The Western Province cricket family went into mourning on Tuesday when the sad news broke of the passing of a beloved humanitarian figure and one of the champions of the art of leg-spin bowling at St. Augustine Cricket Club, Clive Kolbe.

“He was a mentor figure, somebody to whom Paul Adams (a former South African left-arm wrist spinner and current Cape Cobras coach) looked up to,” Aubrey Kolbe, his brother, said.

Kolbe (72) passed away on Tuesday after suffering a series of strokes earlier in the year.

A former chairman of St. Augustine Cricket Club, he served cricket and the community for several decades.

As a leg-spinner and useful lower order batsman, he forced his way into the Western Province team (South African Cricket Board of Control) and struck a half-century while also capturing seven wickets at an average of 13.71 and a career-best at provincial level of 4-52.

“He was constantly amongst the three best players at St. Augustine Cricket Club,” Aubrey Kolbe said.

Kolbe worked in the printing industry for more than 30 years.

He endeared himself to the community with his selfless humanitarian work, and was a founder figure of the Aquarius School Feeding Scheme.

“He actually offered his services to schools as a coach, but then became aware of the fact that many people bemoaned the lack of nutrition, of bread, for children. For several years, maybe even more than a decade, he organized delivery of bread to schools on the Cape Flats. He was affectionately known as the Bread Man,” remembered George Damon, a family friend.

“Apart from being an outstanding bowler, he was the personification of love. He was a true gentleman and a gift from God,” an emotional Damon said.

“His love for cricket and for the people at St. Augustine Cricket Club was so strong that even when his movement was restricted for health reasons, people would take him to club games. He never missed one.

When Kolbe became aware of different needs in the community, like rain coats, he would organize the purchasing and delivery of those as well, Damonn add.

Kolbe’s widow, Lorna, said the funeral arrangements have not been finalized yet.

Beresford Williams, a former chairman of St. Augustine Cricket Club and present life member of the club, said that besides being an outstanding cricketer, mentor and community man, Kolbe was also a true club champion who served the game at all levels.
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“He had an astute understanding of the heartbeat of a community and what was needed to sustain families, and he not only spoke compassion; he embodied it.”

The Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) mourns the passing of the 79-year old Clifford Adams, a former long-serving secretary of the South African Cricket Board of Control (SACBOC) and former coach of the Young Cavaliers who also managed the famous Cape Ramblers soccer club.

Adams passed away on Monday morning after suffering a heart attack.

Funeral arrangement is still to be finalized.

Russell Adams, his son, was manager of amateur cricket at Western Province before he moved to India where he serves in the Indian Premier League.

Brian Adams, Russell’s brother, said Adams (sr) was an all-rounder who represented St Augustine Cricket Club, Victoria and Cape Town Cricket Club.

He also played soccer for Aurora and later managed the Cape Ramblers Soccer Club.

Hermann Gibbs, well-known Cape Town-based sports journalist and former editor of the Cape Times, remembered Adams as an excellent administrator who served on the SACBOC national board of directors.

He later coached the Young Cavaliers, and several stars that represented their provinces, emerged and blossomed under the guidance of Adams.

“My son, Herschelle, played a few games for the Young Cavaliers,” he fondly remembered.

“The Ramblers Soccer Club played at the old Green Point Track and was one of those very famous clubs who attracted 20000 to 30 000 spectators who were queuing past the Somerset Hospital for these matches,” he said.

“I don’t think Clifford got the recognition he deserved as an administrator who served as secretary in cricket. He was soft-spoken, friendly, a thinker and a very astute administrator,” he said.

As a coach, he guided many young cricketers to maturity at the Young Cavaliers, who will pay testimony to his impact on their evolving careers, Gibbs said.

“We wish to express our sincere condolences to the Adams-family, to Clifford’s colleagues, players who benefited from his expertise and fellow club players who were privileged to ply their cricketing trade alongside one of the Western Cape’s most beloved sons,” said Nabeal Dien, chief executive officer of the WPCA.
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“He had a long-standing involvement in cricket in the Western Province. Clifford made an invaluable contribution to the development of the game as administrator in this region and we honour his legacy. He also left his mark on other facets of the game through coaching,” said Beresford Williams, president of the Western Province Cricket Association.

The Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) and St. Augustine Cricket Club yesterday expressed their sincere condolences with the family, friends and colleagues of Kenneth (Ken) Reid, who passed away at the age of 75.

“Ken had an infectious spirit and he had an enormous impact at St Augustine Cricket Club, a club known for its close bonds between players. His son, Phillip, represented St. Augustine Cricket Club and Ken headed our junior committee at the club for many years,” said George Damon, life member at St. Augustine and a close friend of Reid.

“The last couple of years, Ken worked as supervisor at the cricket club house of St. Augustine. He was a gentle, loving man who impacted many around him.”

Reid worked for Murray Stewart for many, many years after matriculating at Athlone High School, recalled Damon, whose friendship with Reid spanned more than 60 years.

Damon saluted the role of Reid and the D’ Oliveira-family in the evolution of the club.

“Basil’s father, Lulu, was the chairman of the club for many years. Basil represented the club (and England). His son Damian played for St. Augustine and last season, his son, Brett, also played under the St. Augustine banner.

“He did so well that Worcestershire would not let him go and he might end up representing England,” Damon added.
The funeral of Reid will be on Saturday 17th September at 09h30 at the All Saints Church in Plumstead.

“We mourn the passing of Ken, whose long stint at club level in different capacities contributed towards the strengthening of Western Province’s pipeline-structures,” said Nabeal Dien, chief executive officer of WPCA.

“We want to ensure the Reid-family and his friends and club members at St. Augustine of our support and prayers during this time of bereavement,” Dien added.
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“He was treasurer and manager of the club for more than two decades and was part of the life-blood of the club. He represented important values and codes that transcendent cricket and contributed to the well-being of St. Augustine Cricket Club,” said Beresford Williams, the president of WPCA

Youth Cricket in not only the heartbeat of the game in Western Province; it has also been an award-winning, pulsating part of the winning recipe of the Cape Cobras’ ten domestic titles the past eight years as the pipeline-structures have been superb, says Clinton du Preez, amateur cricket manager of the Western Province Cricket Association.
 
Du Preez was one of the talismanic figures behind the WP’s club cricket- and the HUBS/RPC-program claiming the number-1 positions nationally on the Cricket South Africa incentive scorecard.
 
He was at the helm when the Western Province Youth Cricket Association’s annual general meeting took place on Wednesday. Fezile Mguqulwa was elected as chairperson of the association and Rodney They as vice-chairperson. The additional members are: Stanley Maqubela, Johannes Adams, Leslie Appollis, Mzolisi Marwanqa, Luthando Mzisi, Bulelani Libazi, Karlien Scholtz and Goolam Jaffer
 
“It is great to see some new faces on the committee and we are looking forward to their input and energy as we strive to continue the growth and sustain youth cricket in the province,” Du Preez said. “Our direct mandate is to ensure that the establishment of the district committees are driven vigorously,” he added.
  
“We welcomed the robust discussions and were encouraged by the vision and passion of our delegates.
 
“ I would like to thank our stakeholders for their continued support and dedication to the development of cricket in the province, as without their support we would not be able to sustain our continued success on and off the field.
 
“We would like to wish our committee well for the ensuing season and looking forward to greater steps in the benefit of our youth,” he added.
 
Youth Cricket in the Western Province has unearthed some superb players the past decade and the establishment of the Newlands high school will no doubt add to the depth and reserve strength of the province, Du Preez remarked.
 
He said Western Province is more dedicated than ever to extend and grow the pool of emerging black African players in the province to ensure that the Western Cape contributes richly to a national game of winners.
 
Beresford Williams, the president, said WPCA is determined to ensure they produce players and teams that can compete with the very best in the game. The balance between mass participation and high performance must be found to ensure performance excellence.
 
“We can achieve it. We can also improve our communication on our sustainable pipeline, while implementing performance plans to assist young aspiring cricketers,” Williams added.

Female staff members of the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) paid a visit to the women at the Saartjie Baartman Centre in Manenberg on 18th August and presented them with toiletries and other necessities as part of a social responsibility initiative during women’s month.

Jasmiena Davids, Marketing Manager of WPCA, said: “Our intention was to offer them practical gifts as a gesture of compassion to touch the hearts and the lives of the women at the Saartjie Baartman Centre in a tangible way. Through this gesture, we communicated our care as a family during women’s month.”

