Toti cricketers selected to Dolphins Academy

Two Amanzimtoti cricketers have been selected for the Dolphins Cricket Academy. Adam Mather (19) and Robin Smith (22) both play their cricket for Amanzimtoti’s first team that will compete in the Premier League for the first time this upcoming season.

Robin, the first team’s wicketkeeper, was born in Johanesburg and did his primary schooling until grade 5 in Gauteng, before moving to Hillcrest Primary and Hillcrest High School. He moved to Toti after matriculating. “My dad Dennis Smith is a first class cricket umpire, so cricket is in our family and I’ve been playing since early school days,” he said.

In 2015 Robin went to play country cricket in Ireland from April to September,. He then played in Wales in 2016 and last year. “The standard of cricket in Ireland was awesome and I got to play with some international players. It was quite an experience and I hope to go back some day. Ireland is beautiful.”

This is Robin’s fourth season with Amanzimtoti.

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Adam was born in Durban and attended various primary schools before matriculating at George Campbell. He moved to Toti eight months ago and is the first team’s opening bowler.

The pair have been practicing with the academy every day since the end of March and recently toured to Potschefstroom with the squad. “This is a big step up for us,” said Adam. “We train with the Dolphins players for four hours every day. It makes you realise you can be a professional cricketer one day.

We are treated like professional sportsmen and it is giving us the mental fortitude to be part of a professional team one day.”

This will be Adam’s third season with the Toti squad.

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