Justin Ontong

Justin Lee Ontong (born 4 January 1980 in Paarl) is a South Africa cricketer, who currently plays domestic cricket for the Cape Cobras. He has played two Tests, 26 One Day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals as an all-rounder.

Cricket career

Ontong began his first-class career with Boland, making his debut in February 1998 against Natal in Paarl.

He toured Pakistan with the South Africa under-19 team in February 1999, and then Ireland and Scotland with the South Africa Academy later that year. He played for a South African Invitation XI against the touring England team in January 2000, and was a member of the South Africa A squad that went to the West Indies in August and September 2000.

His first elevation to the full South African squad came with the tour of the West Indies in early 2001, where his quiet demeanour earned him the nickname "Rowdy" from his team-mates. He made his international debut in the first ODI in Jamaica, scoring 11 at number nine and bowling five overs. He went on to play in six of the seven matches in the series, but recorded just 13 runs and two wickets in total.

He played a further One Day International in Zimbabwe in September 2001, before being selected for the tour of Australia that followed. Left out of the first two Test matches, he was then thrust into the limelight by being selected for the Sydney Test amid much controversy. After the selectors chose Jacques Rudolph ahead of him, they were...
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