Bon voyage Wickus

He is on his way to England to fulfil his lifelong dream.

He recently signed a contract with CricX, a leading cricket agency in the United Kingdom, for three years and will be playing cricket for Kleynsham Cricket Club in England.

The club’s managing director Steven Hirst came to South Africa to recruit professional and amateur cricketers.

According to Wickus’ father Ernest, Hirst monitors the cricketers closely and makes his decision based on his findings.

“We were very impressed when he contacted us to offer a three year contract to Wickus.

“The paperwork was emailed to me, we read through it, signed it and sent it back to him,” Ernest says.

Wickus says he was introduced to cricket by his older brother Ernest junior.

“We played cricket in our backyard and it was then that the bug finally bit me,” says Wickus.

He has been playing cricket since he was eight years old.

His father adds Wickus was only nine years old when he started playing for the Eastern Province team which he carried on doing until he was in Grade 12.

At the age of 10 he was playing cricket for the first team at Laerskool Jan van Riebeeck and in Grade 10 he was chosen to play for Hoërskool Hugenote’s first team.

His biggest achievement in primary school was when he averaged 144 runs per game for five years in a row.

“My brother also excelled in cricket and as my rolemodel I followed in his footsteps,” says Wickus

Although Wickus played indoor and outdoor cricket, he prefers outdoor, however, he is proud to mention that he received his indoor Springbok colours in 2008.

The Springbok team toured Australia the same year and won the tournament they took part in.

Both Germishuizen brothers were U/19 Indoor Springsboks at different times.

In 2011 the South African Indoor World Cup was held in South Africa but the Springboks lost to the Australians.

During December Wickus played in the U/19s Coca Cola Tournament in Pietermaritzburg and was awarded the runner up batsman of the tournament.

It was during the prestige evening of this event that he was chosen for the SA Colt team.

“This accolade is given to players to reward them for all their hard work in cricket throughout the years,” says Ernest senior.

After Wickus was chosen for the SA Colt team he was selected to play in the U/19 Titans Cup which was recently held in Stellenbosch where he was an excellent wicket keeper.

The Titans played against the Knights at the tournament and as wicket keeper Wickus took eight catches in one game – another proud moment for him.

Father Ernest claims this was a huge achievement and should be written in the record books.

“Adam Gilchrest held the world record as wicket keeper for Australia taking six catches in one game, compare that to Wickus’ eight catches,” he says.

This young man will leave the country in April and will return after his six month contract expires, but he is adamant that he will be signing another contract with Kleynsham before the next six months are over.

He is currently a member of the Springs Old Boys Circket Club and plays for the Premier side which he joined when he was a young boy of 13 years old.

“He was the youngest player ever to play for the Premier side,” says team captain Warren Woolley.

The highlight of his career was when he hit his double 100s in one game in 2010.

“It was the proudest moment of my life,” claims Wickus.

The best time to relax is when he is at home with his best friend Jonathan Woolley.

The two Woolley brothers befriended the Germishuizen brothers and although they play cricket together, they also spend a lot of social time together.

“The four practically grew up together,” says Ernest senior.

Wickus says although they play cricket together, they also sometimes play social golf.

Not only was he chosen for the U/19s Titans team, he is also a huge Titans fan, but when he watches rugby he is proud to say that he is a Sharks supporter.

Travelling has always been something he was interested in, and now the opportunity awaits him.

This lively young man says he is not shy at all and does not have a problem with meeting new people.

“The first couple of weeks will obviously be difficult to adapt as it is another country and I have to get use to everything, but then again I am there to play cricket,” says Wickus.

His career is starting at a young age and with his family, friends and local cricket teammates behind him, nothing can stop his success.