Cricket facilities trapped before wicket

Intransigence on the part of the municipality could be preventing the unearthing of future Proteas.

Representatives of the KwaZulu-Natal Inland Cricket Union (ICU) said the tendency of Newcastle sport clubs and officials to stubbornly refuse to compromise, means the next cricketing hero might never get his chance in the national side.

These comments were made following a regional tour this month by officials of ICU and Cricket South Africa (CSA).

Benn Kempster, ICU’s manager of clubs and facilities, said the purpose of the visit was to assess major facilities, and determine how they could be brought in line with the vision of CSA’s Centres of Cricketing Excellence.

While Newcastle facilities ‘ticked all the boxes’, a lack of commitment could put an end to further investment.

“There is no security for cricket at the facility; how can CSA or ICU commit to a financial investment under those circumstances?” Mr Kempster asked.

The intrusion of certain sport codes outside the respective season, and the politically charged nature of certain participants, he continued, meant physical security at the grounds could not be guaranteed.

Unofficial reports stated players have refused to cooperate, owing to cricket being a ‘white man’s sport’.

Speaking on the relevance of the ICU/CSA joint visit, Mr Kempster said they were looking for facilities’ proximity to schools and townships, being a vital cog of development of cricket in the specific areas.

Newcastle, Dundee, Ladysmith and Estcourt are all suitable in this regard.

“The playing surface (at Newcastle) and outfield need some work to them and the net facilities need complete re-building, but there is absolutely nothing there that is insurmountable.”

Mr Kempster said there was enormous desire, but little passion among certain groups to develop cricket in the KZN Inland area, thus providing potential Proteas.

“We want to find the next Yusuf Abdullah; could he be at a primary school in Newcastle, but is being prevented from playing by intransigence in the municipality and greed from other sporting codes?”