. That’s what I do every day."

With her passion, drive, and growing experience at the highest level, Kayla Reyneke is undoubtedly a name to watch in the future of South African women’s cricket.

Understanding the Youth Cricket System in South Africa

By Stuart Judge

The South African Cricket youth development system has seen many world-class talents come through since re-admission into international cricket.

We recently chatted with the Men’s Under-19 coach Malibongwe Maketa and the Women’s Under-19 coach Dinesha Devnarain to get insight into how the system works.

The scouting system is a big part of identifying the next generation of talent, Maketa shared insight into how it works from a Men's cricket perspective.  

“It is quite an intense process where we track players for a number of years. The players start getting scouted from the Under-15 regional week. CSA has launched an online database which allows us to track the performances of players around the country more easily than before. We also track how the players perform at Under-16 level. We also track how they perform at Under-17 level and in tournaments such as the Khaya Majola Week and Cubs Week. We are also mindful that some players might mature later than others."

From a Women's cricket perspective, Dinesha Devnarain indicated that female cricketers are scouted from a grass-roots level and cited some of the differences between the two networks.

“Our scouting system differs slightly due to there being fewer girls playing cricket at school. We start scouting players from as young as nine years old. The regional weeks that are organized by the provinces at Under-13 level also help us to identify and nurture talent. We plan for World Cups in two-year cycles and start seeing how players perform. We also monitor how they perform at Under-16 level. We also ask the provincial coaches to send their eight best players and we try to create a database of the top players that way. The emergence of the SA 20 Schools tournament is also helping to highlight the top talent that is available in South Africa."

Malibongwe Maketa noted that tournaments and structures help develop young cricketers, highlighting some of the big influencers on the Men's game.  

“Each region or province has scouts that report talent to selectors. They (referring to the scouts), work hand in hand with provincial coaches. The CSA App makes it easier to monitor the performances of the players. Existing tournaments such as the Michaelmas Week, North-South, Cubs Week, Private Schools Weeks, Schools SA20 competition and the Hub Challenge, help us to see how players perform. The top consistent performers are selected to go to National Under-19 Camps where they are observed further."

Dinesha Devnarain noted the following tournaments and structures are available for female cricketers whilst highlighting a need for further improvement.

“The first national tournament that is available is at the Under-13 level, however, many cricketers cannot play in it due to financial constraints. I am happy to see that the Under-16 week has been re-introduced. New tournaments such as the Schools SA20 are also providing more game time. There is a need for high school leagues to be formed to help provide more game time, however, it is up to the specific provincial unions to arrange these tournaments. The SA20 has partly helped address these issues, however, there is still a need for more tournaments to be implemented at this level.”

Maketa noted the following as important aspects for young cricketers to be mindful of.

“The most important currency in any form of cricket is scoring runs and taking wickets. It is important that players understand their game and are able to formulate effective game plans and are technically able to adapt to different conditions."

Devnarain indicated that she believes that players and coaches should place an emphasis on the mindset of young players.

“Both coaches and players alike need to be aware of what role they are required to fulfil. Players need to be disciplined in their strength and conditioning and training and they have to possess a growth and resilient mindset. The players need to be aware of what they want to achieve and be consistent in their behaviours so that they can go about achieving their goals. Coaches also need to be emotionally intelligent and help players reach their full potential."

Maketa revealed some of the measures that CSA is implementing to help develop longer-format cricketers.

“It is difficult to develop longer-format crickets at a school level due to schools following their own calendars and guidelines. Cricket South Africa is currently in discussion about the possibility of re-introducing the 3-Day U/19 competition. This will expose young players to longer-format cricket and teach them skills such as batting time or bowling long spells. Against England, we selected players we believed had a solid technique, good concentration, and most importantly are mentally tough."

Devnarain indicated the challenges of getting younger cricketers to play longer format cricket and said that CSA is doing the following to support the young cricketers.

