The Border U19 national cricket week team will face a test of fire when they open their Coca-Cola Khaya Majola week against last year’s final match winners Northerns at St Stithians College late next month.
It will be the ultimate test for the side and will give them a good indication of where they rank against some of the best school players in the country.
The first two days of the week will be time (declaration) cricket, and Border will then face Western Province on day two.
“The fixtures themselves actually prepare the players, so we are happy to see who we have got first up,” said Border U19 coach Andre de Beer.
“But I always say playing against the best brings out the best in the players, so we are busy preparing for a very tough start to the Coke week and we are well on track.
“They think Border is a small union so I think it is the perfect opportunity for us to upset both Northerns and Western Province in our time cricket games.”
Following the first two days of time cricket, Border will play two T20 games on day three, with North West and Namibia the teams they will be up against.
North West is also the home province of Border coach De Beer, and this will add a bit of spice to the encounter.
“We played North West a few years ago in the U17 week, and last year came up against Namibia in the Coke week, so this time we are getting both,” said De Beer.
“They are also viewed, as we are by some of the bigger unions, as being some of the weaker sides in the week, and that is always dangerous, so we are preparing for them as we would for the best team at the week.”
The final two days of action will then be 50-over cricket, and Border’s opponents will only be decided after the first three days of play, based on the results over that period.
“We hope that by the time the final two games are played we are amongst the top sides, and will come up against other teams who have played the best over the week up to that stage,” said De Beer.
The Border side named is a strong team, with over half of the players having featured in last year’s Coke side, so they will have a great chance to get their national week off to a dream start.
With some of the players having played for the SA U19 team, SA Schools side, SA Colts team and even a bit of provincial cricket, there is plenty of experience in the team, and that should stand them in good stead.
“It gives a lot of strength to the team that we have retained so many guys from last year’s side,” said De Beer.
“But we have a really good balance between our senior and junior players.
“We have kept hold of our captain and a number of key players, and with the youngsters coming into the team they will be able to learn from these senior guys, and it will then bode well for us next year as well.”
The 2017 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola week gets under way on Sunday December 17 and will end by Thursday December 21.
Opening gambit to test Border’s young hotshots to the hilt
It will be the ultimate test for the side and will give them a good indication of where they rank against some of the best school players in the country.
The first two days of the week will be time (declaration) cricket, and Border will then face Western Province on day two.
“The fixtures themselves actually prepare the players, so we are happy to see who we have got first up,” said Border U19 coach Andre de Beer.
“But I always say playing against the best brings out the best in the players, so we are busy preparing for a very tough start to the Coke week and we are well on track.
“They think Border is a small union so I think it is the perfect opportunity for us to upset both Northerns and Western Province in our time cricket games.”
Following the first two days of time cricket, Border will play two T20 games on day three, with North West and Namibia the teams they will be up against.
North West is also the home province of Border coach De Beer, and this will add a bit of spice to the encounter.
“We played North West a few years ago in the U17 week, and last year came up against Namibia in the Coke week, so this time we are getting both,” said De Beer.
“They are also viewed, as we are by some of the bigger unions, as being some of the weaker sides in the week, and that is always dangerous, so we are preparing for them as we would for the best team at the week.”
The final two days of action will then be 50-over cricket, and Border’s opponents will only be decided after the first three days of play, based on the results over that period.
“We hope that by the time the final two games are played we are amongst the top sides, and will come up against other teams who have played the best over the week up to that stage,” said De Beer.
The Border side named is a strong team, with over half of the players having featured in last year’s Coke side, so they will have a great chance to get their national week off to a dream start.
With some of the players having played for the SA U19 team, SA Schools side, SA Colts team and even a bit of provincial cricket, there is plenty of experience in the team, and that should stand them in good stead.
“It gives a lot of strength to the team that we have retained so many guys from last year’s side,” said De Beer.
“But we have a really good balance between our senior and junior players.
“We have kept hold of our captain and a number of key players, and with the youngsters coming into the team they will be able to learn from these senior guys, and it will then bode well for us next year as well.”
The 2017 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola week gets under way on Sunday December 17 and will end by Thursday December 21.
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