Michael takes the wickets, literally

Michael Smith broke not one but two cricket stumps in a bowling innings.

“The atmosphere of the team and the feeling when I broke that wicket, it felt like I was on cloud nine,” said Michael.

This 17-year-old from Hoër Tegnies Skool Witbank overcame the many challenges that crossed his sporting career, to continue to excel in what he loves most, sport.

“I was a SA Javelin thrower but suffered an injury while throwing javelin, it set me back in all my sports,” he said.

Michael in action bowling a fast ball.

Michael was forced to stop his sports through Grade 9 and 10 and only returned to practice in Grade 11 after recovering from his lower back injury, now he plays tennis, cricket and takes part once again in javelin and discus.

“I never gave up, if you have a dream then live it, don’t ever give up,” he said.

On July 30 HTS’s third cricket team took on Greendale High School, it was a day that Michael will never forget, it was the day in which he bowled and broke two wicket stumps.

“I never thought it would happen, it’s something you don’t think about when bowling and the only thing that counts is getting the batsman out,” he said.

Michael’s face paced bowling had the batsmen pinned down at their wickets during his four overs of bowling, in those overs he managed to take four wickets enabling HTS to bowl Greendale out for 116 in 16 overs.
Michael now keeps both wickets of the match as a trophy reminder of the day he broke two wickets.

Michael carries off his first ever broken wicket.

His love for cricket started at a young age when he watched his first game on television and showed an interest, immediately his family got behind him and gave him the needed support in the sport.
Michael’s advice to anyone taking up a sport is to put the practice and extra time in to it to become that professional you dream of becoming.
In jest he said, “And when the doctors tell you to rest, please listen to them.”