Less than six months ago in the cradle of English cricket at Hambledon, Nono Pongolo was successfully plying his trade as an all-rounder for the local village club in the Southern Electric Premier League.
He fared pretty well too. Some 513 runs, scored mainly on a testing Ridge Meadow surface, and a 30-wicket haul bore the fruit of his labours.
Quite what the Cape Town raised 25-year old all-rounder has in mind for summer 2015 in England is uncertain just now.
But in early January and with the Christmas decorations still all about, his name popped up in somewhat improbable circles – playing for a Gauteng Invitation XI against the England Lions in Soweto.
Whilst a lop-sided game was really all about the Lions, Pongolo certainly caught the eye – as some of his past team-mates at Ventnor (2008/9) and Hambledon probably expected he might.
As the Lions built a formidable 443 all out, Nono produced a handy 3-70 return with the ball – taking the wickets of Hampshire’s James Vince, Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett – and then, with Gauteng wobbling at 104-6, scored 30 with the bat.
Pongolo wheeled away with his swinging seamers as Adam Lyth (106) and Sam Robson (106) ‘retired’ with unbeaten centuries before Yorkshire’s highly rated Alex Lees weighed in with 85.
Nono impressed Middlesex opener Robson, who made 127 against Sri Lanka in one his seven Test appearances for England last summer.
“He was decent, a guy you had to watch carefully. His figures of 3-70 off 22 overs is a testament of how well he bowled,” Robson said.
So what did Pongolo make of pitting his skills against an England side captained by Jonathan Trott and playing with the three lions on his shirt for the first time since last winter’s ill-fated Ashes in Australia ?
“I've never really concerned myself about the level I'm playing in, it's more about my game, my strengths and weaknesses and being patient,” he explained.
“In reality, though, the gap is big, but I guess, I'm lucky I can adapt. In South Africa, you get to face quicker bowlers on harder decks a lot more regularly than in the UK and for me, that's the real test of your game and character.
“You have to adapt, especially for someone of my pace. We also played the Lions on a flat, slowish wicket, so my margin for error was even smaller against them.
“These guys knew their games so well. If you bowled in their areas, you got punished. They all wait for you to bowl in their zones, that's the biggest thing I've learnt.
“They're very patient, slowly sucking the bowler into their zones. The other, was watching someone like Jonathan Trott (in the second innings) play exactly the same way he would bat in a Test match, but in a lower level. It was like watching a Test match. From start to the end, he never changed his game. He's a class act !
“Adam Lyth looked a great batsman, Robson knew his game so well and Lees was good, with the aura of Trott.”
But what about getting Hampshire’s James Vince out in the Lions’ first innings ?
“He got himself out I would say. It as a nothing ball really, outside off-stump, but got a bit of extra bounce I would say.
“James was may be eager to score but didn't execute well. I would take it though, I know he's a serious player. It was unlucky for him, but he’ll come again, for sure.”
And how did Nono Pongolo enjoy the experience of batting against the England attack ?
“Durham’s Mark Wood, who got me out in the first innings, is a serious prospect, probably their quickest bowler in those conditions, through the air.
“He was very skiddy and posses a mean bouncer. You want to go forward every ball for him, but you still need to watch out for that bouncer. I would say he's perfect for Paarl, where the first unofficial First Test against South Africa A was being played.
Pongolo’s first taste of action with the bat came against Liam Plunkett and Boyd Rankin.
“You play the person bowling at you and unfortunately for me, it was Plunkett and Rankin upfront,” he smiled.
“The couple of balls felt surreal they're bowling to you - there wasn't a lot of foot-work !
“After a couple of balls of getting behind the ball, the belief started coming back.
“Liam bowled a bouncer that I ducked under and the next ball, he decided to come around the wicket to bomb me.
“When he banged one short again and I smashed it for four, and hearing him say ‘shot’ ... the belief shot right through the roof !
“But, I was brought back to earth, having to face Rankin. First couple of balls again, the feet were anchored. After getting behind a couple of balls, he gave me a bit of width and I cut it for four ... confidence was sky high again.
“You start to feel it's normal facing them ... Just watch the ball !
“But all-in-all, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and hopefully it’s helped my development in South African cricket.
