England in SA

'My Test career is not over'

2010-01-04 11:54

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Makhaya Ntini (File)

Cape Town - Iconic fast bowler Makhaya Ntini has denied that he has signed a Kolpak contract to play county cricket in England.

A spokesperson for Ntini told Sapa on Monday that the veteran paceman had said he was not contemplating a Kolpak contract because he believed his Test career was not over.

Ntini, who has played 101 Tests for South Africa, taking 390 wickets, was dropped from the South African team for the ongoing third Test against England at Newlands after failing to take a wicket in the second Test in Durban, where South Africa suffered their worst defeat against England in 64 years.

Ntini was last dropped from the South African team for the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne in 2001/2002.

After his omission from the team was announced on Sunday, there were reports that he had signed a Kolpak contract to play for English county Middlesex.

"I believe I have more Test cricket ahead of me," Ntini said. "I am going to concentrate on getting back into the Test team."

Your Comments

FOTA1/5/2010 12:13 PM: @Grace - have you even watched cricket over the last 6 years?. "Smith has done us proud 2 or 3 times". Have you gone mad? He is ranked 11 in the ICC test rankings (highest of 6), he averages 50, he lead us from the front to a series win in Australia and England, he has lead SA to the top of the rankings in ODI and Tests. What world have you been living in. It is all very well to have a personal grudge against someone, but quite something to make an #rse of yourself in a public forum.

Grace1/5/2010 10:36 AM: Its so funny how people forget all the good deeds of Makhaya, and yet people can't even see the weakness on our captain. Smith has done SA proud twice or three times. Smith is not good at all to be a captain. Being a captain does not mean you have to bat first and later get 0. Remember Pollock, he did not mind about being the captain, in his time only the best will bat first. I just can't help missing the times of Pollock. Please look fro another captain.

ACEE1/5/2010 10:25 AM: @ GERALD, WHY BLAME NTINI ? IS HE THE ONLY BOWLER AND MUST HE SCORE ALL THE RUNS . WHAT ABOUT OUR BATTERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michael1/5/2010 6:38 AM: Come on Ntini, you know that your form before your last two games were not good enough to be picked. maybe a spell in the UK where a good bowling coach will improve your performance. Go learn from someone new and make some bucks at same time. But to think you will get back into test areana with present form is really wishing too high.

Abe1/5/2010 1:56 AM: I guess it was easier to drop Makhaya for a loss of form than to drop AB De Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Greame Smith who all struggled with form but was iven the time to play themselves into form again. Mickey's Boys. If they replaced him with a bowler that took 10 wickets per match than its justified but De Wet was good for nothing. In fact even Dale Steyn struggled and they are playing him with ease and Morkel is all over.

DaveC1/4/2010 9:41 PM: I still believe that there is a place in the side for Makaya, so long as we do not expect him to be the main strike bowler. In Durban, both Steyn and Kallis were struggling and Harris found it very difficult to hit his length in the strong and inconsistent wind. With Makaya unable to bowl with any incisiveness, Morkel failed to find any support from the other end.

Gerald1/4/2010 8:50 PM: Sorry, Ntini. It is over. Go make some cash to feather the family nest. It already cost us the 1st & 2nd Test matches, and possibly the series, over this.

terry1/4/2010 8:00 PM: Why must there be all this negative aggro out there ....... All bowlers, even the great ones, come to the end of their carreers. Normally what happens is that they slow down a bit, and rely on nagging accuracy, guile and variation to cover their drop in pace - and that works for a couple of years. Unfortunately - in Makhaya Ntini's case, his bowling style where he drops away to the left when he bowls, and slants the ball into right handers (away from left handers) means that he has never really developed these variations - and that shows in his performances over the past few seasons as he has slowed down. Sadly, that means that it is time to bow out of cricket at the top level - but their is no disgrace in that. Makhaya - you have served South Africa well for the past 10 years, and your name will be up there with Pollock and Donald. Leave now with dignity.

