SuperSport Schools News | Free State names National Cricket Week teams

St Andrew’s School’s left-arm spinner Ryle Beckmann’s consistency has been rewarded with a place in the Free State Schools cricket squad. Photo: AJ van Wyk.

Thirteen players from three schools and a development side have been named in the Free State U19 team to contest the Khaya Majola Week in Stellenbosch from Wednesday, 16 to Sunday, 20 December.

St Andrew’s School and Grey College boast five players each, the Rocklands Hub has two, and Hoërskool Witteberg has one.

Saints‘ head coach AJ van Wyk will continue his head coaching role with the provincial outfit for the fifth year running.

His assistant coach will be his colleague from St Andrew’s, Jayden Davids, while Grey College’s Mbali Mtana will repeat his role as the team manager.

Grey top-order batsman Christian Kind, who made the SA Schools side in 2024, is in the squad for a third year in succession. His team-mate and fellow top-order batsman, Aiden Dodd, is in the Free State squad for the second year in a row.

St Andrew’s batsman, FG Botha, once again has a place in the outfit. He was one of only three schoolboy players, alongside Jason Rowles from St David’s Marist Inanda and Janko Webb from Paul Roos Gimnasium, who had made the official SA20 player auction shortlist.

Nikhil Sukraj is another player who returns to the Khaya Majola Week. The right-arm leg-spinner joins his St Andrew’s team-mate and left-arm orthodox spinner, Ryle Beckmann, in the Free State squad.

TEAMS

Free State U19 Boys

Reuben van Aarde (St Andrew’s School), Christian Kind (Grey College), Aiden Dodd (Grey College), FG Botha (St Andrew’s School), Nhlanhla Debese (Rocklands Hub), Mongezi Theta (Rocklands Hub), River Scott (Grey College), Heindré Serfontein (St Andrew’s School), Bergh Vorster (Grey College), Michael Sacks (Grey College), Nikhil Sukraj (St Andrew’s School), Ryle Beckman (St Andrew’s School), Dumisane Johnson (Witteberg).

Head Coach: AJ van Wyk (St Andrew’s)
Manager: Mbali Mtana (Grey College)

5 St Andrew’s | 5 Grey College | 2 Rocklands Hub | 1 Witteberg

Free State U16 Boys

Samkelo Malibo (Kopanong High School), Vuyo Maqhubu (Bethlehem Voortrekker), Schalk van Rensburg (St Andrew’s School), Wilhelmus vd Schyff (Grey College), Hannes Peyper (Grey College), Hendre Bothma (Grey College), Stefan Janse van Vuuren (Grey College), Osten Willemse (Grey College), Daniel Hyadakis (Grey College), Bohlokwa Baartman (Kroonstad Hub), Bohlokwa Leketa (St Andrew’s School), Tsepho Ndzume (Tlotlisang Intermediate), Keamogetswe Nqoyi (HTS Louis Botha).

Free State U17 – Rural Cricket Week

Aiden Hewitt (Welkom Gim), Xander Fourie (Witteberg), Arkupal Arkupal (Sasolburg High), Jaddwen Booysen (Welkom Gim), Ndalo Ncanywa (St Dominic’s, Welkom), Lathi Tole (St Dominic’s, Welkom), Valery Faba (Botshabelo Hub), Luan Botha (Welkom Gim), Dian Erasmus (Welkom Gim), Albie Swart (Vrede), Goitsimang Francis (Botshabelo Hub), Janco Botha (Witteberg), Itumeleng Mmatli (Botshabelo Hub).

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Marlowe Bloem

Marlowe is a sports & creative writer from Durban, Kwazulu-Natal. Writing mainly for rugby & cricket, Marlowe enjoys watching and taking part in a multitude of sports, from soccer to athletics. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to music of all genres, reading literary fiction, and playing sports with friends and family.