Young local lads impress cricketers at Cubs week

Every year there are new talents on show in the cricketing circles which is the great thing about the sport.

The young cricketers come in and pleasantly surprise us with their unbelievable performances.

We saw the likes of Hardus Coetzer, Dewald Brevis and Jordan Hermann put their hand up and perform well for the Northerns Cricket Union in the Cricket South Africa (CSA) u/19 Franchise Cubs Week.

The Momentum Multiply Titans saw these Northerns players represent the team during the week in Stellenbosch.

Coetzer was included in the u/19 week for the second consecutive year.

In 2019, he was named Hoërskool Waterkloof’s fast bowler of the year.

With 774 runs at a batting average of 33.65, which includes one 100 and four 50s, as well as 32 wickets with a hit rate of 25.00 balls per wicket, this versatile player excelled.

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He was a member of the Titans Cubs team in January and his contribution in both the Finsbury series and the CSA T20 final, was of cardinal importance to Waterkloof’s victory.

Coetzer was selected for the inland group who competed against the coastal side. 

During the Cubs week, he had a batting average of 69, which included a 100 not out.

Coetzer took nine wickets during the week – the most by a seam bowler.

“It takes hours of gym work and conditioning as well as spending times in the cricket nets to be a great player,” he said.

Coetzer added that it does not bother him that no spectators are allowed at a game.

“During any match, I focus on my game.

“I must, however, admit that I do miss my parents and my sister who are my greatest supporters next to the field.

“Although I know that it will take much blood and sweat to further my career, I want to leave my cricket career in our Heavenly Father’s hand.”

The year ahead, gives a lot of challenges to this young player.

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“Time management will be a great aspect on how I will approach this year, to finding the right balance between my academic work and cricket.”

His plan is to graduate and hopefully thereafter to play international cricket.

Some of his career highlights, include the first time he was given provincial colours as an u/12 learner at Laerskool Wonderboom.

A year later, he reached a 150 runs not out.

“One of the highlights I want to pin-point on, was in 2019, during the u/17 national week when I was named best all-rounder.

“And I will never forget the day my name was called out for the CSA u.19 group.”

Coetzer was named Northerns player of the year as well as CSA’s u/17 player of the year for 2020.

He has played 136 matches for Kloof’s first team cricket and 10 games during the Cub weeks.

“It was a difficult choice to choose between rugby and cricket. I have a passion for both sports, but in the end, I chose cricket. As a young lad, my dad and I would be in the nets practising.

“Soon after that, I scored my first 50 runs,” he said.

Fast facts

– 136 matches for Hoërskool Waterkloof’s first cricket team
– +- 3 000 runs for the first team
– 179 wickets for Kloof’s first team
– Five-year provincial cricket
– Selected for Cubs week two consecutive years.

In 2019 Hermann, a former Klofie, was named senior batsman of the year as well as T20 player of the year.

He scored more than 3 000 for the first team with a total of 3 027 runs.

That year, he also took to stage as senior all-rounder as well as senior cricketer of the year.

“I was in action during the Cubs week last year.

“I also represented my province during the u.19 Khaya Majola cricket week where I was one of the top runs scorer as well as captain.

“Since Covid-19, I had to stay in shape. I trained hard and worked very hard on my cricket skills.”

In Stellenbosch, Hermann was named batsman for the second consecutive year.

“Last year I broke the record for most runs during the week.

“This year, I hold the record for most 100s by a batsman during the Cubs week.

“Not to have spectators takes a lot of intensity that only you as a player can do and it makes it psychologically challenging.”

Hermann, a second-year student at the University of Pretoria, currently plays for Assupol Tuks in the NCU premier league that competes in various varsity series.

He is part of the Northerns Academy team.

“I have been selected for CSA u/19 team to play Northerns, Western Province and Northern Cape.

“Hopefully this tournament will open doors in terms of my professional cricket career.

“Covid-19 made me miss the CSA club championships. The University South African week and the Varsity Cup series were also cancelled.”

Hermann studying BComm financial sciences.

“Some of my greatest highlights were to captain Waterkloof’s side in my matric year where we also won the Noordvaal competition.

“Last year I lead the Titans Cubs and scored the most runs during the Cubs week.

“A very special moment was when my older brother and I were the opening batsman who won the premier cricket league for Assupol Tuks.

Hermann captained the Titans side in Stellenbosch where he was named batsman of the tournament.

Fast facts

– Played in 10 matches for the Titans in the Cubs week where he scored 766 runs (an average of 95,9; included 3 x 100s and 4 x 50s; he also took eight wickets).

Learner of Afrikaanse Hoërseunskool, Brevis said that his performance during the u/17 provincial team was good enough for him to be selected for this year’s Cubs week.

“My coach and mentor over the past six years, Deon Botes of Affies supported me during the lockdown period.

“There is not a lot of people I know with the same knowledge of cricket than him. He had a massive influence on my batting skills and development as a player.

“The coach of Tuks, Kruger van Wyk invited me to play in a T20 inters quads that took place at the end of November 2020. That helped me to prepare for the 2021 season.

“I was selected to attend two CSA inlands camps where I got some game time. We played against the coastal team. I did very well with the bat in hand.

“The coaches of the Titans expected each player to remain fit and work on their conditioning. 

“My older brother, Reinardt is a second-year student at the University of Potchefstroom. He completed his first year at home and it was great having him at home. He has great knowledge of cricket and he himself is a great cricketer. He played a big roll in developing my batting.”

Brevis said that the Cubs week was a great experience.

“The first two days, I put myself under pressure, but day three, four and five, I felt good and played excellent.”

Some of his greatest memories was when Affies played Paul Roos Gimnasium and during breaks the whole school came to support their boys next to the field.

“I want to successfully complete my matric and attend varsity and play international cricket, representing my country.

“I want to play the best cricket as a CSA u/19 player and bring in 2022 the world cup trophy home to South Africa. 

“I dream to one day be able to play for the Titans and then finally for the Proteas.

“I want to prove myself in all formats of cricket – to play in the IPL is something I also dream of as well as to play in various T20 matches across the globe.”

Brevis said that Affies was well prepared for last year’s season, but due to the pandemic everything had to be set aside.

“To find a balance between my academic work and cricket, will be one of my greatest challenges this year.

“Jesus gave me a talent to play cricket.

“Therefor I give him the glory. I play to honour him.”

He said that since he was a little boy, he used to play any ball sports.

“My brother and I would spend numerous hours in the garden playing cricket until the day my dad built our very own pitch.

“When my brother attended after school activities, my mom would always through hundreds of balls to me. That is all I wanted to do day and night – bat.”

He competed in various sporting codes such as Blue Bulls rugby, tennis, athletics and wrestling.

Fast facts

– Selected for the CSA u/19 team
– Scored his first century as u/11 player during the provincial week at Kearsney College
– He was presented with an award as he scored 140 runs off 82 balls
– As an u/15 player, he scored three centuries for Affies with a batting average of 196
– That same year, he took three consecutive five wicket hauls 
– He was named u/15 Titans player of the year
– In grade 9, he made his debut for Affies’ first cricket team and scored a 50
– In 2019, he was named Affies’ senior batsman of the year. He was the leading run scorer in the Pretoria league
– He presented the u/11 Titans as an u/10 player.

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