ZongSpin1/4/2010 5:31 PM: Ha-ha-ha, funny South Africans. Now it's Ntini this, Makhaya that. I am surprised that none of you is also insinuating that his wicket taking was because of Hansie (blame game). The batsmen do not seem to deliver either. And, had Smith succumbed to media pressure too, you would all be singing Smith this, Graeme that! The day is about to end, and poor de Wet has not yet picked a single wicket. Why? We South Africans are not blowing our vuvuzelas, but we are busy blowing Makhaya hot, Ntini cold! Wait until the last test, you will again be singing Ashwell this, Prince that; JP this, Duminy that. Truly speaking, the second test was bad all round for South Africa, the same thing that has just happened to Australia versus Pakistan. This shows that the weather is not always good for everybody that is why we have four seasons in a year. You win some, and you lose many. Maar, ag nee gents, cry loud … Makhaya this, Ntini that! You are truly South Africans!

mp1/4/2010 5:27 PM: dudes & dudets.....has anyone bothered to check out the stats? No you say? Here it is.....Ntini is currently 11th in the all time wicket taking records currently just 15 wickets behind the great Curtley Ambrose. Others ahead of him are Wasim Akram, Polly, Richard Hadlee, Kapil Dev, Courtney Walsh, Glen McGrath, Kumble, Warne and Murali......i'd say he's in some pretty illustrious company

OUbaas1/4/2010 5:18 PM: @dave @skalk Ntini was only behind Murali in the number of wickets taken in the last decade. Shows how much you know about cricket. Rather concentrate on jukskei.

Teddy Ndlazi1/4/2010 4:37 PM: Makhaya Ntini, great as you have been in the past decade, it's time to go. Please accept it, Mdingi Express. You are now a spent force.It happens to all the great players. It happened to Alan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Glen McGrath. Your raw pace, which made you such a good bowler, has deserted you. Nowadays you resemble a warrior without his spear.

Drew 1/4/2010 4:22 PM: You people are so negative stop spitting venom.....look at Steve Waugh he was dropped and he came back to be one of the best, i like his spirit he can become the come back kid , he needs to go back play domestic cricket and build some confidence again , only if he performs choose him again , he will feel he earned his spot and he WILL PERFORM GO NTINI

Skalk1/4/2010 3:30 PM: Ntini is so poor i think he would struggle to make a club side........... he has been the weak link in the SA team for about 8 years, the day he retires is the day SA becomes stronger.

Nonsense....1/4/2010 3:03 PM: People who don't follow cricket should not comment. Yes Makaya has done well for South Africa but if you had followed cricket you would of realised that he consistently doens't pick up enough wickets. Just like when Polly came to the end of his career there were people up in arms but it's time now for him to move aside... As for Boucher he is the second highest run scorer in the series behind only Kallis...

dave1/4/2010 2:59 PM: We all know he has been a quota player for AGES!The only time he has been effective is on a green top. He has never had any variation in his bowling. Almost every single ball is bowled from wide of the stumps and has the same ball flight. Batsmen figured him out long ago. His action has never allowed him to have variation - he falls away to the side at delivery which is one of the main reasons he can't bowl yorkers or slow balls.

Emma1/4/2010 2:39 PM: I feel for Makhaya.He's been delivering for the Proteas for the last 11 yrs or so. Now that the team can't cope with a fired-up Eng team,he's made a scapegoat.That's white people mentality.They are calling for his retirement and you ask yourself,do they think the same about Smith,Boucher and rest rest of other loafers in our Protea team,no Not.Take your time Makhaya,don't let them dictate what should happen to your career.All the best and I know that you will bounce back,as you have done so before.Kunzima eMzantsi

garrick1/4/2010 2:16 PM: ED you would be a rubbish English teacher, you teach English to someone, you don't learn it to them lol!!

Just Cricket1/4/2010 2:12 PM: @Ed. Whatever pl..nker, my conversational comment transcribed on this page relates diligently and unequivocally to the topic at hand, that is about cricket and not English writing. I is now how too right inglish fery deleesosly tank you sir for bee ing gud gentelmin on speking your mined ova mater. Get lost...

