4 November 2023
The KZN Schools cricket teams to fly the province’s flag at inter-provincial tournaments around South Africa in December have been named.
The selections of the under-19 team to contest the Khaya Majola Week are remarkably evenly spread. Westville Boys’ High has three players in the 13-man squad, while Kearsney College, Glenwood, Northwood, and Clifton College have two each, and DHS and Felixton one apiece. That’s testimony to the fact that there has been no dominant team in KZN this season.
Nine of the players who were in the KZN Coastals under-16 team of 2021 have made the step up to the under-19 side, with the new additions being Aryan Gopalan of Westville, Bayanda Majola of DHS, Glenwood’s Ntando Soni and Melusi Hadebe of Felixton, who was part of the KZN Coastal Rural line-up two years ago, while Nicandro Kistna of Westville, who was in that u16 team, is a member of the KZN Schools under-17 side.
KZN will be hopeful that the influential SA under-19 all-rounder Romashan Pillay is fully fit for the event. He’s missed a lot of time this term due to injury.
In looking at the under-17 and under-16 age group teams, what is interesting is to see how many of those players have produced at 1st XI level this season. Some of them have, arguably, been their school’s leading players, like Max Robertson of Westville and Semal Pillay of DHS, who are in the u17 and u16 teams respectively.
Much like their counterparts from KZN Inland, the KZN Schools side appears to have fine depth in the batting ranks, but they will also look to their all-rounders to bring some of the seam bowling heat which, again, shines the spotlight on Pillay and his fitness.
The side has plenty of variety in the spin department, while players like Ntando Soni and Bayanda Majola, who is only 16 years of age, offer up exciting pace options, and both are already on Cricket South Africa’s radar, pun intended. Mitchell Tillard (in feature photo), too, is a lively performer.
KZN u19
Makhanda 16-20 December
Aryan Gopalan (Westville), Hayden Bishop (Kearsney College), Bandile Mbatha (Glenwood), Romashan Pillay (Westville), Blake Simpson (Westville), Nqobani Mokoena (Northwood), Ross Coetzee (Kearsney College), Evan Fouche (Northwood), Mitchell Tillard (Clifton College), Ntando Soni (Glenwood), Bayanda Majola (DHS), Melusi Hadebe (Felixton), Camdeon Riley (Clifton College)
Non-travelling reserves
Shahzaad Perumal (Clifton College), Sandiswa Yeni (Kearsney College)
Head coach: Kenneth Mafunga
Assistance coach: Christo Esau
Manager: Thomas Jackson
KZN u17
Benoni, 7-10 December
Shahzaad Perumal (Clifton College), Thayin Kuppen (Northwood), Mfanafuthi Shange (Northwood), Max Robertson (Westville), Sibonela Phewa (Glenwood), Kaeden McAllister (Westville), Cameron Veenstra (Kearsney College), Nicandro Kistna (Westville), Dhilan Naraidu (Glenwood), Sandiswa Yeni (Kearsney College), Murray Weyer (Kearsney College), Ethan Warner (Curro Hillcrest), Ryan Browning (Kearsney College)
Non-travelling reserves
Rogan Summerton (Thomas More College), Sfundo Mthembu (DHS)
Head coach: Richard Wissing
Assistant coach: Caleb Pillay
Manager: Cayle Marillier
KZN u16
Oudtshoorn 10-14 December
Sbani Qwabe (Mtapho High School), Ismaeel Omar (DHS), Joshua van Biljoen (DHS), Roxton Payne (Westville), Dayalan Boyce (Westville), Semal Pillay (DHS), Asanda Mthembu (Comtech), Kyle White (Northwood), Tuswa Phetha (Northwood), Tim Saulez (Clifton College), Kenzo Mchunu (Glenwood), Akhil Maharaj (Glenwood), Jayden Roux (Clifton College)
Non-travelling reserves
Seth Simpson (Westville), Aya Makula (Northwood), Sean McGough (Westville), Krian Jugoo (Glenwood)
Head coach: Darryl Govender
Assistant coach: Gavin Reddy
Manager: Taylor Cox
KZN u15 Green Team
Pretoria, 7-10 December
Muhammed Malek (Clifton College), Thomas Oosthuizen (Northwood), Aaron Blackburn (Kearsney College), Keegan de Jager (Kearsney College), Daniel Miskey (Kearsney College), Paul Momoh (Hillcrest High), Rivan Moodley (Clifton College), Kelso Baillache (Westville), Cade Francis (Kearsney College), Kreesan Pillai (Glenwood), Aaron Rasmussen (Westville), Bayanda Xulu (Newlands East), Owami Dludlu (Mzwilili)
Non-travelling reserves
Neo Ledwaba (Glenwood), Aiden Baudach (Westville), Hayden Swart (Kearsney College)
Head coach: Mthokosizi Shezi
Manager: Andre Pretorius
KZN u15 Blue Team
Pretoria, 7-10 December
David de Bruyn (Northwood), Tristan Delvin (Westville), Olwami Zondi (Glenwood), Litha Gonya (Kearsney College), Shiraz Perumal (Clifton College), Taine Havermann (DHS), Lwandile Bulose (Glenwood), Thabiso Mtmabo (Northwood), Ethan Jenkins (DHS), Misbah Nair (Westville), Qaeed Shaik (Clifton College), Kyle McGough (Westville), Jamie Wimble (Northwood)
Non-travelling reserves
Payl Momoh (Hillcrest High), Aaron Rasmussen (Westville), Kelso Bailache (Westville)
Head coach: Wayne Scott
Manager: Wandile Mlengeni
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