Saints ready to march to the wicket in new season
LYME PARK – St Stithians have won the national schools T20 challenge three times in four years, and are preparing for another.
St Stithians College cricket teams will offer fans yet another season of excellent cricket.
This is what director of cricket, Wim Jansen, said after the 2016/17 season saw the 1st team win its third national T20 title in four years. The side was also awarded the Schools Team of the Year award at the Gauteng Cricket Awards.
Also read: ‘Joburg’s cricket teams run out with awards’
Overseeing the first practice of the new season, on 12 September, Jansen was asked whether his team was the best school T20 side in the country. He chuckled.
“On the day [of a match] anything can happen,” he said. “The other teams practise as hard as we do.”
When pressed why his outfit, which has produced Proteas bowler Kagiso Rabada and former SA U19 captain Wiaan Mulder, was more successful than most, he admitted that playing ‘lots of cricket’ gave his players the edge.
“The guys learn more out there in the middle, so last year we played 55 matches. We also have an exchange programme with schools in the UK, where five of our players go there and play for three months in winter.”
He said getting the boys out of their comfort zone helped them mature and reach their potential.
Matthew Erasmus and Craig Meier were crucial to Saints’ win in the 2017 Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge. Erasmus scored the only century of the tournament and finished top run-scorer with 267 runs at an average of 66.75.
Left-arm spinner, Meier topped the wickets list with 13 wickets at 6.69. The pair in matric this year and Saints will be sad to see them go.
“I love the camaraderie of the team – some of us have been playing together for six years,” said Erasmus.
Meier agreed that the team spirit was what he would miss most about Saints, as well as the nonsensical banter during matches.
Jansen concluded that nothing would change in the coming months, as Saints players would keep playing to enjoy the game, rather than to pursue honours, and would execute their skills well.
Also read: Two St Stithians College cricketers shine at Cricket South Africa Awards
Do you know of any sports stories you would like us to publish? Let us know on our Facebook page.
