T20 Cricket Festival – Beware Stellenberg High School’s bowling attack

Stellenberg High School cricket captain, Kyle van Santen, spoke to the DFA and shared insights into his team’s preparation for the upcoming Diamantveld T20 Cricket festival and the challenges they expect to face.

Reflecting on the Bellville school’s team’s off-season, Van Santen said, “We had a very focused winter nets programme where we not only concentrated on improving our batting and bowling skills but also worked hard on general fitness. This holistic approach has put us in a good position as we head into the festival.”

Managing pressure in the heat of a T20 match can be daunting, but Van Santen believes in the importance of composure. “Staying calm and trusting our structures has been key for me in previous close contests.

“We pride ourselves on having a strong bowling attack, and I have full confidence in our bowlers during high-intensity games.”

Discussing the tournament’s prospects, Van Santen acknowledged the challenge of unfamiliar conditions. “We always play to win, but we’re aware that we'll face tough competition in conditions we're not used to.

“Adjusting to these environments will be one of our biggest hurdles, particularly because what works in Cape Town, like the effectiveness of the short ball, might not apply in Kimberley. But I trust our bowlers will adapt quickly.”

Van Santen also highlighted the significance of the tournament for Stellenberg saying, “Our rugby team has done the school proud at Wildeklawer over the past few years, elevating our brand. I believe our cricket team can achieve the same. It’s an honour to be invited to this festival, and we want to represent our school well both on and off the field.

“We aim to show the school cricket community that we deserve to be part of this prestigious tournament,” he added,

Meanwhile, Stellenberg High School’s Under-19A Head Coach Michael Thomas told the DFA that he believes his team is ready.

“As a coach, your goal is always to ensure the team is fully prepared for game day,” he said. “Once the players cross the boundary line, it’s up to them and the captain to execute their skills and maintain consistency.

“I believe we’re ready, thanks to our pre-season tour during the September holidays and our winter nets programme. In training, we’ve placed emphasis on our death bowling and handling the power play in the first six overs.

“Our goal is to avoid losing more than two wickets in this crucial phase. Additionally, we focus on the middle overs, working closely with our spinners to build pressure with dot balls – something we consider crucial in T20 cricket.”

The coach added that the Cricket Festival will help boost the profile of cricket back home.

“This tournament offers fantastic exposure not only for Stellenberg High School but also for cricket as a sport at the school.

“While rugby tends to dominate the spotlight in school sports, tournaments like this can spark interest in cricket and inspire younger players. It provides primary school cricketers with the dream of one day representing their high school.

“Events like these are crucial, as they give talented players the opportunity to showcase their abilities against top-level competition. Kudos to the organisers for this outstanding initiative,” Thomas concluded.