“It is difficult to develop longer format cricketers due to the ICC schedule focusing predominantly on T20 cricket. At the moment, there is a general trend where our young players are struggling to adapt to longer formats. We are gradually exposing players to longer format cricket such as 50-over cricket and 4-Day cricket by teaching concepts such as batting long periods of time at the High-Performance center once they exit the Under-19 set up."

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Lhuan-dre Pretorius

By Stuart Judge

Recently, we sat down with Lhuan-dre Pretorius to see how his first year at the Titans has gone as well as to learn about his school career prior to playing for the Titans.

The majority of the readers have seen him open in T20 cricket and play for the Under 19s where he seems to score boundaries at will.

This interview was conducted prior to Lhuan-dre playing his debut 4-Day game against the Warriors where he subsequently went on to score 120 runs off 184 balls.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius is a left-handed batsman who opens in T20 provincial games. In 2024, he was also picked as a rookie for the Paarl Royals in the Betway SA20.

In  2023, Lhuan-dre scored 188 runs against St. Andrews. He also played in the U19 World Cup where he opened the batting with Steve Stolk.

Throughout the 2024 domestic season, the 18 year old, has put in remarkable performances. A notable example of this was when he scored 82 runs off 43 balls against the Lions on 27 September 2024 in a domestic T20 game and where he scored 39 runs off 29 balls (hitting three fours and two sixes) against the Dolphins in another domestic T20 game.

When asked about the coaches that had a positive impact on his development during his school career he said: “From Grades 7 to 10, I would say that Neil  Brenankamp was a major influence on me.

"Once I got to St. Stithians, I would say coaches such as Jono von Hoesslin played a major role in helping me develop as a  cricketer."  

Coaches are extremely important in helping aspiring cricketers not only feel confident about their techniques, but they also have a duty to help cricketers feel emotionally secure off the field as well.

Another notable example of this is seen with former Proteas Captain Graeme Smith often crediting Jimmy Cook for the work they did whilst in school in helping him become  the cricketer that he was.

When asked about competitions and tournaments that he played in (whilst at school), Lhuan-dre said:

“I think playing competitive cricket against people in your own age group definitely helps to improve your game. Tournaments such as the Michaelmas tournament and North vs South matches really helped me to improve and it gave me a lot of confidence."

There is a lot of evidence to support the fact that some cricketers have accelerated their development by playing many matches at a young age. There are renowned stories of Sachin Tendulkar playing multiple matches in a day (as there was a rule that batters had to retire at 50).

Tournaments such as the Khaya Majola Cricket Week as well as the National Premier League expose young aspiring cricketers to a high level of competitive cricket from a young age. Social media sites such as YouTube or Instagram as well as broadcast media in South Africa such as  SuperSport Schools also expose young aspiring cricketers to wider levels of support.

Lhuan-dre indicated his experiences playing  U19 and franchise cricket.

“Franchise cricket is a whole different environment compared to U19  cricket. I am fortunate that I have received a lot of advice from coaches and peers, however, I have tried to take key bits of information from different people. Although  everyone at the Titans was extremely welcoming, I felt like I had earned my stripes  and more secure after the Lions game."

The importance of performing on the field cannot be underestimated when it comes to helping a player feel secure. Famous cricketers such as Shane Warne often recounted how it took him a long time to settle into the Australian side whilst AB de Villers has said that he was not sure how he made it into the Proteas side as an opening batsman.  

It is important that Lhuan-dre maintains this form and growth mentality.

Lhuan-dre elaborated by saying that he had learnt the following about red-ball cricket (prior to making his debut against the Warriors).

“I realized that generally, the red ball seems to move around more. As a batter, you obviously need to fine-tune your technique so you can mitigate this from happening and set your own game plan so that you are aware of what is expected."

After making his First-Class debut, Lhuan-dre scored 120 runs off 184 balls against the Warriors. Lhuan-dre could be utilized in the future as a 4-Day and Test batter, showing similarities to Former Protea Quinton de Kock has done for the past decade.

