Edition 22 The Nightwatchman 2020 2020 has started with a real bang! The Proteas have come up against a powerful England team , whilst the Protea Womens team have been giving New Zealand a cricketing lesson down under and our U19s are through to the quarter finals with local boy, Tyrece Karelse in the team. Our SWD Womens leagues have been finalized whilst the promotion and reserve leagues are drawing to the final stages for an early finish to the season. With all the goings on behind the scenes at the end of 2019, there is a fair amount of uncertainty in the game at the moment, but I am sure that the game will continue on fields all over the country in the right spirit and our decision makers at the top will ensure that the decisions that are made, will be in the best interests of the Inside this issue game! Sadly, some of the national weeks in December were cut short and cancelled completely due the SWD Provincial Men's news ........2 rain that fell over the country. Our SWD Boys U13 and Girls U19s travelled to Benoni and Nelspruit SWD Provincial Women's news ..3 in vain, as they did not get onto the field. A frustrating way to end the year. Asides from this, the USSA Week (Universities Week) saw cricket on the first two days and then the rain came! However, Womens League news ................4 the rest of the teams from SWD did battle in their respective weeks in December with varied results. Momentum Cup at the Rec ........5 Tyrece Karelse, a product of the Bridgton RPC, was selected for the SA U19 squad that is currently Coach Development ....................6 taking part in the U19 World Cup, hosted here in South Africa. A very proud moment for this young Coaches Corner ...........................7 man from Oudtshoorn and his family as well as his coaches! Important Contacts .....................8 Garry Hampson—SWDC Coach Education Manager Special points of interest SWD COACHES FORUMS AND GROUPS • Du Plessis & Tait selected for If you are based in the SWD region ( from Plett - to Swellendam - to Beaufort West and all the towns SA Invitational XI in between) and you would like to join one of the coach development groups or forums, or like • Karelse at U19 World Cup additional information please submit your details by clicking here. Alternatively you can head over to our websites coach development page and forward your details from there. Please note this is • Van Brieisies & Richards select- only for coaches based in the SWD region who wish to join a forum in their town or city. ed for Cobras Cubs • Coaches Corner SWD SQUAD NEWS The SWD team has had a varied start to the year, drawing their 3 day fixture against EP at home, with the List A fixture rained out and then losing heavily to Western Province at Newlands in a three day game. They then turned this around to beat Western Province in the List A fixture at Newlands. Frustrating as it must be, considering the quality hard work being put in behind the scenes by the coaching staff and players there have been a few highlights. Ex-Glenwoodhouse pupil and SA U19 player, Jean Du Plessis was selected to play in the SA Emerging XI against England in Paarl. Jean captained the team and his leadership and skills were highlighted during these fixtures. Along with Jean, SWD fast bowler Stephan Tait was also included in the team. Having struggled to make the SWD XI regularly this year, Stephan stepped and showed his potential dur- ing the fixtures, knocking over the likes of Root and Bairstow. His exploits raised the keen eyes of head coaches around the country and he is now off to join the Warriors on the franchise circuit, and we wish Stephan all the best! Above left: Jean Du Plessis captained the SA Invitational XI that played against England in warm-up matches for the ODI against the Proteas whilst above right: Left arm seamer Stephan Tait celebrates the wicket of Jonny Bairstow during the same fixture at Boland Park in Paarl. 