Dewan, the young cricket player to keep an eye on

Dewan Marais’s love and passion for cricket started when his father, Nico, took him to his first cricket match at Wanderers when he was just five years old.

He has grown into a young man with several achievements to his name and in his cricket career, and he is only 17 years old.

The RECORD caught up with Marias to find out why he chose cricket and what his plans for the future are.

A career worth pursuing

“My cricketing career started at Alberton Cricket Club at a young age. I enjoyed my first year of junior cricket and made a lot of new friends and could not wait for Saturdays to spend time with my friends while playing cricket,” he said.

Nico enrolled his son in the Serious Cricket Academy based at Hoërskool Marais Viljoen High at the age of seven, and that is where he met coach Neil Levinson.

Levinson is also the owner of Serious Cricket Academy, and Marais’s journey with Levinson has been ongoing for 10 years.

He has been playing cricket for 12 years, and for him, this is only the beginning of his journey with the sport.

“My first highlight was at the age of nine when I scored my first 100 for our regional team in a South East Rand (SER) match against Sedibeng,” said Marais.

In primary school, he set a record of scoring 10 hundreds, with the highest score of 175.

“Other highlights was when I scored my first 100 in high school for Marais Viljoen and my first double 100 for our u-15 teams.”

Recent highlights for Marais was being selected for South Africa u-19 Colts and the u-19 Northern Champions Cubs teams.

Over the years, he played teams like Alberton juniors team (u-6 to u-9), Wits Cricket team (u-10 to u-12), SER regional team (u-9 to u-13), Laerskool Orion cricket teams (u-9 to u-13), Sporting Superman (u-10, u-12, u-14, u-17), Hoërskool Marais Viljoen cricket teams (u-14 to u-15 and he played for the first team since Grade 10), Easterns (u-13, u-15, u-19), Easterns/Lions/Titans XI Invitational team (he played two warm-up matches against the Netherlands in October 2021) and Northern Champions Cubs week 2022.

Cricket and everything that goes with it

Marais is an opening batsman in the T20 format and a bats player (number three) for the Marais Viljoen team, the Bedfordview Prem A and provincial teams.

“I am naturally a very attacking batsman that likes to divert the pressure back on to the bowler from the start when we play the T20 format. When we are playing the 50-over format, I will be conservative at the start of my innings and increase the run rate as our game plan dictates.

“It is crucial to understand and have a clear game plan that works for you as a batsman,” he explained.
He enjoys being on the cricket field the most.

“No matter if we are fielding or if I am batting, I enjoy being on the field with my teammates, enjoying every moment.

“The sport is one of a kind, and it will create opportunities for those who consistently work hard and ultimately stay humble in good and trying times.”

The challenges he has faced is that there is a huge amount of talent in the country and limited opportunities for all.

According to him, one’s main focus is to ensure to stay humble and work extremely hard at your own game.

“I am working daily on my game plan with coach Neil, and I also take the time to reflect on my every performance.”

Being part of the Pro Programme at the Neil Levinson Academy means doing high-intensity drills to increase skills with bat and ball and ensuring conditioning is in line with professional cricketers four times a week.

“I like sharing any tactic or a specific area on the field where to score runs continuously throughout the game, giving advice on the field to the team on where to bowl and specific field placings to avoid our opponents to score many runs against us,” Marais said.

The principles of cricket for him to enjoy every moment is to respect your opponent and stay humble at all times.

Benefits of the game

“Any person who loves the game can play the game, all groups, male and female. No matter what the age.”

A good team, according to Marais, is when players work together and learn from each other.

“Respect your teammates and opposition. Support each other in every moment of the game builds character and team spirit,” he said.

Marais added one makes a lot of friends on and off the field, and with the sport, you give back to those who can’t afford the gear.

“Cricket creates opportunities for all.

“The benefit is that you enjoy what you are doing in good and trying times. You will make everlasting friends. You can live yourself out in the middle and contribute to the team and just maybe someone on the side of the field might learn something new. It also improves your emotional and physical state.”

Quick Facts

Q: Where were you born and where did you grow up?

A: “I was born on November 14 in 2004, and I grew up in Brackenhurst.”

Q: What is your most vivid childhood memory?

A: “England played against South Africa at Wanderers when I was about 12. The England captain at the time, Eon Morgan, gave me his pullover, which I did not expect at all.”

Q: Do you have any siblings?

A: “Yes, I have one sister, Chandre, who is a third-year student at the North-West University in Potchefstroom.”

Q: Which primary school did you go to?

A: “I attended Laerskool Orion in Brackenhurst.”

Q: If you are not playing cricket, what are you doing? What are your hobbies?

A: “I enjoy playing golf with my friends and enjoying time with my family and girlfriend. Going to the gym is also one of the things I enjoy.”

Q: What is your life motto?

A: “Stay humble at all times and enjoy every moment. Appreciate your family and friends.”

Q: Who inspires you and why?

A: “My family and coach Neil inspire me. They are always there to support and encourage me. They taught me to stay humble and to work hard to achieve my goals.”

Q: What is the best advice someone has given you?

A: “It does not matter what happened in life or on the field today, it is how you come back tomorrow and show the world that hard work pays off.”

Q: What does the future hold and what are your goals?

A: “I would like to make a career out of cricket after school and play cricket at the highest level. It is my goal to try and represent SA u-19 at the next world cup in 2024.”

Q: What would you say is the biggest misconception about you?

A: “Many people think if you are not in one of the top schools in the country, you will not be able to represent regional, franchise or national school teams.”

Q: What’s the greatest fear you’ve had to overcome to get where you are today?

A: “I had a fear when I lost my wicket early in an innings and did not contribute to the team. I have learned to accept failure and if I work hard and stay humble, I can compete and play with the best there is.”

Q: Anyone you want to thank?

A: “A special thanks to my family and coach who are always there to motivate me and ensure I stay humble. I would like to thank my sponsor Zaid from DSC SA for all the equipment I have received from them over the past two years. I would also like to thank Marais Viljoen for all the opportunities they have given me as a cricket player.

Thank you, Mr Kramer, Mr du Preez and Mr Nel. Lastly, I would like to thank all our family and friends for all their support and well wishes.”