He tends to play spin really well and his experience opening the batting in  white-ball cricket (like De Kock had done) could potentially help mitigate the risk of a  second new-ball being used by the opposing team.

Lhuan-dre noted that he has the following goals and aspirations.

“I would like to play in the SA20 next year and be a part of it. In the long term, I would like to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup in  South Africa.”

Business Corner

By Khalid Mohidin

Businesses can now market affordably and effectively to a cricket audience!

We are excited to announce the launch of our Business Corner to help you market your business, products and services affordably and effectively to a cricket audience.

Since we started Cricket Fanatics Magazine in 2019, we've survived a pandemic, lockdowns, no cricket and even the financial woes of Cricket South Africa.

As a small, independent startup, we know how difficult it is to remain competitive under difficult circumstances.

We have to compete with some of the biggest media companies in the world ourselves, despite not having the budget and the resources they have.

However, we found a strategy that works for smaller businesses and that has been proven to work for thousands of businesses all over the world.

GET MORE DETAILS

When we first discovered this strategy, we didn't believe that it would work.

After all, everybody around us was trying to blast their way to success via social media, just like the big brands did with traditional media like print, radio and television.

But it made so much sense that we decided to test it ourselves.

Today we are a well-respected publication in cricket circles.

And we have the systems to help any business implement the strategy.

We've therefore decided to start a Business Corner to help businesses implement this strategy.

But we know it's not for everybody.

Read more about the strategy and the system on our Business Page to decide whether you are ready to implement a modern online marketing strategy that gets you more long-term happy customers.

GET MORE DETAILS

New Twins on the Block

By C. S Chiwanza

We had the Jansen brothers, now a new set of twins is on its way up.

A few years ago, a set of twins showed up at the Wanderers' nets. They had been invited to be net bowlers for a touring India side. One is now an international star and both are active on the T20 circuit. Armaan and Morteza Manack are not bowlers, like Marco and Duan Jansen, their skill is with the bat.

The St David’s Marist Inanda learners played a huge role in their school reaching the Schools SA20 national finals.

It was a spectacle. Spectators watched Ragheeba Manack as she ran from the embankment onto the field. When he saw his wife running, Yasin Manack abandoned his fielding position to head towards her. Husband and wife were headed in the same direction, but not to each other. Their target was the twins, Armaan and Morteza.

That incident wasn't a one-off thing. It happened every weekend from the time they could walk. The lush outfield was a magnet for small creatures, from frogs to grasshoppers. They fascinated the toddling twins, who rushed onto the ground whenever they saw something.

"I don't think they had a choice. We are a cricket-loving family, and the boys grew up on the side of a cricket field surrounded by bats and balls," Yasin shared.

Yasin comes from a cricketing family. His father played first-class cricket until he was 41. Like his siblings, Yasin grew up playing club cricket, and he is a qualified Level 3 coach. His wife played action cricket for many years. In fact, they met at an action cricket match.

There was no escaping the game for Armaan and Morteza. When they visited their cousins, they walked into another version of their home. Their uncle is Hussein Manack, the well-known cricket coach, broadcaster, and former Cricket South Africa selector. His children, Muhammed and Razeena, are professional cricketers and the twins spent many afternoons watching them play.

However, while their environment pushed them towards cricket, they embraced it on their own terms, and from the day they first invaded the pitch as a duo, they've never wanted to leave it.

It was not enough for Armaan and Morteza that they were born in the same hour and invaded the field on the same day, they also recorded their first-ever centuries in the same innings. In only their second game at U9 level, the twins, aged eight, shared a 230-run opening partnership.

Their outstanding opening partnership was a result of the twins possessing an advanced ability that was far beyond the norm for their age group. They have always played up, taking on old boys. Armaan and Morteza played their first semi-organised match when they were approaching six years.

It was at Marks Park Cricket Club, on the same field they invaded as toddlers. However, this time, because it was a U7 match, there were no pitch or boundary markers.

"There were no fours and sixes and I had to run to get all my runs. It was loads of fun and some of my best memories," Morteza recalled.

