by Abhai Sawkar The drive to improve resonates in the minds of young cricketers yearning to make it big at the highest level. The path to success may not always be the easiest, but strong motivation proves to be a key factor. Such has been the mantra for several rising talents in the South African provincial circuit. Hanno Kotze, a wicketkeeper-batsman from Cape Town, has been plying his trade for Vredenburg-Saldanha Cricket Club’s 1st XI at club level, the South Western Districts (SWD) since 2013, and more recently, for Boland, at provincial first-class level. Having risen through the ranks at age-group level, he’s been raring to consistently perform in domestic cricket. At club level, he plays for the Vredenburg-Saldanha Cricket Club’s 1st XI. Kotze topped the run charts for SWD during the 2017-18, scoring 336 runs, with 4-half centuries. It was a decent outing for his team, finishing mid-table, but he emerged as a player with immense potential as an aggressive opening batsman. The next season, however, was the pinnacle for the promising 25-year-old. While the 50-over tournament may not have been as relatively prolific as the previous season, the Provincial 3-Day Challenge was the main highlight - 598 runs in 9 games, averaging just a shade under 40, with a barnstorming 222 from 253 deliveries (27 fours and 5 sixes) as the best score, against Easterns. In addition, Kotze was captaining Boland during that game. The strong returns in addition to fast learning made him the candidate for the 3-day Player of the Year Award. “I’m feeling very humbled, was just great for me to contribute towards the team and also for the opportunity to play,” says Kotze. “There is obviously still lots of room for improvement, but that is why pre-season is there for us. Consistency is definitely key in every aspect, but for me it is just taking it game by game and ball by ball and not to look too far ahead. I personally set small goals, because I know if I reach my small goals, the bigger goals will fall into place itself. Consistency and converting is my main focus for the upcoming season.” As inspiration, Kotze looks up to the current Proteas wicketkeeper: “Quinton de Kock is definitely my favorite [player]. He is just a great role model to me and I love the way he bats.” Given his early exploits, Kotze is taking confident strides to improve and impress whenever an opportunity is presented. Earning the recognition for a fantastic effort has laid the platform and created more incentive for the youngster. The next step is to make the grade from provincial cricket to franchise cricket, which contains its own set of challenges. The Cape Cobras are most likely his best bet at the moment, since Boland is within the catchment area for the Cobras franchise team, which is coached by former Proteas skipper Ashwell Prince. Right now, however, it’s time to carry on with the current tasks at hand. “At the moment I’m just looking to do my best in the upcoming season and the rest will take care of itself. I’ll just keep on working hard.” It’s a fairly simple and humble modus operandi for Kotze, and his step-by-step approach when it comes to the pursuit of higher honors will bear fruit. With another season having come to a close, Kotze has plenty to reminisce and reflect on: “It was definitely a season with a lot of ups and downs. As a team, I think we started playing well together more towards the end of the season, so hopefully we can take that momentum from last season into the coming season. The best memory for me was definitely scoring a double century. It was a moment I’ll cherish forever.” With the Mzansi Super League coming up towards the end of the year, Kotze has made a sizeable impression to enter the mix. The MSL is a great initiative for young players to step up to the plate and prove their mettle in the big leagues; the incentive is real, and there’s plenty to play for. Kotze had an encouraging run in the most recent Africa T20 Cup, scoring the most runs for Boland, despite the fact that they couldn’t progress past the group stage. Kotze’s story defines the importance of taking full toll of available opportunities. The provincial circuit has 13 teams, and it’s not always a clear-cut path to emerge as a standout performer. However, Kotze has done a tremendous job to make a name for himself so far, and more recently, earned a chance to play for the University Sports South Africa team, which competed against the South African and Sri Lankan Emerging teams. Gaining experience against potent international teams with promising players is priceless. It’s definitely a dream for any young cricketer to enter the national setup, but it’s important to have a systematic plan, as well. With a stoic and calm approach, Kotze is determined to make more and more progress. Six seasons of professional cricket, and the upward trend has been steady. Success doesn’t have a secret; it’s an outcome of readiness, diligence, and the urge to learn.
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AuthorsAkseli Pitkänen Archives
September 2020
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