Sanitary towels, soap, face cloths, tissues, and body lotion are amongst the every-day necessities that was handed over at the Centre in Klipfontein Road, Manenberg.

“These gifts were shared with the women and children in our personal capacities and were done to showcase our solidarity with them,” Davids said.

The Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children is a one-stop centre for women and children who are survivors of abuse. Their vision is the creation of a safe and secure society and a human rights culture where women and children are empowered to exercise their full skills.

Nabeal Dien, chief executive officer of the WPCA, said sharing and caring for poor and deprived members of the society is not an option but an imperative. “We arguably have the most passionate following of die-hard fans in the country. They are devoted to a winning team; we are devoted to inspire them on the field and to make a difference in their every-day lives off it when and where we can,” he added.
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“We have often through social interventions, like reaching out to the homeless on Mandela Day, showed our compassion as a Western Province cricket family, and we are delighted to be involved again,” Dien added.

A determined and spirited effort – that is how the chief executive officer of the Cape Cobras, Nabeal Dien, described the remarkable recovery by the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) in erasing debt of R5.1 million in the absence of a team sponsor, while also reducing the historic debt level by R1.3 million.

Dien also announced at the annual general meeting of the WPCA that the Cape Cobras had secured a team naming right sponsor for one year from 1st May 2016.

The chief executive officer also outlined a ten-point strategic plan focused on streamlining the approach to amateur development and a more active marketing drive for the team, stadium and amateur programs.

Dien announced WPCA’s intent to formulate a commercial plan for the stadium and a planned overhaul of financial contracts.

“The 2015/2016-season was the first one since unity was established in 1991/1992 that a team sponsor was not on board. It resulted in a R5.1 million deficit. WPCA, through various commendable initiatives, managed to generate the income to break even,” said Dien.

“We also reduced the long-term debt by R1.3 million,” he added.

Dien paid special tribute to the boardnd the independents.

“To the WPCA board members and in particular the independents, thank you for your surgical interventions in assisting with improving particularly the governance and financial areas of the organization,” Dien said.

Beresford Wiliams, the WPCA-president, commended the vigilance of the board members and the determination and dedication of the CEO and his operational team for their efforts in allowing the WPCA to survive a year in troubled waters. He also highlighted the fact that WPCA has secured profit for the year of R2 273 629,00.

Williams applauded the provincial women’s team for winning the national 50-over tournament in Bloemfontein and for obliterating all-comers in the T20-campaign.

He also saluted WP’s club cricket and the HUBS/RPC-program for claiming the bragging rights and number-1 position nationally on the CSA incentive scorecard.

The president said the failure of the Cape Cobras to lift a trophy last season should not be dismissed easily.

A SWOT-analysis is needed on why there were so many close tussles, yet so few ecstatic moments.

“Transformation remains our most challenging task and our efforts to advance change now and not tomorrow is a critical agenda objective,” he said.
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If WPCA fail to seize the day now in terms of transformation, future generations will judge them harshly, he warned.

The art of reverse swing, the gift of talent spotting, the ability to empower young cricketers and the compassion for needy communities were and are part of the persona of Rushdi Magiet, one of the most decorated former cricketers in South Africa.

He has received the ultimate cricketing accolade – the life-time achievement award – on two occasions.

The 73-year old was acknowledged for his contribution to South African cricket over a period of more than four decades when he received the esteemed prize at the Cricket South Africa (CSA) awards ceremony on Tuesday 26th July.

His contemporaries and fans of Western Province remembered his exploits for the provincial team which spanned almost a decade between 1971/72 and 1980/81 in which he scored 917 runs in 37 matches and took 109 wickets with a best of 10-56.

Magiet might not have conceptualized the art of reverse swing at pace, but he almost mastered it. When he was in his pomp, he had few equals. His 109 wickets came at an average of 13.63 and an economy rate of 1.83, while his strike-rate of 44.5 was up there with the finest.

He was a member of the South African selection committee from 1991 to 2001 and was chairman of the committee from 1999 to 2001.

During that era, only Australia was able to compete with South Africa. The Baggy Greens were imperious in that era, specifically from 1995 to 2001, but South Africa, spearheaded by Allan Donald with support from Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock, asked probing questions.

Magiet, the late Khaya Majola and Dr Ali Bacher were inspirational figures in rolling out the KfC Mini-cricket initiative which are part of the rhythm and heart-beat as a development sports programme in South Africa which reached even the remotest rural areas after unification in 1991.