The other reason for their impressive opening stand was the twins' competitive nature. They push each other to be better. Armaan and Morteza have been competing from the time they could hold a bat and throw a ball.

"Whenever I compete with my brothers in anything, it's fierce, and cricket is no exception. We both have that drive to win, so our games are often intense and highly competitive. It's not unusual for things to get heated. This sibling rivalry has made me a stronger player, as I constantly strive to improve," Armaan explained.

Thus, in addition to working together, there has always been an element of competition in their partnership.

"We used to both open the batting when we were younger, so we would always try and out-score each other, even if it meant stealing the strike," Morteza added.

In the early 1990s, K. Anders Ericsson and two colleagues conducted a study at Berlin's elite Academy of Music. They divided the school's violinists into three groups: the first group was the stars, the students with the potential to become world-class soloists; the second group included those judged to be merely good; in the third group, they had students deemed unlikely to ever play professionally, who intended to pursue careers in teaching.

Students in all three groups started playing at around the same time, at roughly the age of five. However, Ericsson and his colleagues found that while they practiced about the same amount of time, two or three hours per week when they started, things differed as they grew older. The students in the first group practiced an average of six hours a week, at eight years of age, and increased the hours as they grew older.

The students in the second group partially increased their practice hours, but not by the same volume, and the students in the third group did not increase their practice hours by much. The study informed Ericsson and his colleagues about the importance of hours invested in honing a skill. They went on to conduct numerous studies to test this finding and they found that it held true.

Their findings formed the basis of the 10 000 hours theory popularised by Malcolm Gladwell in his cult classic book, Outliers. Armaan and Morteza's uncle, Hussein, is a big believer in the theory. He insists that a cricket player can only get better when they test their skills against better players for extended periods.

"Marks Park has the lowest average age in the Lions Premier League A because we believe young players need to spend as much time in the middle honing their skills as possible. Armaan and Morteza have been part of the first XI side for the past two or three years," Hussein revealed.

His perspective is aligned with Yasin's. The boys' father is wary of overcoaching his sons, so despite holding a level three certificate, he has resisted the impulse to coach them at home. However, that doesn't mean that the Manack home is cricket-free. Rain or shine, hot or cold, the twins wake up early to face deliveries before they get on with the day's events.

"Those boys are dedicated. I have seen them putting a ball in the microwave to thaw it in the depth of winter," Hussein shared.

"Sometimes they come up to me and ask me to give them throwdowns at 21:00. I never push them to practice, but when they ask me to help them, I get up and do as they ask," Yasin said.

The twins do not just work hard at home. They carry that work ethic to St David's Marist Inanda, where Jeff Levin has only kind words to say about their commitment and dedication.

However, it's not just the technical aspects that the twins focus on. They also work on their mental strength with Hussein's help.

"We focus a lot on their cricket IQ. It's not enough for them to just know how to hit balls," he explained. "There is also their ability to deal with loss and disappointment. It is important that they learn to take a loss as a learning opportunity. Another thing is their conduct off the field. We focus on that, too."

"One of my most memorable matches happened just a few months ago when I played against Bishops, the top-ranked team in the country in the Fasken Time Cricket Festival. I scored an unbeaten 120. This knock was significant because we ended up with a nine-wicket victory," Armaan shared.

"Last year, we played in a Talent ID u19 tournament. Marks Park was in the final versus Jozi Hits, who were a really strong team and had some big-name players. We had to chase 201 in 20 overs, and I was batting at four. I came in early after we lost two quick wickets. My brother and I put on a 107-run partnership to get us close to the target. I scored 70-odd off 39 balls and I went out when we needed eight runs. We went on to win the match and the tournament," Morteza remembered.

The memories above are the twins' most memorable outings. They also demonstrate the difference between the brothers.

"While they are identical twins, they bring very different personalities and play different roles within the side," Jeff Levin, their coach at St David’s Marist Inanda, explained. He has worked with the twins for two years as part of the school's first XI.

