Wheal-ing the ball, Ballito cricketer prepares for 2021 T20 World Cup

If you are a batsman hoping to get your eye in and feel comfortable at the crease then stay far away from Brad Wheal because there is bound to be a first-ball bouncer whizzing past your ear.

Wheal is a Ballito local who spends most of his time in England playing cricket for Hampshire alongside fellow South African fast bowler, Kyle Abbott.

Born in Durban and schooled at Clifton College, Wheal excelled at a number of ball sports, notably making more provincial teams for hockey than cricket.

Following a breakout performance at the U19 Coke Week (the cricket equivalent of Craven Week) scouts came calling and he decided to pursue cricket as a career.

“Dale Benkenstein, who was the Hampshire coach at the time, saw me play and offered me a development contract in the UK,” he said.

Wheal was able to expedite the process as he holds a British passport by way of his mother and thus could be counted as a British player rather than an overseas professional.

He took to County Cricket quickly and after a few senior players were injured, Wheal had the opportunity to play regularly for the First XI.

“I have been so fortunate to have been mentored by some of the world’s best coaches and players. Kyle Abbott and West Indian fast bowler Fidel Edwards have been really good to me.”

A string of good performances followed in both the 4 Day and T20 game for Hampshire, memorably a 2/17 game against a top Sussex team where he defended 4 runs in the final over to win.

Continued success at the county level earned him the chance to play for Scotland and he has won 18 caps across One Day and T20 internationals since his debut in 2016.

It has not been all plain sailing however, with a string of injuries leaving him sidelined over the past two seasons.

“Two stress fractures in my back for two consecutive seasons left me unable to play for a long time and that has been frustrating but I am excited to be fit again and ready for the season because we have a really good Hampshire team at the moment.”

Wheal is back in South Africa for the offseason and hopes to be fighting fit in time for the T20 World Cup next year in India.

While back in Ballito, you are likely to find him on the golf course practicing his swing or catching a few waves – when the beaches are open of course.