Makhaya Ntini

Ntini was born in Mdingi, a small village in Cape Province, which is near King William's Town (currently in Eastern Cape Province).[2] He was discovered by a Border 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 Booi, 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 Booi, who contacted Greg Hayes, the head of the development programme. The pair placed Ntini in a junior cricket festival in Queenstown and Hayes purchased Ntini his first pair of boots for the festival, but later had to give the young bowler instructions not to wear them indoor or when herding cattle.[3]

Two years later, he was selected to tour England with the South Africa Under-19 squad and played all five of the youth internationals. England dominated both One Day Internationals (ODIs) during the tour, with the South Africans only managing to take one wicket across the two matches, which fell to Pierre Joubert.[4] In the Test series, which England won 2–0, Ntini claimed nine wickets, the second-most by a South African bowler.[5] His bowling was expensive, coming at a rate of 4.53 runs per over: more than any other South African with the exception of Mark Boucher, who is best known as a wicket-keeper.[5][6]

Ntini at Edgbaston, 31 July 2008.

After two matches for Border against the touring Kenyans,[7]Ntini made his First-class cricket debut in November 1995, facing an England XI.[8] He claimed two wickets in England's only innings as Border were beaten comprehensively.[9]

In his debut season, Ntini claimed 17 wickets at an average of 37.05 in First-class competitions.[10] His best performance in an innings came against Free State, when he claimed three wickets for 49 runs (3/49) during his 17 overs.[11] He again toured with the national Under-19s in March and April 1996, touring India, where he played three youth Tests and one of the three ODIs. After claiming five wickets in the first Test[12] and none in the second,[13] Ntini displayed his talent in the third match, taking 6/53 in the first innings and 3/48 in the second innings.[14]

Ntini (second right) bowling at the WACA Ground in Perth on 16 December 2005, day one of the first Test, Australia v South Africa. He took 5 wickets for 64 runs on the day, having previously made his international debut at the same venue in 1998.

Ntini returned to the South African side for a Sharjah tournament in 2000. His improvement was clear as he bowled with greater control. In 2003, he became the first South African to take 10 wickets at Lord's. Arguably his best performance, however, came when Ntini took 13 wickets for 132 runs against the West Indies in the Port of Spain on 12 April 2005. This remains the most wickets taken by a South African cricketer in a Test match. On 3 March 2006, Ntini also achieved the best bowling figures by a South African in an ODI, demolishing Australia with 6 wickets for 22 runs. A popular figure in South African sport, Ntini was voted their favourite sportsman in a research poll conducted by the South African Press Association.[15] For his performances in 2006 and 2007,[16] he was named in the World Test XI by ICC. He was also named in the World Test XI by Cricinfo.[17]

A graph showing Ntini's Test career bowling statistics and how they have varied over time.

Ntini went on to establish himself as South Africa's premier fast bowler and one of the leading fast bowlers in the world. In February 2009, he was ranked as the world's fifth-best Test bowler behind Muttiah Muralitharan, Dale Steyn, Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson, but had dropped to being 25th-best ODI bowler, according to the ICC rankings.[18]

On 20 January 2007, Ntini dislodged Mohammad Sami to take his 300th Test wicket in his 74th Test. On 1 August 2008, he removed England opener Alastair Cook to claim his 350th Test wicket in his 90th Test.

Ntini played his 100th Test on 17 December 2009, becoming the only black South African cricketer to reach that mark. Sponsors Castle Lager promised every fan in attendance a free beer in celebration on the day he took his first wicket and he duly obliged on the second day when he bowled Andrew Strauss of England. However, after already having lost his place in the ODI side, he was dropped from the Test side after poor performances against England.

Ntini retired from all forms of international cricket in a T20I against India[19] on 9 January 2011.[20]

To date, Ntini is one of only two players to have played more than 100 Test matches without scoring a 50.[21] Courtney Walsh is the other.

Ntini's career looked like coming to an early end in 1999 when he was charged and then convicted of rape, although he was finally acquitted.[22][23]

The case caused controversy in South Africa, with his conviction generating negative publicity in view of his status as the first black South African Test cricketer. Ntini maintained his innocence, was acquitted on appeal and rebuilt his international cricket career.[24] Ntini thanked Cricket South Africa for sticking by him.[20]

On 17 July 2020, while on SABC 2's Morning Live, Ntini detailed the alleged racism he experienced throughout his career. He claimed other players would not sit with him during meals and said he "was forever lonely" in the Proteas team. Ntini further stated that he used to run to the stadium and back to hotels to avoid being lonely on the team bus. Ntini's comments came shortly after fellow South African cricketer Lungi Ngidi called for the national team to show support towards the Black Lives Matter movement.[25]

In January 2016, Ntini was appointed as the assistant coach of the Zimbabwean national cricket team with a two-year contract.[26] Following the sacking of the previous coach Dav Whatmore, Ntini was appointed as interim head coach for the home series against India in 2016.[27] He resigned from the role as coach in January 2018,[28] although Ntini was reported to have claimed that he was asked to step down by the board on the basis of alleged complaints from the players over his coaching methods.[29]

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