Yasin, Hussein, and Levin call Armaan the team's banker. He likes to spend time at the crease and can bat for hours. He frets about his technique and his attacking shots are all built from a strong technical base.

Morteza, on the other hand, displays more flair and likes to push the game forward. He is a modern middle-order batsman who is likely to play an attacking shot as soon as he gets to the crease. Morteza is also a useful spinner. He keeps batters quiet in the powerplay and helps control things in the middle overs.

He is in the mold of Bjorn Fortuin. He keeps the stumps in play through his spells. That was one of the reasons why St David’s turned to him when they had to do a bowl-off after their Schools SA20 match against Noordheuwel was rained off. He nailed three out of five deliveries.

The twins' different approaches create a wonderful complementary dynamic when they share the crease. They are cricket’s yin-yang duo—unstoppable together.

"One stand-out moment was when they opened the batting together last year in a Johnny Waite encounter against Northcliff and were chasing 144 in 20 overs. They knocked the runs off in 12 overs," Levin shared.

Armaan and Morteza are two of the young players to keep an eye on.

From U19 to Proteas: Kwena Maphaka's Journey

By Aneeq Poole

Kwena Maphaka's rise through the ranks in South African cricket has been quite remarkable. He burst onto the scene with his incredible performance at the 2024 U19 World Cup, which saw him named the Player of the Series.

Since then he has made his debut for the Proteas in all formats as well as IPL for the Mumbai Indians and the Paarl Royals in the SA20. He also became the youngest-ever debutant to play Test Cricket for South Africa.

In the buildup to the SA20, Maphaka gave us insight into his journey.

"I think I was 14 years old when I went to a talent acceleration program camp and Coach Shuks ( Shukri Conrad) was there and Patrick Maroni the convener of selectors for U19 was also there," said Maphaka exclusively to Cricket Fanatics Magazine.

"I was bowling in the nets when I saw coach Patrick come behind the nets with a camera and then he called Coach Shuks over and he was looking at me with Patrick holding the camera. [This was when I realised] I've actually got a real shot here and from there, I haven't really looked back."

Shukri Conrad has played a big part in Maphaka's growth. When asked about his relationship with him the youngster said:

"Coach Shuks and I have worked together for the past 4 years, I believe. We have a really close relationship and he kinda knows how to get the best out of me."

Maphaka also spoke about how Conrad's coaching has helped him with his confidence and his ability to perform.

"He's a really good coach and he'll let you know if he backs you 100%. He's definitely done that for me and I think that's probably why I've been able to perform as well as I have.

"Having that backing, having that freedom to know that if you get it wrong you do it again and you'll get it right."'

In an interview for SA20, Maphaka shared more insight into his experience playing international cricket so far.

“Playing international cricket has already helped me. Having conversations with guys in the changeroom, having conversations with the opposition, trying to pick their brains, how they go about their business and then trying to implement it into my game. It’s only beneficial."


Career Timeline:

2022: Early Exposure

January-February 2022: At age 15 played in Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies. Three matches, seven wickets at an average of 18.28.

2023: Domestic Debut and Development

June 12, 2023: Maphaka made his first-class debut for South Africa A against Sri Lanka A at Pallekele, taking two wickets in the first innings.

October 6, 2023: He debuted in List A cricket during the Division 2 of the 2023 CSA One-Day Cup, representing the South Africa Emerging Players side against Limpopo, where he claimed three wickets.

2024: Breakthrough Year

January-February 2024: In the Under-19 Cricket World Cup, Maphaka delivered standout performances, including three five-wicket hauls. He concluded the tournament with 21 wickets at an average of 9.71, the second-highest tally in a single edition. He missed the 2024 SA20 season due to commitments with the South Africa Under-19 team at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

March 2024: Signed as a replacement for the injured Dilshan Madushanka, Maphaka joined the Mumbai Indians for the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. He played two matches, becoming the youngest South African and third youngest overseas player to feature in the IPL.

