Makhaya Ntini

Makhaya Ntini (born 6 July 1977 in Eastern Cape Province) is a former South African cricketer who was the first ethnically black player to play for the South African team. A fast bowler, he tends to bowl from wide of the crease with brisk, although not express, pace. He survived legal controversy early on in his career to become only the third South African to take 300 Test wickets after Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald, and to reach second place in the ICC test match bowling ratings. He plays domestic cricket for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.

Early recognition

Makhaya Ntini was born in Mdingi, a small village in Cape Province which is near King William's Town. He was discovered by a Boland Cricket Board development officer who was setting up a mini-cricket programme. Although Ntini was both too old and too big to participate in the programme, the officer, Raymond Bool noticed the bared-footed cowherd's enthusiasm and talent for bowling. He lent the 15 year old Ntini a pair of plimsolls and arranged for him to participate in a net session in King William's Town. Ntini impressed Bool, who contacted the head of the development programme, Greg Hayes, and the pair placed Ntini in a junior cricket festival in Queenstown. For the festival, Hayes purchased Ntini his first pair of boots – but later had to give the young bowler instructions not to wear them indoors, or when herding...
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