Magiet possesses that rear eye to spot unique talent.

He told some friends when he saw JP Duminy at the age of nine at an net practice in Roeland Street that the middle-order batsman would represent South Africa one day.

When Duminy scored that superb unbeaten 50 at the WACA, followed by a magnificent 166 at the MCG in 2008 to propel South Africa to a series-win against Australia, the visionary Magiet’s prophetic words was vindicated.

In 2015, he also received a life-time achievement award from the minister of sport and recreation, Fikile Mbalula.
Magiet was a graduate in social work from the University of the Western Cape and practised in that field from 1964 to 1982.

He served as full-time administrator, selector and development manager until his retirement in 1999 and then succeeded Peter Pollock as chairman of selectors.

During the 1980’s, he was a member of Western Province’s executive and was appointed as treasurer of the Board in 1989.

CSA appointed him as match referee and he also served on the body’s restructuring committee from 2012 to 2013.
One of 21 recipients of the Mayoral medal in 2009, Magiet was honoured for his civilian work in establishing of 12 soup kitchens across the Cape Flats which fed 4000 people twice a week.

Despite physical ailments, Magiet is undaunted and is continuing the social work in touching communities who is in need of nutrition and upliftment.

“I have travelled six hours on a Monday and it was tough on my knee but I have mentored somebody else to complete the delivery and I pay him to do the work (of the soup kitchens) physically,” said Magiet.

The long-term administrator was humbled by Tuesday’s accolade: “I just feel honoured to receive the life-time achievement award of CSA. It is an acknowledgement for all the efforts that I have put in over the years to establish cricket.”

Probed about the future of South African cricket, Magiet said: “South Africa possesses a rich talent pool in sport, but we must attempt to identify those ball-players lure them to cricket. Some of them are drawn to baseball or rugby or other sports.

“Our challenge is to make it attractive for them to play the game. That is why mini-cricket is so important. It is such a popular festival. We must ensure that many of our scouts attend the mini-cricket festival.
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“We have the talent to get back to the summit of test cricket. We must just have the spirit to play for one another,” Magiet added.

The Sport Skills for Life Skills (SS4LS) programme of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) has arguably become one of the most sought-after and esteemed initiatives of holistic cricket-, career- and community-development in South Africa. Its detractors wrongly bemoan the use of a so-called thick cheque book to buy trophies.
 
Nicolas Kock, executive director of the programme, points out that the pillars of the programme are much broader than just cricket skills. They include in addition the promotion of academic achievement, preparation for viable careers, leadership development, and community involvement.
 
Since its inception, the SS4LS programme has assisted more than 110 cricket students to complete their degrees.
 
Most of these graduates pursue successful careers and many of them have become prominent leaders in their community, he said.
 
The SS4LS initiative started in 2000 when Craig Marais was recruited as the coach and senior player James Albanie, who bought into the vision of the programme.
 
Albanie volunteered to travel from Touws River to join the squad every week in Cape Town without any compensation.
 
Over time the club gradually moved from 2B level up to 1A. In the 2007/08 season UWC completed a hat-trick of awards. They won the two-day competition, one-day competition and also claimed the T20-spoils. No Western Province club has ever done this before or since.
 
One of the historic moments for Kock came when UWC won the 1B-club title in the 2004/05 after four seasons in the 1B-league.
 
They were aided by Gareth Knott, who captured 7-42 to rock Claremont on their home ground in the first match of the season against a unit that boasted the presence of Jacques Kallis and Alan Dawson.
 
Over the last 16 years, UWC’s cricket has also experienced a sharp upward curve in comparison with other universities, rising from 18th in the country to the top tier. The institution reached second place several times at the USSA tournament since 2007/2008.
 
“One of the most important outputs we have had for the WPCA, is our contribution to the development of black African crickets that completed their degrees, and, in turn, became part of the club structure of the Western Cape.”
 
Mpilo Njoloza, Aviwe Mgijima, Mafinki Serame, Lesiba Ngoepe, Sikhokele Camagu, Emmanuel Seberame, Ronald Masinda, Abongile Sodumo and David Sepele are some of the players that engaged in the programme.
 