August 23, 2024: Maphaka made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for South Africa against the West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium. At 18 years and 137 days, he became the youngest South African male to play international cricket, taking the wicket of West Indies captain Rovman Powell.

December 19, 2024: He debuted in One Day Internationals (ODIs) against Pakistan at Newlands, Cape Town, recording figures of 4/72 and dismissing Babar Azam as his first ODI wicket.

2025: Test Debut and Continued Growth

January 3, 2025: Maphaka earned his Test cap for South Africa against Pakistan at Newlands, Cape Town, becoming the youngest South African to debut in Test cricket at 18 years and 270 days. He took three wickets in the match, with best bowling figures of 2/43.

Januarry 9, 2025: In the 2025 SA20 season, Maphaka played in nine matches for the Paarl Royals, taking six wickets with best bowling figures of 2/22. He also contributed with the bat, scoring 24 runs in three innings, with a top score of 22*.

March 2025: Acquired by the Rajasthan Royals for the 2025 IPL season, Maphaka returned to the league with increased international experience.

Tristan Luus Exclusive 

We chat to Tristan Luus about his experience at the SA20 and his quick rise in South African cricket. 

Schools SA20 Champions Crowned

By Khalid Mohidin

Karabo Meso century lifts Steyn City School to inaugural Schools SA20 title

Steyn City School’s Karabo Meso left the best for last as she smashed an unbeaten 117 runs to secure her team the inaugural Schools SA20 girls Championship by 61 runs against Saint’s Christian School from Potchefstroom.

The Tuks Oval in Pretoria was a buzz with a lively crowd as the Schools SA20 came to an exciting close, witnessing the first century of the competition.

The Proteas Women’s player produced the magic throughout the tournament as she amassed 228 runs in her four innings. She was only dismissed once, which left her with an unbelievable average of 228 runs for the Final Showdown of the Schools SA20.

Meso was also one of the South African U19 team’s stars earlier this year as they reached the final of the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup for the first time. The wicketkeeper also walked away with the awards for Player as well as Batter of the Tournament.

Meso and her captain, Diara Ramlakan (35), shared a 111-run partnership for the second wicket to set up their team for victory.

Saints Christian School’s seam bowler Siphumelele Duma was the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with nine wickets at an average of eight runs per victim, and was also named the Bowler of the Tournament. Her teammate Tshegofatso Monyela picked up eight wickets at an average of 8.6 runs per wicket.

Saints was also awarded with the Spirit of the Week to round off an excellent week for the squad.

The team from Potchefstroom were restricted to 117/9 in their allotted overs. Reabetswe Dithipe (39) and Monyela (23) made the biggest contributions with the bat. Steyn City’s Sivaakani Naidoo (4/26) and Olivia Marais (2/21) caused Saints the most problems with their bowling.

Summarised Scorecard:

Steyn City School 178/2 (Karabo Meso 117*, Diara Ramlakan 35; Siphokazi Duma 1/36); Saint Christian School 117/9 (Reabetswe Dithipe 39, Tshegofatso Monyela 23, Extras 23; Sivaakani Naidoo 4/26, Olivia Marais 2/21). Steyn City School won by 61 runs

AWARDS

Player of the Tournament: Karabo Meso (Steyn City School)

Batter of the Tournament: Karabo Meso (Steyn City School)

Bowler of the Tournament: Siphumelele Duma (Steyn City School) – 9 wickets

Spirit of Cricket Award: Saint’s Christian School

Bishops crowned Schools SA20 Champions

Bishops Diocesan College are the inaugural Schools SA20 boys’ champions after beating St David’s Marist Inanda by 99 runs at Tuks Oval on Saturday.

Following four days of incredible schools cricket, which featured the best-of-the-best boys and girls teams from across the country, the boys from Cape Town emerged on top after an engrossing final.

St David’s captain Samrat Basu won the toss and elected to field first, hoping his bowlers would contain Bishops’. The Capetonians in turn had SA U19 batter Adnaan Lagadien (the hitherto top-scorer of the Final Showdown) and Samuel Stavely-Alexander opening the batting.

