When Temba Bavuma leapt for joy in front of the Newlands pavilion this week to celebrate his maiden South Africa Test century, it’s a fair bet few Englishmen actually knew who he was.
After all, it was only his seventh Test appearance for the Proteas and his second against England – his contributions in the pre-Christmas Series in India and in the Boxing Day Test at Durban being modest in the extreme, with a score of ten and a second innings duck, writes Mike Vimpany in Cape Town.
But for the parents of three Hampshire club cricketers – Jack Jenkins, Stuart Ransley and Ben Walker – it came as little surprise that Bavuma should become the first black African to score a Test hundred.
He made an unbeaten 102 as South Africa made 627-7 to come within two runs of England’s massive 629-6 declared.
Bavuma, who hit 16 fours and seldom looked in any real difficulty on a benign Newlands track, replaced double-centurion Hashim Amla at the crease and added another 177 for the seventh wicket with Chris Morris.
The Hampshire party first set eyes upon the 25-year old back in December 2001 when a privately funded trip – known as the JRW tour - to Cape Town took in a 45-over match in the Langa township, situated on the outskirts of the city, five miles from Newlands.
“He was a diminutive 11-year old, but a real talent, already in the provincial set-up,” recalled joint trip organiser David Ransley.
“Temba bowled a very impressive nine-over spell, conceding only eight runs – and dismissing a certain Liam Dawson - now of Hampshire and England Lions fame – in the bargain.
“He was the pick of their bowlers.”
Bearing in mind his century-making exploits in Cape Town this week, it’s probably no surprise Bavuma also caught the eye with the bat in that Langa-JRW Under-12 match.
Ben Walker (35) and Stuart Ransley (22), still in short trousers then but prominent local Premier League cricketers nowadays, helped the touring team reach 151-9.
Langa were whisked out for 66 in less than 20 overs – but Bavuma , batting three, made 25 of them – and impressed everyone watching.
“He produced some very wristy stroke-play and was a delight to watch,” Ransley continued.
“The scorebook of the day makes interesting reading. Bavuma’s innings was 65 balls; the rest of his team-mates managed only 72 between them !
“Quite often when you go on these overseas tours, you see the embryo phase of some really talented cricketers and I’ve watched Temba’s development through provincial cricket and onwards into the Protea set up ever since.
“I’ve never forgotten him and when the Sky television cameras panned in on the celebrations – particularly those of his father and his coach at Newlands - memories galore came flooding back from a trip we went on 14 winters ago.
“It was quite a moving moment.”
By coincidence a certain Nono Pongolo – later to spend two seasons at Ventnor and another at Hambledon in 2014 - was playing for that same Langa team.
“Nono was keeping wicket and made an astonishing almost horizontal catch in front of first slip,” Ransley recalled.
“He later snapped up a stumping and looked pretty impressive.”
Pongolo, who recently made his first class franchise provincial debut for the Lions, was quick to point out the significance of Bavuma’s hundred.
“Temba understands the bigger picture his Test century will paint for the next generation of black cricketers and hopes it will pave the way for other to follow in his footsteps,” he said.
“He’s a role model and inspiration to other black African kids to aspire to. Achieving this milestone will strengthen that example.
“I looked at the kids who were out on the Newlands outfield for the KFC mini-cricket festival at lunchtimes and half of them came from the Langa township, where Temba and myself both grew up.
“All being well, what he achieved against England will have a significant impact on black African cricket.”
Fifteen years on, memories of that JRW tour – particularly the visit to the Langa township – live on with the trip organisers.
“The outfield was harsh in places, particularly for the Langa boys wearing white shorts – as was the custom in SA cricket up to age 15 years,” Ransley recalled.
“Some of their lads had footwear with toes hanging out of various holes, but they were chastised for any fielding lapses.
“We – and there were 65 in our party - were royally entertained to a massive buffet lunch in a large smart bungalow, accessed via a few alleyways where one had to dodge the broken glass and muddy puddles.
“The Langa boys were not provided for at lunch time.”
One moment, above all else, will remain with Ransley for ever.
He recalled: “Susanna Jenkins bought 15 Cokes and gave them to all the players from Langa. When she asked one youngster why he was not drinking his coke, he replied that he was keeping it to take home to share with his brothers!”
“The trip into Langa township opened all our eyes to the poverty and other aspects of social inequality that the 65 of us had never endured and probably never will.”
It’s encouraging and heartening to report that things have moved on considerably since 2001, with sizeable investment in Langa, who hold a huge cricket festival in the township each January.
Facilities, both on and off the field, have improved beyond recognition, with several players having advanced into the First Class arena.
