A group of young Randburg cricketers are looking forward to representing South Africa at the Indoor Cricket Junior World Series in Dubai.
Though they play out of Fourways Action Sport Arena, they sometimes train together at a home in Randpark Ridge that has net facilities.
Gideon Coetzee of Blairgowrie, Caleb Henenne of Randpark Ridge and Troy Morom of Bromhof are joined by Jack Woolard and Ashton Ellis – who live outside of Randburg – as they prepare for the September tournament.
None of them have represented their country or played internationally before.
“It will be my first time outside South Africa and I look forward to experiencing everything,” Troy said.
“I want to see a new country and enjoy the touring the place, experiencing a new culture.”
Gideon is likewise eager to see how coaching and the attitude towards cricket is different in Dubai and among the foreign teams.
Caleb commented, “I am looking forward to the high level of cricket that we will not be used to, which comes with playing national teams. I like bowling more than batting because it is less prussured and I am naturally better at it. I feel more in control when I am bowling.”
Team coach, Brian Karg said the tournament would be tough but he expected the team to at least reach the finals if not win the whole thing.
“We have two or three players with international experience and they are my leaders,” Karg said.
“Often we select players to fill a specific fielding position but we have players who can field in any position. We can play aggressively and defensively and we have seriously good spinners.”
He added half the team are left-handers and half are right-handed, which means he can have all four batting pairs alternating.
“It also means I can put the fields on the leg side and off side to match their stonger hands, and not many teams can say that.”
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