Full Name

Makhaya Ntini

Born

July 06, 1977, Mdingi, nr King William's Town, Cape Province

Age

46y 257d

Also Known As

George

Batting Style

Right hand Bat

Bowling Style

Right arm Fast

Playing Role

Bowler

RELATIONS

(son)

Makhaya Ntini seemed to possess few of the standard attributes of the successful fast bowler. He packs neither express pace, nor the drip torture of infallible accuracy, nor a quiver brimming with variation. What he does have, though, is almost 400 Test wickets.

Ntini relies on relentlessness, which requires him to strive for levels of fitness not previously countenanced by cricketers, and an unfailingly ebullient character, which buoys him with hope and aggression long after bowlers of lesser body and mind have conceded defeat. These fine qualities made him the heart of the South African attack and the soul of the entire team.

Mainstream cricket in South Africa was under pressure to prove itself worthy of attention beyond its hitherto largely white niche when Ntini emerged from the backwaters of the Eastern Cape in 1993. The script was straight out of Hollywood. Ntini was discovered by the then United Cricket Board's (UCB) development programme. His next stop was Dale College, a prestigious school where cricket's roots run deep. Dale was not far from Ntini's home village of Mdingi, but it was a place beyond youngsters of his humble station.

By the southern summer of 1997-98 season, Ntini was South Africa's first black African international cricketer. But his career seemed over, or at best hanging by a thread, when he was convicted of rape in 1999. He protested his innocence vehemently and consistently and, with the support of the UCB, was acquitted on appeal.

Ntini returned to action after almost 20 months in the wilderness, and was a fixture in the national team for the next 10 years. In 2003, he became the first South African to take 10 wickets in a Lord's Test. Five years later he owned the best Test match figures by a South African: Ntini's haul of 13 for 132 against the West Indies under Port-of-Spain's blazing sun and on a not particularly lively Queen's Park Oval pitch was the perfect précis of his career.

His 100th Test, against England at Centurion in December 2009, was celebrated with gusto across the country. But it proved to be his last hurrah. Ntini was ineffective, and he was dropped for the last two Tests of the England series. He insisted he would give his all, as he always did, to get back into the side but the team had moved on. Eleven months later he announced his international retirement, but his place in South Africa history had long-since been secured.
Telford Vice

Makhaya Ntini Career Stats

Bowling

FormatMatInnsBallsRunsWktsBBIBBMAveEconSR4w5w10w
Tests10119020834112423907/3713/13228.823.2353.419184
ODIs173171868765592666/226/2224.654.5332.6840
T20Is101019229862/222/2249.669.3132.0000
FC190-35039188686517/37-28.983.2353.8-275
List A275-1305398103886/226/2225.284.5033.6960
T20s606012631575634/214/2125.007.4820.0100

Batting & Fielding

FormatMatInnsNORunsHSAveBFSR100s50s4s6sCtSt
Tests1011164569932*9.84143948.57001048250
ODIs173472419942*8.6529866.7700166300
T20Is10421055.001190.90002020
FC19022185128434*9.44--00--400
List A275854132842*7.45--00--500
T20s6012630115.004369.76005070
Makhaya Ntini

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Photos of Makhaya Ntini

Makhaya Ntini gets ready to bowl
Makhaya Ntini and Graeme Smith join the rest of those present at SuperSport Park in showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement
Makhaya Ntini eats a snack on the boundary
Yashaswi Jaiswal receives Man-of-the-Tournament award from Makhaya Ntini
Heath Streak talks with Makhaya Ntini and Lance Klusener in Galle
Zimbabwe assistant coach Makhaya Ntini has a stroll on the outfield before the toss