Former England captain Michael Atherton visited the township this weekend.
After all, it was only his seventh Test appearance for the Proteas and his second against England – his contributions in the pre-Christmas Series in India and in the Boxing Day Test at Durban being modest in the extreme, with a score of ten and a second innings duck, writes Mike Vimpany in Cape Town.
But for the parents of three Hampshire club cricketers – Jack Jenkins, Stuart Ransley and Ben Walker – it came as little surprise that Bavuma should become the first black African to score a Test hundred.
He made an unbeaten 102 as South Africa made 627-7 to come within two runs of England’s massive 629-6 declared.
Bavuma, who hit 16 fours and seldom looked in any real difficulty on a benign Newlands track, replaced double-centurion Hashim Amla at the crease and added another 177 for the seventh wicket with Chris Morris.
The Hampshire party first set eyes upon the 25-year old back in December 2001 when a privately funded trip – known as the JRW tour - to Cape Town took in a 45-over match in the Langa township, situated on the outskirts of the city, five miles from Newlands.
“He was a diminutive 11-year old, but a real talent, already in the provincial set-up,” recalled joint trip organiser David Ransley.
“Temba bowled a very impressive nine-over spell, conceding only eight runs – and dismissing a certain Liam Dawson - now of Hampshire and England Lions fame – in the bargain.
“He was the pick of their bowlers.”
Bearing in mind his century-making exploits in Cape Town this week, it’s probably no surprise Bavuma also caught the eye with the bat in that Langa-JRW Under-12 match.
Ben Walker (35) and Stuart Ransley (22), still in short trousers then but prominent local Premier League cricketers nowadays, helped the touring team reach 151-9.
Langa were whisked out for 66 in less than 20 overs – but Bavuma , batting three, made 25 of them – and impressed everyone watching.
“He produced some very wristy stroke-play and was a delight to watch,” Ransley continued.
“The scorebook of the day makes interesting reading. Bavuma’s innings was 65 balls; the rest of his team-mates managed only 72 between them !
“Quite often when you go on these overseas tours, you see the embryo phase of some really talented cricketers and I’ve watched Temba’s development through provincial cricket and onwards into the Protea set up ever since.
“I’ve never forgotten him and when the Sky television cameras panned in on the celebrations – particularly those of his father and his coach at Newlands - memories galore came flooding back from a trip we went on 14 winters ago.
“It was quite a moving moment.”
By coincidence a certain Nono Pongolo – later to spend two seasons at Ventnor and another at Hambledon in 2014 - was playing for that same Langa team.
“Nono was keeping wicket and made an astonishing almost horizontal catch in front of first slip,” Ransley recalled.
“He later snapped up a stumping and looked pretty impressive.”
Pongolo, who recently made his first class franchise provincial debut for the Lions, was quick to point out the significance of Bavuma’s hundred.
“Temba understands the bigger picture his Test century will paint for the next generation of black cricketers and hopes it will pave the way for other to follow in his footsteps,” he said.
“He’s a role model and inspiration to other black African kids to aspire to. Achieving this milestone will strengthen that example.
“I looked at the kids who were out on the Newlands outfield for the KFC mini-cricket festival at lunchtimes and half of them came from the Langa township, where Temba and myself both grew up.
“All being well, what he achieved against England will have a significant impact on black African cricket.”
Fifteen years on, memories of that JRW tour – particularly the visit to the Langa township – live on with the trip organisers.
“The outfield was harsh in places, particularly for the Langa boys wearing white shorts – as was the custom in SA cricket up to age 15 years,” Ransley recalled.
“Some of their lads had footwear with toes hanging out of various holes, but they were chastised for any fielding lapses.
“We – and there were 65 in our party - were royally entertained to a massive buffet lunch in a large smart bungalow, accessed via a few alleyways where one had to dodge the broken glass and muddy puddles.
“The Langa boys were not provided for at lunch time.”
One moment, above all else, will remain with Ransley for ever.
He recalled: “Susanna Jenkins bought 15 Cokes and gave them to all the players from Langa. When she asked one youngster why he was not drinking his coke, he replied that he was keeping it to take home to share with his brothers!”
“The trip into Langa township opened all our eyes to the poverty and other aspects of social inequality that the 65 of us had never endured and probably never will.”
It’s encouraging and heartening to report that things have moved on considerably since 2001, with sizeable investment in Langa, who hold a huge cricket festival in the township each January.
Facilities, both on and off the field, have improved beyond recognition, with several players having advanced into the First Class arena.
Former England captain Michael Atherton visited the township this weekend.
