Khumalo out to make Wattville proud
The seamer even missed school to train so that he could win his place in the squad back.
Eastern Storm and Actonville Spurs bowler Martin Khumalo couldn’t contain his excitement after receiving a message from Cricket South Africa (CSA) that he had cracked the nod for the national squad for the ICC U19 World Cup, set to start on January 19.
After going through the SMS and making sense of it, Khumalo stepped outside, cupped his face in his hands and screamed his lungs out at the realisation that his years of hard work had finally paid off.
His loud celebration attracted a crowd of curious neighbours who wanted the scoop, but he had to hide the news from close family members and friends, as the squad hadn’t yet been announced publicly.
“I had just got home from the gym when I got the message that I had been selected. It was the day before the Cubs Week when I had also been selected for Easterns. I screamed in joy. I’d never felt like that. It was something else,” he said.
The youngster, born and bred in Wattville, battled to find the right expressions to explain how much this achievement meant to him but said it was a win for all township cricketers who had to stump the odds, like honing their skills on tennis courts, to improve their game.
“Words can’t explain how I feel. It’s an amazing feeling. I’m happy because I’m from the township and the odds are always against us. It’s not a lot of us who get such opportunities in the townships,” Khumalo said.
Spotted
The 18-year-old picked his first cricket ball at Wattville Cricket Club where, for a lack of cricket facilities, he would bowl at a cone, acting as stumps, to improve his length, speed and accuracy.
He later joined Actonville Spurs CC and his cricket improved greatly as he was exposed to better training facilities. He played for the club until he was drafted into the Easterns provincial side, aged 16 in 2021.
“That’s where the SA scouts spotted me. I was playing for Easterns in a provincial match. But I got drafted into the SA development side after the Cubs Week in Stellenbosch in 2021,” he said.
In March, he was added to the extended 27-man U19 squad selection camp. He impressed but suffered a major setback after a back injury cost him his place in the 15-man team that toured Bangladesh for a youth ODI series in July, being named a non-travelling reserve.
“I was disappointed. I came back home and started putting in the work. I worked hard on my bowling. I would even miss school to train so I could get back into the team.”
Doubting
That sacrifice worked as he was part of the SA Emerging side that won the CSA B-division one-day cup in October after beating the ITEC Knights in the final. He took six wickets in the tournament.
In November, he was named in the 18-man World Cup provisional squad, which was trimmed down to 15 in December, with Khumalo making the cut.
Since then, the seamer justified his selection with good outings for the junior Proteas, which includes a first career fifer (5/51) in a warm-up match against Zimbabwe in mid-December. He also took 4/42 in the tri-series tournament against Afghanistan on December 31.
“People in Wattville kept telling me I’d one day represent my country but I kept doubting myself. I thank everyone who has supported me.
“Thank you to the people in Wattville, Actonville and Eastern Cricket Union for their constant support. I urge them to continue supporting me. I will make them proud,” Khumalo said.
South Africa will face the West Indies in their opening fixture at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom.
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