Van Duyker is cooking in England
It is bizarre how one of the country’s most prodigious all-round cricketing talents has slipped through the cracks of South African cricket.
Former Northmead resident Ulricht van Duyker (27) is now in high demand the world over, with numerous cricket clubs and teams reaching out to have the former Arbor Primary School and Hoërskool Hans Moore pupil in their ranks.
Now living in Stamford, near Cambridge, van Duyker, has been turning out for Ketton Lions Cricket Club, bamboozling batsmen with his slow-left arm orthodox spin, as well as notching up high scores with the willow just a few matches into the season.
Already he has bagged five half-centuries at a whopping strike rate of 200 and a top-score of 166 not out.
He has also surpassed 40 wickets for the season in all formats, with best bowling figures of 5/25 in a T20 game.
Last season the spinner was the highest wicket-taker in the country, with 123 victims, at an average of 12.8.
Those good statistics saw van Duyker invited by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to bowl at the England test side, ahead of the third test match against Sri Lanka, at Lord’s, which started on Thursday, June 9. Skipper Alastair Cook and his team were on the lookout for talented left-arm spinners, to face in the nets to mirror the threat posed by Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath.
“Training at Lord’s is a privilege,” the former Benonian told the City Times.
“It’s good to be able to test yourself against players of a high standard.
“I like to think that someone high up is looking to see what I am about and looking to give me a chance of playing at a higher level.”
Van Duyker added that he enjoyed bowling to the English batsmen.
“Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow were solid and it felt good to bowl to the English captain, Cook,” he said.
Asked about his cricketing goals going forward now, the all-rounder said: “I have had a lot of interest in me lately, more so than ever, in fact.
“The dream is still to play at the highest level possible and I am always looking for an opportunity.
“Until then I will keep doing what I think is best for my cricket and for myself personally, and look to keep enjoying doing well while I am still playing.”
Van Duyker has not only turned heads in England, but also enjoyed a second successful season in Australia, in the summer.
He played for Lucknow Magpies in Victoria and overcame injury (after he snapped his eye socket and broke his jaw in a match) to scoop the Best Bowler, Best Batsman and Club Champion accolades, even after missing a large portion of the season.
He thanked everyone who has played a part in the development of his cricket, as well as those who have helped to create opportunities for him.
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