LEINSTER CRICKETERS IN SOUTH AFRICA
We left for South Africa on Sunday, January 13th. It was a typical Irish day, cold and damp, a stark contrast to the weather facing us when we finished our 18-hour trip to Durban. Two 8-hour flights with a 2-hour layover in Dubai later, we landed in Durban on the evening of the Sunday, January 14th. We were all exhausted after such a long journey. We were met at the airport by the Glenwood head of boarding Mr Duncan and The Grade nine head Ruan Lombard. Once outside the airport we quickly realised the difference in weather to Ireland. An overcast day that still felt hotter than anything we had experienced before. The humidity really caught us off guard. We drove 30 minutes to the school before arriving at Gibson House at Glenwood High School. We were quickly asleep ready for our first full day at our new school.
The next day we were straight into it as we had a 2-day pre-season camp run by Darryl Govender and Dylan Labuschagne. All the bigger sports here partake in these pre-season camps. Rugby attracts the biggest numbers (Glenwood are very strong and are coached by former Leinster prop and two-time Heineken Cup winner Heinke van der Merwe), while water polo is a very big game around the schools in Durban. We all had a long bat and bowl in the nets. This helped get us acclimatised to the heat and meet our new teammates. We then had a week to practice together before the first game of the season.
The first game was against Northwood. It was a 100-ball game. North County CC pair Johan George and Jake Devane were selected for the 1st X1. Jake opened the batting and made a good 20 to start the innings. Then Johan bowled a tidy 20 balls for only 10 runs although we did end up losing. Three days later we were all playing at the very impressive Hilton school. It is the most expensive school in South Africa to attend and has no fewer than eight cricket fields. Some good performances on a beautiful pitch with Raif taking 4 wickets along with 17 not out. Johan got a wicket as well as 21 runs. Ethan Clarke scored a fifty and Ben McCarthy got a stumping and a catch.
One of the highlights of the trip to date was our visit to Kingsmead to train with the Eastern Cape Sunrisers squad. Adi Birrell is their coach and is well known for the time he spent with Ireland most notably our World Cup performances in the West Indies at the 2007, 50-over World Cup. The players were great company and very accommodating to us. We were all delighted to see them win the SA20 competitionagain, beating our local side the Durban Super Kings in the final.
The week after we started our academy with Mr Bux and Mr Zungou. A normal week of this academy consists of two skills sessions focusing on technique and three sessions of match practice where we will either have practice in the middle on grass or be involved in match scenarios in the ‘David Munro’ nets. We also have three gym sessions a week. Each gym session starts outside with speed training followed by strength training. We also have a ‘mind gym’ once a week that focuses on the mental side of the game.
Each week we have two matches. A 100-ball game on Wednesday followed by a 50 over game on Saturday. We also have the chance to play club cricket on a Sunday which we have taken. This has been a great chance to see different places around Durban and see different styles of cricket.
We have also played two matches against the Dolphins women's side. Ben got stumpings in both games along with two catches. We have had unfortunately had two 50 over games rained off. We still have possibly five games left to play. Normally Glenwood field 20 cricket teams each Saturday for matches.
Last weekend Glenwood hosted the GHS Andile Phehlukwayo u13 Cricket Festival that involved 18 schools from around the Natal area. We were kept busy for the few days as we were asked to umpire some of the games and to assist in the general running of the festival.
It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we are all really enjoying it. We are playing a great standard of cricket with top class coaching. We have leaned lots already and are excited to learn more over the last three weeks of our trip here.
We would like to thank Cricket Leinster for arranging this visit on our behalf and Mr Duncan who oversees us at the Boarding Establishment and Mr Bux & Mr Zungou who deliver our daytime training programme. Wandile Mlangeni and Ruan Lombard are our coaches with the u16s sides who we train and play with each week.
Jake Devane (Ardgillan College & North County CC), Johan George (Colaiste Na hInse & North County CC), Ethan Clarke (The High School & Pembroke CC), Raif Duncan (Blackrock College & Pembroke CC) & Ben McCarthy (Belymane ETSS & Clontarf CC).