The pair made a rapid start by rotating the strike well and striking three fours between them before Jason Rowles (Lagadien’s SA U19 teammate) getting the breakthrough when Stavely-Alexander (15 off 15, 1×4) was caught on the long-on boundary by Armaan Manack, leaving the score 31/1.

Bishops captain James Robb-Quinlan joined Lagadien and they added 26 runs together before Lagadien (22 off 19, 2×4) skied a pull-shot which St David’s ‘keeper Kamogelo Phiri snaffled, cueing enthusiastic celebrations from bowler Kyle Butler and his teammates in gold considering the pedigree of the dismissed batter.

Robb-Quinlan (26 off 23, 4×4) was next to be dismissed with the score on 75 in the 11th over, with his aggressive knock being ended by an excellent Phiri stumping off Hayden Campbell’s medium pace.

The Bishops innings could have gone either way at this stage especially after Campbell (3/43) also claimed the wickets of big-hitting allrounders Thaafier Japhta (21 off 23, 1×4) and Waco Bassick (17 off 11, 3×4) to leave them 121/5 with the majority of 4 overs left.

However, Litha Mbiko (22 off 16, 1×4, 1×6) was finding his range and provided the impetus Bishops needed to set a highly-competitive score, ably supported by cameos from Alexander Vintcent (8 off 4, 1×4) and Michael Kruiskamp (18 not out off 8, 2×6).

With their 20 overs completed, Bishops had scored 168/7 setting St David’s a tough target with the pressure a Final provides.

St David’s strength ordinarily lies with their batters, not least Rowles and his fellow SA Schools opener Armaan Manack. However, Michael Kruiskamp (1/10) got the early breakthrough, with Robb-Quinlan doing the catching behind the stumps.

Phiri (9 off 12, 1×6) joined Armaan Manack at the wicket and promptly smashed a maximum before Bassick trapped him in-front bringing Morteza Manack to the crease with his twin brother. Their partnership lasted two overs before leg-spinner Julian Pilkington proved to be a golden arm, dismissing the set Manack (22 off 20, 3×4, 1×6) who was left crestfallen. 

Pilkington then ‘googled’ St David’s captain Samrat Basu for a for a first-ball duck to leave the boys from Johannesburg on 50/4. That became 52/6 when Morteza Manack (6 off 9) and Hayden Campbell (2 off 3) were dismissed by Raa’id Arendse (2/8) and a Kruiskamp-Robb-Quinlan run-out respectively.

It was now a case of when, not if, Bishops would get their hands on the Schools SA20 trophy.

That moment came when the final four wickets of Jared Stern (6 off 10), Roberto Mariano (2 off 5), Michael Smithyman (4 off 3, 1×4) and Kyle Butler (2 off 4) fell in quick succession handing Bishops a 99-run victory and the title of first-ever Schools SA20 boys champions.

SUMMARISED SCORECARD – SCHOOLS SA20 BOYS NATIONAL FINAL

Saturday, 15 March 2025 | Tuks Oval, University of Pretoria

Bishops Diocesan College 168/7 – 20 overs (James Robb-Quinlan 26, Adnaan Lagadien 22, Litha Mbiko 22; Hayden Campbell 3/43, Kyle Butler 2/21)

St David’s Marist Inanda 69 all out – 12.2 overs (Armaan Manack 22; Julian Pilkington 3/12, Raa’id Arendse 2/8)

Bishops won by 99 runs.

AWARDS

Player of the Tournament: James Robb-Quinlan (Bishops Diocesan College) – 160 runs and four dimissals

Batter of the Tournament: Adnaan Lagadien (Bishops Diocesan College) – 170 runs

Bowler of the Tournament: Julian Pilkington (Bishops Diocesan College) – 11 wickets

Spirit of Cricket Award: St Andrew’s School Bloemfontein


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Editorial Director
Khalid Mohidin

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Faizel Mohidin

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