“Given the appropriate institutional space by WPCA, this contribution through the programme can increase exponentially and address transformational challenges within the region head on,” Kock said.
 
What alarmed him, was that after matric many cricket players are contracted to Western Province or the Cobras without enrolling in any tertiary educational program.
 
About 80 % of contracted players lose their contracts after two years. Then those individuals have to start working, but they will struggle to find jobs and they might easily be completely lost to cricket.
 
The SS4LS-programme assures their continued academic development, and thus retain them as cricketers.
 
Very early on the board realised that the traditional sport-scientific approach would not deliver the desired results.
 
A more personal approach to people-development was needed. Players required a medical support, a nutritional plan and an academic development structure to yield fruit.
 
Prof Paul Avis, a former leading South African tennis player in the 1970s and 1980s, was brought in to nurture the so-called soft skills of the players.
 
These are skills on how to address personal problems, how to absorb pressure, and how to utilise it to develop a winning mentality.
 
A key part of the person-centred programme was to make the players essential partners of the decision-making program in setting academic and cricketing goals for the season.
 
These goals get evaluated on an annual basis with the players during their individual academic and sport debriefing sessions.
 
Contrary to what critics say, the programme is not focused so much on winning trophies, as on developing champions for their communities.
 
These players are also equipped with life-skills and the academic grounding to pursue careers that sustain their continued upward social mobility while serving society.
 
Kock is immensely proud of achievers like Robert van der Ross, who presently captains Victoria. In a recent game against Primrose, Van der Ross called back the last batsman from Primrose who was wrongly given out. 
 
The stakes were high because, as a result of this decision, Victoria was relegated.
 
However, Van der Ross was given a special sportsmanship award at the prize-giving ceremony of Western Province in May.
 
Prof Johann Graaff, chairman of the SS4LS Board, pointed to the positive impact that the multi-facetted university environment has had on cricket at UWC.
 
“We have had biokinetics, academic support staff and psychologists, among others, who have been connected to the programme,” he said.
 
He said a movie like Coach Carter has been iconic in making players understand the script of SS4LS.
 
In this movie, an extremely successful basketball coach at an American ghetto school stops team training to insist that players focus on their school work. That move causes uproar in the team and at the school. So, Carter sat the players down and asked them one by one, ‘Where’s your brother? Where’s your father?’
 
Many were either drop-outs, in jail or unemployed – of those that were still alive.  The key principle at stake here is that sport is a dangerous and, for most part, a very short-lived career.
 
The drop-off can be very sudden and disastrous for personal careers. It is no accident that there is such a high rate of depression and suicide among young sportspeople.
 
“We also want to invest the formula that we entrenched at the University of the Western Cape at other institutions like schools. We have already identified schools in Muizenberg and Bellville where we are busy implementing the SS4LS-programme,” Prof Graaff said.
 
He dismissed suggestions that such a programme can be easily copied and used in other institutions without the special brand of value-driven leadership that is exemplified by Kock.
 
“You need a special culture and atmosphere, like the one that is evident at UWC,” he added

Wayne Parnell claimed four major prizes including the ultimate accolade as Cape Cobras’ player of the year at the awards-ceremony of the Western Province Cricket Association on Monday at the WPCC in Claremont.

Parnell was also named the Cape Cobras Momentum One-day Player of the Year, the Ram Slam T20 Challenge player of the year and the Cape Cobras players’ player of the year.

“I have not seen Wayne play this well for many summers. It is a just reward for good, consistent performances,” said Paul Adams, the Cape Cobras coach.

Parnell ended with 16 wickets at an economy-rate of 4.83 in the Momentum One Day Cup series, slammed 237 runs at an average of 47.40 as Ram Slam T20 Challenge opener and also took eight wickets in the T20-format.

Although he did not claim the SuperSport series player of the year award, he did average 48.14 with the bat and captured 23 wickets in five matches, including three consecutive five-wicket hauls. He claimed 12 wickets in the penultimate match of the season against the Sunfoil Dolphins, and ripped through the visitors with 7-51 in the first innings.

He also hammered his first first-class century, an unbeaten 111 against the VKB Knights.

Parnell, who recently married the fashion blogger Aisha Baker, is currently on duty in the Caribbean as part of the South African One Day International team. South Africa will meet Australia and the West Indies in a triangular series starting on Friday 3rd June.

