Makhaya Ntini’s unusual angle of bowling attack was a major factor in enabling him to become one of the world’s most successful fast bowlers, according to his former Test new ball partner Shaun Pollock.
In an article written for the 2010 Mutual & Federal South African Cricket Annual to mark Ntini’s achievement of playing in 100 Test matches, Pollock wrote that Ntini’s delivery from wide on the crease was not something that was recommended by the MCC coaching manual.
“Commentators and journalists may have gone to great lengths to suggest that if he could just get closer to the stumps he would be far more successful. But I disagree,” wrote Pollock in explaining how Ntini’s technique was developed from his need to avoid the concrete strip at the Mdingi village ground after he received his first pair of cricket spikes.
“Very few bowlers delivered from wide and swung the ball in which meant that batsmen worldwide weren’t used to this angle of attack,” according to Pollock. “This forced right- and left-handers alike to play at many more deliveries than they had to and the uncertainty of whether to leave or play often led to their downfall. It was thought that Mak wouldn’t be that effective against left-handers as he pitched most deliveries outside leg stump. What he lost out in ‘lbws’ he made up for in ‘caught behinds’ as the left-handers found it amazingly difficult to discipline themselves into shouldering arms to a length delivery pitched outside leg.”
Pollock wrote that he and Ntini formed an ideal partnership. “We complemented each other well, with Mak bowling from wide and swinging the ball into right-handers at 140 kmh plus. I delivered from close to the stumps, nipping the ball away and hovering around 130 kmh. It was thus a continual change of angle and mindset for the batsmen.”
Another feature article in the Mutual & Federal Annual marks the retirement from international umpiring of Rudi Koertzen while cricket writer Ken Borland analyses the spate of high scores recorded in South African first-class cricket during the 2009/10 season, including a South African record 390 by Stephen Cook for the Highveld Lions against the Warriors.
The 688-page publication covers all aspects of South African cricket, including full reports of all South Africa’s international matches, from the Champions Trophy in September 2009 through to the tour of the West Indies which ended in June 2010.
As has become customary, five Mutual & Federal South African Cricket Annual Cricketers of the Year will be named at the launch in Johannesburg on October 19.
This year’s Annual will be the last to be sponsored by the Mutual & Federal Insurance Company after 14 years supporting the highly-regarded publication.
Colin Bryden, who has been Editor of the Annual for 16 years, including the full period of the sponsorship, paid tribute to Mutual & Federal.
“Mutual & Federal have been ideal sponsors,” said Bryden. “Their generosity has made it possible for the Annual to be a world-class publication, with contributions from some of the world’s leading cricket writers and personalities. The company has also provided outstanding logistical support while at the same time respecting the editorial independence of the Editor and the contributors.”
Mutual & Federal is a member of the Old Mutual Group.
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