Bacher: Black cricketers won't make it in townships

Cape Town - Young black cricketers will not make it to the top if they keep playing their cricket in townships, former SA captain Ali Bacher believes.

In an interview with Netwerk24, Bacher said unless a player is born with the same genes as West Indian cricket great Brian Lara, there is ‘no way’ they will make it as a cricketer if they stay in the township culture.

South Africa’s two most recent black stars, Kagiso Rabada and Temba Bavuma, both went to traditional private cricket schools. Bavuma comes from Langa but went to St David’s College in Johannesburg. Rabada went to St Stithians College and Makhaya Ntini, South Africa’s most successful black cricketer, went to Dale College.

“People often get angry with me when I say this, but for a black player to make it in South African cricket they have to go to one of the traditional cricketing schools in the country. It’s as simple as that,” said Bacher.

“As a young kid I was lucky to get my schooling at King Edward School (KES) which had the best facilities imaginable. The cricket nets were excellent and the pitches we played on were of a high standard. We also had some of the best coaches. All that helped to lay the foundation for my future and after school I was ready to take the next step to club cricket.’

“The black players who’ve been successful so far like Ntini, Aaron Phangiso and Bavuma all went from the townships to traditional cricket schools."