Boksburg Cricket Club player raking up the accolades
His top three achievements include being nominated as the third-best player (MVP) at the u-17 Action Cricket World Cup.
Boksburg Cricket Club member and Northmead resident Kian Dean Schwartz (19) has had a cracking season of cricket, or one should rather say a cracking life, thus far.
“I started playing when I was about seven years old in the KFC Mini Cricket Festival. I really enjoyed it and have never looked back,” explained Schwartz.
He has played for many clubs, including Benoni Northerns, Easterns u-11 to u-13, King Edward VII School u-14A, u-16A and first team XI before settling with his current club last year, the Boksburg Cricket Club.
After signing with Futura Cricket, an agency in Durban, his career skyrocketed as he began making his name known in places such as the United Kingdom.
“I went to the UK to finally live my dream of playing cricket abroad. I am lucky enough to be signed with a cricket agency called Futura.
“I signed a deal with CricX (a cricket exchange agency) based in the UK as I had expressed interest in playing in England. Both agencies then worked together to send out my CV to multiple clubs where finally, East Bergholt Cricket Club selected me,” he said.
Since arriving in the UK and showing off his talent, Schwartz has had numerous articles, shout-out posts and comments being shared about him.
CricX wrote, “Kian Schwartz is the talk of the Two Counties Championship following his brutal match-winning ton on Saturday. The all-rounder, who plays for Boksburg in the Easterns Premier League in South Africa, has enjoyed a productive start to his maiden UK season. Schwartz is clearly a bright prospect.”
His top three achievements throughout his life thus far include being nominated as the third-best player (MVP) at the u-17 Action Cricket World Cup, making the u-17 South African Indoor Cricket team and making the u-18 South African Baseball team.
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“I was nominated as the third-best player in Christchurch, New Zealand, which meant I was nominated the third-best player in the world for u-17.
“Making the u-17s SA Indoor Cricket team was an achievement because we made it into the World Cup final against New Zealand.
“We lost, however. It was a massive honour not only to make the team but to also have gotten through to a World Cup final.
“And then the SA Baseball team because we went to South Korea for the World Cup, which was a massive honour as not only did my dad make the South African baseball side previously but this was also something I have always wanted from when I started playing cricket at the age of five.”
Schwartz was in the UK from March 27 (his birthday) to September 14.
“I really enjoyed the UK. Most of the time, I was playing cricket; however, I did manage to play some golf, attend some festivals, hit the beach and London to do some sightseeing.
“But the most memorable moment for me was most definitely my first 100 runs for East Bergholt against Wivenhoe Town Cricket Club at home (114 off 87).”
This avid cricket player is proud of what he has achieved thus far and can’t wait to continue chasing his dreams of hopefully one day becoming a professional cricket player internationally.
“I would like to thank my family for always encouraging me and supporting my journey and my coaches, past and present, for pushing me to my limit and helping me reach my dreams.
“And thanks to my friends for the support, Futura, CricX, Champ Sports for my equipment and East Bergholt Cricket Club for taking a chance on me.”
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