2 SWD WOMENS SQUAD NEWS I had the privilege of taking part in the CSA Womens T20 Super League, as part of the coaching staff for the Coronations XI who ended up victori- ous in the competition. Having not had a real look at the talent across the country in the Womens set up, simply because SWD plays in the sec- ond tier of the competition, this was a real eye opener for me! Each of the four teams were picked from the most promising players in the country, boasting players ranging from U16 through to current Pro- tea players (who are giving New Zealand a beating by the way!) and this mix of players was done to give the youngsters an opportunity to rub shoulders with and gain experience from some of the best players in the world. A fantastic initiative by CSA and one that needs expanding soon! Three SWD players took part and all three showed their potential and capabilities at the tournament. Michaela Andrews, Annerie Derksen and Jane Winster proved themselves worthy at this level and well done to them! What I enjoyed most about the competition was the skill level of players and especially those coming through the ranks! The difference in experi- ence was evident with players such as Dane Van Niekerk, Shabnim Ismail, Mignon Du Preez, Laura Wolfhaart and Lizelle Lee to name a few, being a cut above the rest having been able to play so much cricket at a high level locally and abroad. They showed the less experienced cricket- ers, how it was done. I am certain that with more game time at a higher level our female cricketers will only go from strength to strength! I believe this is a very exciting space for the game in South Africa and I only hope that more focus and resources is given to this rapidly growing sector of the game! Garry Hampson Karelse at U19 World Cup Following in the footsteps of Jean Du Plessis, Tyrece Karelse was selected to represent his country on the World stage. Tyrece hails from Oudtshoorn, where he attends Protea College. A product of the Bridgton RPC under the mentorship of Head Coach Elridge Booysen and his two assistant, Merlin Masimela and Anver Venter. It was a matter of time before this RPC produced an SA U19 player consider- ing the quality work that these coaches have put in over the years, into these youngsters under trying conditions. Tyrece is the first RPC player to be selected to date. The support of Standard Bank with the sponsorship and partnership with the RPC’s has made this possible—giving talent- ed cricketers like Tyrece, the opportunity to showcase their talents. A left handed batsmen and right arm medium pace bowler, Tyrece has represented the SWD Youth teams at various levels, as well the SWD Provincial Men's XI whilst at school. Tyrece scored twice in four outings with 60 against Canada and a cameo 24 against the UAE in a must win game to qualify for the second stage of the tournament. Left: Tyrece Karelse in preparation for the quarter final match against Bangladesh 3 Van Briesies, Richards Club League News selected for Cubs With an earlier than usual finish to club leagues, there have already been some champions crowned in 2020! The SWD Womens League wrapped up with Union Stars CC dominating Harle- Two SWD U19 players were selected quins Forces CC in the final and winning by a comfortable margin of 43 runs. for the Cobras Cubs team, following In the Womens T20 final, George CC beat the Pioneers Womens XI (Plettenberg Bay) by 62 runs. the completion of the Khaya Majola What was pleasing to see was the number of new talented players specifically in the George and U19 Week in December. Heath Rich- Pioneers teams. ards (Glenwoodhouse) and Jhedli Van The women's game is growing and coaches, teachers and parents alike are encouraged to assist Briesies (Langenhoven Gymnasium) girls to gain access to this wonderful game! were selected following their suc- cesses at the National Week. Both players were amongst the runs at the Khaya Majola Week with Heath Richards top scoring with a century in the first game of the week and also excelling with the ball— ending up as the leading SWD wicket taker. Jhedli showed off his skills with the gloves and had a very good Cubs week where he averaged 95 with a strike rate of 96. Both players could be in action for the SWD Provincial XI in their upcom- ing matches, so watch this space as these young cricketers try and make their mark. Above: Union Stars—pace setters in the Womens game with yet another trophy following their victory in the Womens 50 over league and below, relative newcomers to the Womens game, George CC after their victory in the Womens T20 final. Above: Jhedli sweeps at the Khaya Majola Week 4 2019 U13 & GIRLS U19 WEEKS CANCELLED YouTube links This editions YouTube link focus is on wicket- Sadly, rain played havoc with National Weeks across the country in December last year, with three weeks called off and the USSA A Week curtailed due to heavy rain in Johannesburg. The keeping. Wicket-keeping is an area a lot of SWD U13’s made the trip up to Benoni, whilst the SWD Girls U19 ‘s made the longer trip all the coaches often neglect, however this is a vital way to Nelspruit, only to get there to falling rain and shortly thereafter the news that the weeks cog in the machine that is your team.