Popular cricket players of South African cricket team: Lonwabo Tsotsobe
by MairaS on February 24, 2011
in Famous cricket players profiles
Lonwabo Tsotsobe, though a little known name in the world of cricket but for those people who follow the sport religiously would know that this South African has risen from the domestic circuit and has now cemented his position in the national squad of South African cricket team for 2011 Cricket World Cup.
Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 1984, Lonwabo Lopsy Tsotsobe, made his ODI debut against Australia in 2009. He sent out a clear message to the selectors from the very first go where by he took 4/50 which was impressive indeed by any measure. In his young career, Tsotsobe, the right handed fast-medium bowler has worked hard to justify his presence in the team and many would agree that he has done it pretty well. In the 19 ODIs that he has represented his country in, Tsotsobe has bagged 36 wickets at a brilliant average of less than 20, and best bowling figures of 4/22.But then again, many would question that these are still early days for the 26 year old and his average can’t tell much about his talent.
Being part of the 2011 ICC World Cup squad for South Africa, Tsotsobe would be on display on a true world level stage for the first time and with the faith that his selector, captain and the team mates have in him, he is highly likely to deliver the goods.
After Ntini, he is the only black South African to have penetrated the national side and made a mark for himself though whether he would remain to be a part of this side for a long time depends on his performance during this world cup in the sub continent.
Famous South African cricket players: Dale Steyn
by MairaS on February 24, 2011
in Famous cricket players profiles
Having made his ODI debut against Australia in 2006, Dale Steyn of South African cricket team has been a consistent performer in world cricket for over 5 years now. His claim to fame is his outrageously fast right-arm bowling which coupled with an awesome sense of swing and seam has seen batting sides melt like wax models.
Born in the Transvaal Province, South Africa in 1983, the chiseled faced Steyn holds the record for reaching the fastest 100 wickets in test cricket by a South African. In the ODI arena he has not been as impressive but still has managed to bag 69 wickets in the 48 matches that he has represented his national side in. He averages just under 30 runs per wicket and has the best bowling figures of 4/16 against Bangladesh in 2008. Steyn has never had a regular run with the South African ODI side since his roller coaster career within this form of the game. However, in the Test cricket arena he seems to be a totally different customer altogether and it was his fantastic year in 2007-2008 that won him the ICC Test Cricketer of the year award in 2008.
Dale Steyn could not make it into the 2007 Cricket World Cup squad that traveled to the Caribbean and this was indeed disappointing for the hard working speedster who regularly clocks speeds in excess of a 150km/hr.
A recent string of good performances has been Steyn’s ticket to the 2011 Cricket World Cup being held in the sub-continent and with his current form, very few bet their money against this magnificent speedster who can change the course of a cricketing match in a matter of a few overs.
Famous cricket players of South Africa: Colin Ingram
by MairaS on February 24, 2011
in Famous cricket players profiles
As the first South African cricket team player to have scored a century on his ODI debut, Colin Ingram is a stylish left handed batsman who is in the next breed of cricketing super stars to be emerging from this immensely talented African nation.
Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 1985, Colin Alexander Ingram made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in 2010 where he took the center stage with an emphatic 124 which was a fine display of excellent ground strokes and occasional bursts of hard hitting. Since then he has been a part of 11 ODIs where he has scored a total of 328 runs at an average of 41.00. Ingram, scored his second century against Pakistan in Dubai in the later half of 2010 which shut his critics up who were questioning his century earlier against Zimbabwe as a one off against a weak bowling team.
This vastly talented left handed top order batsman has been an integral part of his domestic ‘Warrior’ side and has frequently in his televised interviews held them responsible for his sharp cricketing brain and excellent ground fielding.
The traits discussed above are only a sign of better things to come and it is without a doubt that during the 2011 cricket World Cup, Colin Ingram would make the most of the sub continent pitches and a handful of below par bowling teams in the initial round. His reliable cricketing brain has been nurtured very systematically as all the South Africans cricketers do and it is highly likely that youngsters like Colin Ingram produce performances of a life time and help South Africa win their first trophy at this level.
Famous cricket players of South Africa: Graeme Smith
by MairaS on February 24, 2011
in Famous cricket players profiles
A tall, well structured, left-handed opener, Graeme Smith was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1981. Replacing the legendary Gary Kirsten at the top of the order of South African cricket team was a difficult job but the cricketing experts feel that Smith has done good job of it and commands respect globally as one of the most solid openers in the game today.
Having made his debut against Australia back in 2002, Graeme Smith has represented his national side in a 165 matches to date in which he has scored 6097 runs at a very good average of 39.84. In this journey, he has picked up 8 centuries and 43 fifties on the way. Graeme Smith enjoys a top score of 141 and is considered to have the safest pair of hands on the cricketing circuit as he has 89 catches to his name as well.
After being handed over the daunting task of captaining the South African side at the young age of 22, a few would raise questions at the way Graeme Smith has led his team to a well gelled unit and a winning concern. Although his side never made it to the finals of the 2007 Cricket World Cup as expected, the tournament itself was a fairly decent one for him personally. He scored 4 fifties in the first four matches that he played in the tournament, something which no other captain has achieved thus far.
With the 2011 Cricket World Cup being his last outing as the captain of his national side, Graeme Smith would like to ensure that he goes out all guns blazing and leads his side from the front to win a tournament that has eluded them for years now.
Famous cricket players of South African cricket team: AB de Villers
by MairaS on February 24, 2011
in Famous cricket players profiles
Very few batsmen can pull of the chip shot through the cover and be a master of shots at both sides of the wickets as AB De Villiers of South African cricket team. Within a relatively short career, ‘AB’ as he often referred too, the right-handed South African batsman has become a prized wickets for many a bowlers on the cricket circuit.
Born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1984, ‘AB’ has enjoyed his position as the top batsman in the world by the ranking administered by the cricket’s governing body, ICC. He has a simple batting style and has every shot in the book in his weaponry. Having made his ODI debut against England in 2005, he has represented his national side in a 114 matches thus far in which he has scored 4170 runs at a implausible average of 43.89. ‘AB’ has a total of 9 centuries and 25 fifties to his name with a top score of a 146. Another thing of note over here is his supreme ground fielding skills which make him an asset for his side any given day. ‘AB’ is a lively character and well liked by all his team members, in all he is a complete cricketer with some exceptional talent.
Having played only the single World cup i.e. 2007 Cricket World Cup, his highest score of 146 came against the West Indies in which he hammered the Caribbean attack to all parts of the ground and scored his runs greater than a run a ball. To his standards though, the tournament did not finish as well as he would have expected personally.
With the 2011 on it’s way, AB De Villiers would be pumped up and try to make sure that he makes his mark on the most talked about tournament in the world and help South Africa taste success for the first time at this highest level!