Thandi Tshabalala speaks on what makes a good cricketer
Thandi Tshabalala now consults for the Proteas women's team and runs his own cricket academy.
Who better to teach you how to play a sport well than someone who has represented their country in said sport?
Former Proteas spinner Thandi Tshabalala is the new head coach at Randburg Cricket Club. He has four ODIs to his name, as well as a host of first-class, list-A and T20 caps for province and franchise. He now owns his own academy, the TT Centre of Excellence Cricket Academy, and consults for the Proteas women’s team.
Before the cricket season kicks off in October, Tshabalala will be meeting players at pre-season training and assessing their skills at the annual Randburg Premier League pre-season tournament.
He spoke on the following four areas an aspiring cricketer should focus on if they want to ‘make it’:
- Hard work and dedication
“First and foremost, you have to be 100% dedicated to the outcome that you desire,” the coach said.
“I don’t think that it is possible to achieve anything without giving it your best shot.”
For Tshabalala an aspiring player has to be almost obsessed with the game to go as far as possible in it.
- Fitness
To be able to achieve your goals, you have to pay attention to your fitness, he said. “Your fitness plays a role in terms of the intensity at which you can play the game, the ability to think on the mark, the ability to assert yourself on the opposition, or any challenge that may come your way.”
- Technique
Often at younger age groups, batters ‘swing from the hip’. This works only for a couple of years before bowlers start understanding how to beat this with better lengths. “If you have a solid batting technique you can then develop your 20-20 skills around that. For the bowlers, it is important to have a sound action because then you can eliminate most of the injuries that come with fast bowling.”
- Cricket knowledge
“You have to be a student of the game. You have to read about the game; you have to learn about it from those that have already walked the path. Get as much advice as you can and use it to your advantage.”