Whitey1/4/2010 1:49 PM: ....Fact is, Ntini is now to old and to slow.... ..he had his innings.. ...bye-bye....

philB1/4/2010 1:31 PM: Guys lets give Mak a break. He might be down on pace but Polly successfully hovered around the 130kph mark for many years while still being a great test bowler. Who's to say Mak can't refine his line and length and come back firing. The worst we can do is shoot him down when he still has fire left in him. I say give the man a chance to prove himself again. If he takes bundles of wickets in the domestic cricket leagues he should be given another shot!

George1/4/2010 1:17 PM: Go for it George!! Don't worry about the sorry suckers who haven't even pitched an orange. You must do what's best for you, and when you get your form back, I believe you can continue to make a contribution. Well done on a great career thus far. Viva Ntini, Viva

mo1/4/2010 1:09 PM: Makhaya your finished,,, you were an asset when you were on top of your game,,, but you have no variation at all, not even a slower ball... all you have is 130km pace with a ball angling across the batsmen... thats it! you dont try new things,, perhaps getting closer to the stumps, cutting across the seam etc.... Dude, go our with dignity......

drew1/4/2010 1:04 PM: dont worry makhaya ales wil b grand

Ed1/4/2010 1:01 PM: @Just cricket. Maybe i can make a bit of money learning you how to write in English....

Ghost of Shaka1/4/2010 12:59 PM: What have you done Ntini to help up and coming black cricketers to reach the spot where you are? Nothing, you always wanted to be the only black at the dinner table, now your time is over, you`ve played yourself beyond repair, time to find something new in life mate.

RZ1/4/2010 12:55 PM: Makhaya, if you are still looking for fame & fortune, rather emigrate to Zim and play test cricket for them or sign up for Bafana. Don't flog a dead horse.

PROTEAS FOREVER!!!1/4/2010 12:51 PM: I have always said: Ntini is a great cricketer but not one of the smartest. It seems his going to prove me right. Your time is over Makhaya, the longer you put if off the more damage you are causing to what will be remembered as a wonderfull career. (If you step down before it is too late). FOREVER PROTEAS!!!!

FOTA1/4/2010 12:50 PM: I am a 100% Makhaya supporter and have loved seeing him run out for the last 10 years - he has been the fittest, most discliplined and most enthusiastic Protea since Jonty Rhodes - but his time is up. Maka never had a variation, no slower ball, no cutters. Unless he can develop the variation at this late stage (having failed for 10 years to develop it), his lack of pace will ensure that he will not get his place back. What he now needs to do it get out there as a cricket ambassador in SA and make sure that we have 5 Maka's lining up for test cricket, instead of our current drought. His cricket might be waning but he has a huge part to play in our cricket future. Good luck Makhaya - make us proud in the next role boet.

Michael1/4/2010 12:37 PM: that's the spirit! i look forward to a comeback and many more wickets!

Just Cricket1/4/2010 12:36 PM: You can't even buy a domestic wicket let alone an international one (66.8 bowling average in the last 3 series). Just retire in dignity and don't make a fool of yourself. You were a great asset to SA, now make some money and learn young cricketers how to bowl.

BT1/4/2010 12:29 PM: Ntini. You have had a great career, don't hang in there now and embarress yourself. Unless you get your pace back you are not effective as a strike bowler

lolo1/4/2010 12:28 PM: I also believe you still have a lot of cricket left in you. Dont give up that easily Mak. The boys that have replaced you ngumlilo wamaphepha. the will quickly burn out. You will be back in no time Mak. Just work on your variations and rhythm

terence1/4/2010 12:18 PM: oh good ness me i fear the same thing will hapen to ntini as what happened to mike tyson in boxing, Tyson kept trying to box and in the end got knocked out badly, Ntini will keep trying to bowl and will eventually get hit for 6 every time but in saying that if Ntini is not up to standard he should not make the team anyway in which case the embarrassment will be saved as there are plenty of bowlers out there bowling much better than ntini now.

tshepo1/4/2010 12:17 PM: right on Makhaya...get that record first. I'm fully behind you. Being dropped doesn't mean the end of the world.

LOL1/4/2010 12:14 PM: good luck with that ROFL

ollie1/4/2010 12:14 PM: Let's hope for the Protea's sake that his test career is over

Deon1/4/2010 12:13 PM: Ntini let go now chap please...you have played your part..!

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