Dane Vilas was named Sunfoil Series player of the season for the Cape Cobras. He averaged 69.18 the past season and featured in a South African fifth wicket stand of 393 with JP Duminy.

Vilas was also sensational in the Momentum One Day Cup campaign, hammering 282 runs while only being dismissed twice.

“Dane picked himself up so quickly after being dropped from the South African team. People forget that he is not only a wicketkeeper, but a dynamic presence with the bat for the Cape Cobras,” said Adams.

Cobus Roodt was named coach of the year for a second consecutive season. The Western Province woman’s team claimed the coveted double for a second consecutive season and has now won seven titles out of eight the past four years.

“We have won 41 matches from 44 in the 50-over contests and 15 T20-matches out of 17 (the past four years). I think what we have done well is to focus on the things we can control. We took care of the nitty-gritty and our team-building and attention to detail helped us to stay ahead of the fast-chasing pack,” said a proud Roodt.

Zubayr Hamza, recently promoted to the Cape Cobras’ professional squad, was named first-class player of the year, having scored 833 runs for the Western Province semi-professional team that reached the final in the Sunfoil Three-day Cup.

Shandré Fritz was named women’s player of the year for Western Province.

Elsies River Northlink was named club of the year, collecting 191 points. The clubs were measured according to their administrative prowess, league-winning exploits and their discipline.

The other finalists were Bergvliet, Hottentots Holland, Kuils River and Ottomans Cricket Club.

For the first time in its iconic 127-year history, the famous PPC Newlands-ground will feature 14 strips on the square to prepare the table and the surrounding Oaks for a cricket festival of 14 internationals during the next three years.

A professional who learned his trade as curator under the legendary Phil Russell and played with Kevin Pietersen, will add two wickets to the 12 that has served South Africa with distinction during the past quarter of a century.

Since unity, South Africa has won 19 tests from 29 on the hallowed turf at Newlands, while being almost invincible in One Day Internationals and racing to victory in 26 of 31 appearances.

Evan Flint had visions of representing Natal when, as part of a life-skills work experience-apprenticeship with some of his class mates at Maritzburg College in 1997, he went to Kingsmead to train under the watchful eye of the future South African coach, Graham Ford.

He also spent two days working on the covers as Russell shared his wisdom with him.
It proved to be a turning point for Flint, who later became assistant-groundsman and curator at Kingsmead before he moved to Newlands.

Earlier in 1997, he represented the second team of Maritzburg College with Pietersen. “That was in the first term of Kevin’s matric year. In the last term, he went on to represent the first team, and never looked back,” said Flint.
Flint has certainly also left his indelible mark on the ground at PPC Newlands, which has received rave reviews from the critics.

A record crowd assembled for the New Year’s test in 2016 where England hammered 629 in the first innings, but they were flirting with disaster in their second innings on 159 for six. South Africa nearly achieved the impossible and scrambled the win, but just ran out of time as England consolidated.
“We will dig up the Newlands-turf at the end of the square in May and will now have 14 wickets instead of 12,” said Flint.

“They will mainly be used for amateur and club cricket. But this is much-needed. We will have a bumper season in 2018 when we will host three tests, three One Day Internationals and at least two T20-Internationals.
“We will complete the digging within two weeks. I’m feeling like a kid in a candy shop and I’m really looking forward to it,” he added.

The number four- and five-strips are test wickets, and Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn will remember them with fondness. Philander took 5-17 in his maiden test against Australia in 2011 when South Africa won by eight wickets.
He also nipped out 5-7 on the same strip in 2012/2013 as South Africa romped to victory against New Zealand.
Steyn is the leading wicket-taker in tests for South Africa at the venue, having taken 65 scalps in 13 appearances.
“We will be ready in a year’s time with those two added wickets,” said Flint.

“In the off-season, we will scarify the 12 existing strips, drill them, top-dress them and fertilize it,” he added.
South Africa and Sri Lanka will meet at PPC Newlands in the second test starting on the 2nd January 2017.
They will also be at loggerheads on the 7th February in a One Day International at the venue.

“I am excited about the new strips, which just demonstrates our unwavering commitment as a Western Cape cricketing family to cater for amateur and professional cricket,” said Nabeal Dien, chief executive officer of the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA).

“Club cricket remains the life blood of the game in this region and we want to host these emerging stars at the famous venue.”