Fast bowler search hits Krugersdorp
The fleet was delivering the Audi Q5 Fast Track to Kagiso, the first initiative designed to utilise state-of-the-art technology to unearth the hidden gems of South African fast bowlers.
A fleet of new Audi Q5s arrived at Kagiso Sports Complex with Cricket South Africa (CSA), former Proteas fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam, current Proteas stars and some of the world’s most advanced bowling measurement equipment in tow.
The fleet was delivering the Audi Q5 Fast Track to Kagiso on Monday, 25 September, the first initiative designed to utilise state-of-the-art technology to unearth the hidden gems of South African fast bowling. The programme, which is currently taking place around the country, identified a number of talented local young bowlers who will now be given the chance to prove themselves in front of CSA’s development structures.
“South Africa has a long history of great fast bowling talent with the likes of Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel among the current stars continuing this legacy. I was immensely impressed by the level of talent we witnessed today in Kagiso.
We are very excited at the prospect of one of these young bowlers following in the footsteps of the great Proteas’ bowlers who came before them,” lead talent scout, Mfuneko Ngam said.
On the day, local bowlers between the ages of 15 and 18 were given the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of what is arguably the most powerful scouting team ever assembled in South African development cricket. Bowlers were given the chance to illustrate their skills in the nets with the most promising selected to have their bowling measured on the Audi Bowling Lab – a set-up which utilises state-of-the-art PitchVision technology to instantly analyse a bowler’s performance by comparing pace, line, length, deviation and bounce to that of a current Proteas’ bowler.
Mfuneko and his team, which featured current Proteas, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel and Lungi Ngidi, utilised the scoring system of the Audi Bowling Lab to select the talented boys and girls who will now be put in front of CSA development structures. The standout bowlers on the day were 14-year-old Kgothatso Molefe from Potchefstroom and Roston Groep, 16, from Naturena, whose fastest ball clocked in at an impressive 116km/h.
“The Proteas are proud of the standard of fast bowling we have been able to maintain over the years. Seeing the talent we were able to uncover today, I am confident that this standard will be upheld going forward. I will be following the progress of the young boys and girls we met today with interest over the coming years,” Proteas’ fast bowler Morne Morkel said.
Head of Audi South Africa, Trevor Hill, explained that Saturday, 23 September, was the first of five Audi Q5 Fast Track events and if it is anything to go by, the future of bowling in South Africa looks bright.
“As Progressive Partner to the Proteas, Audi is proud to be able to take our partnership with CSA to the next level by driving progress in a development space. The prospect of potentially uncovering the next Ntini or Ngam, together with CSA, is something we are not only excited by but which we are striving towards,” he concluded.
For more information on the Audi Q5 Fast Track search #FastTrack on Twitter.
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