Proteas on the ball with coaching clinic:

Eighty lucky aspiring young cricket talents were given the chance of a lifetime to rub shoulders with their cricketing heroes when the Proteas hosted a coaching clinic at Winter Rose Park in NU13 Mdantsane on Friday.

Proteas stars Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma, Dwaine Pretorius and uncapped teenager Wiaan Mulder, along with assistant coach Adrian Birrell and spin bowling coach Claude Henderson mingled among youngsters throughout the session, imparting tips and wisdom to the budding talents.

All the kids who took part in the clinic were promising players identified through the mini-cricket programme and hub structures.

Bavuma helped with some of the hub players in the nets during the session.

“It has been great witnessing the talent, enjoyment and passion among the young kids which is always a nice sight to see,” Bavuma said.

“For us to be here brings everything into perspective, what we play for and what we stand for as the Proteas and doing these clinics is important to give back to the people.”

Pretorius was one of the roving players, moving between the many mini-cricket games taking place on the field, helping some of the batsmen as well as bowlers at various times.

“When I was young I didn’t have the opportunity to meet the Proteas, so I am glad that we have the chance to come and inspire these youngsters and show them that dreams really do come true,” Pretorius said.

After the kids got the chance to play they were then sat down and shown the correct way to bat and bowl by Birrell, who used Bavuma and Pretorius as examples to the youngsters. — rossr@dispatch.co.za