Budding Protea Maphaka likes being in the batter’s face

AT THE age of 18 years and 137 days, Kwena Maphaka became the youngest South African to play international cricket when he made his Proteas T20I debut against the West Indies last week.

Maphaka eclipsed former fast bowler and national convener of selectors Victor Mpitsang’s record, which stood at 18 years and 314 days.

Unfortunately, Mpitsang represented his country in only one further match, bowling just three overs, after his one-day international debut in Bloemfontein in 1999.

While Maphaka’s international career may still be in its infancy, it can comfortably be assumed that the teenager, who now already has three T20I caps, will play many more games in the green and gold in the future, judging by Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter’s assessment.

“He’s got speed. Left-armers always give a different angle – he’s able to swing the ball when there’s a bit of shape. We saw some really exciting change-ups for a young guy to have,” Walter said.

“He bowled some seriously good overs in the death phase of the game, which shows his ability to, you know, deal with the pressure of T20 cricket.

“It is early days, so we don’t put too much pressure on a young cricketer, just allow him to make his way into international cricket.”

Perhaps it’s the exuberance of youth, but at this minute, Maphaka is not focusing too much on what lies ahead and is simply enjoying the fact that he has the privilege of playing cricket for his country, while his schoolmates back home at St Stithians College in Johannesburg are preparing for preliminary matric exams.

“It’s something I’ve been dreaming about my whole life. Probably from age six-seven years old, I wanted to be a Protea,” Maphaka said.

“Being the youngest to represent South Africa is a great privilege and a great honour. It is something I am going to hold dear to my heart for a very long time.

“It is an amazing feeling. It’s something I’ve been dreaming about my whole life to represent the Proteas, and to be the youngest to do it is just the cherry on top.

“From when I was very young, people said I had talent, and I could see cricket was something I wanted to pursue.”

The teenager has certainly not been overawed by walking into a Proteas change-room to sit alongside players that “just a year ago I was watching on TV”.

His development has been further boosted due to being able to lean on a “big brother” such as Lungi Ngidi on this Caribbean tour.

Ngidi may not have played an active role in the T20I series after picking up a calf strain during training, but his mentoring skills have been invaluable behind the scenes.

“There have been times when I put pressure on myself in regards to debuts, so I didn’t want it to be like that,” Maphaka said.

“I really just came out with the thinking, ‘You’re making your Proteas debut, you’re going to be the youngest to do it, just go out there and enjoy the opportunity’.

Debut Time!🇿🇦

Teenage fast-bowling sensation, Kwena Maphaka being handed his senior cap by Lungi Ngidi Thursday evening.👊

What a moment for the youngster as he became the youngest man to make his debut for South Africa in Internationals!👏😃🏏#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAvWI pic.twitter.com/AQxSo6zgrH

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) August 24, 2024

“Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi ... they are some of the best players in the world. To share a change-room with guys like that, just to soak it up, all their years of experience ...

“It was really good to have someone like that (Ngidi), almost like a big brother, feeding off ideas through them, and learning more about your game through them.

“It was just a year ago I was watching these guys on TV. So, to be chatting with them about their plans is something quite surreal. It is something that you can’t get used to.”

Although quietly confident off the field, Maphaka does possess that vital aggressive streak once he gets the ball in his hand.

He certainly showed it on a few occasions as he was not afraid to let rip a few short deliveries at the Windies batters, clocking over 145km/h.

“Saucy (Markram) was chatting to me, basically just saying, ‘Keep calm, do what you normally do, and show us what you made of’. That was really important to me, keeping me calm,” he said.

“Bouncers are something that I really enjoy doing. I like being in the batter’s face. I like creating a battle, even if there are no words involved. Just a stare-down, it keeps me in the game.

“It lets them know that I am not here to play around. It’s a statement I like to make.”