“I’ve earned myself a regular slot in the Gauteng side now, having made a First Class half-century and scored a fifty, so things are going okay.”
He fared pretty well too. Some 513 runs, scored mainly on a testing Ridge Meadow surface, and a 30-wicket haul bore the fruit of his labours.
Quite what the Cape Town raised 25-year old all-rounder has in mind for summer 2015 in England is uncertain just now.
But in early January and with the Christmas decorations still all about, his name popped up in somewhat improbable circles – playing for a Gauteng Invitation XI against the England Lions in Soweto.
Whilst a lop-sided game was really all about the Lions, Pongolo certainly caught the eye – as some of his past team-mates at Ventnor (2008/9) and Hambledon probably expected he might.
As the Lions built a formidable 443 all out, Nono produced a handy 3-70 return with the ball – taking the wickets of Hampshire’s James Vince, Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett – and then, with Gauteng wobbling at 104-6, scored 30 with the bat.
Pongolo wheeled away with his swinging seamers as Adam Lyth (106) and Sam Robson (106) ‘retired’ with unbeaten centuries before Yorkshire’s highly rated Alex Lees weighed in with 85.
Nono impressed Middlesex opener Robson, who made 127 against Sri Lanka in one his seven Test appearances for England last summer.
“He was decent, a guy you had to watch carefully. His figures of 3-70 off 22 overs is a testament of how well he bowled,” Robson said.
So what did Pongolo make of pitting his skills against an England side captained by Jonathan Trott and playing with the three lions on his shirt for the first time since last winter’s ill-fated Ashes in Australia ?
“I've never really concerned myself about the level I'm playing in, it's more about my game, my strengths and weaknesses and being patient,” he explained.
“In reality, though, the gap is big, but I guess, I'm lucky I can adapt. In South Africa, you get to face quicker bowlers on harder decks a lot more regularly than in the UK and for me, that's the real test of your game and character.
“You have to adapt, especially for someone of my pace. We also played the Lions on a flat, slowish wicket, so my margin for error was even smaller against them.
“These guys knew their games so well. If you bowled in their areas, you got punished. They all wait for you to bowl in their zones, that's the biggest thing I've learnt.
“They're very patient, slowly sucking the bowler into their zones. The other, was watching someone like Jonathan Trott (in the second innings) play exactly the same way he would bat in a Test match, but in a lower level. It was like watching a Test match. From start to the end, he never changed his game. He's a class act !
“Adam Lyth looked a great batsman, Robson knew his game so well and Lees was good, with the aura of Trott.”
But what about getting Hampshire’s James Vince out in the Lions’ first innings ?
“He got himself out I would say. It as a nothing ball really, outside off-stump, but got a bit of extra bounce I would say.
“James was may be eager to score but didn't execute well. I would take it though, I know he's a serious player. It was unlucky for him, but he’ll come again, for sure.”
And how did Nono Pongolo enjoy the experience of batting against the England attack ?
“Durham’s Mark Wood, who got me out in the first innings, is a serious prospect, probably their quickest bowler in those conditions, through the air.
“He was very skiddy and posses a mean bouncer. You want to go forward every ball for him, but you still need to watch out for that bouncer. I would say he's perfect for Paarl, where the first unofficial First Test against South Africa A was being played.
Pongolo’s first taste of action with the bat came against Liam Plunkett and Boyd Rankin.
“You play the person bowling at you and unfortunately for me, it was Plunkett and Rankin upfront,” he smiled.
“The couple of balls felt surreal they're bowling to you - there wasn't a lot of foot-work !
“After a couple of balls of getting behind the ball, the belief started coming back.
“Liam bowled a bouncer that I ducked under and the next ball, he decided to come around the wicket to bomb me.
“When he banged one short again and I smashed it for four, and hearing him say ‘shot’ ... the belief shot right through the roof !
“But, I was brought back to earth, having to face Rankin. First couple of balls again, the feet were anchored. After getting behind a couple of balls, he gave me a bit of width and I cut it for four ... confidence was sky high again.
“You start to feel it's normal facing them ... Just watch the ball !
“But all-in-all, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and hopefully it’s helped my development in South African cricket.
“I’ve earned myself a regular slot in the Gauteng side now, having made a First Class half-century and scored a fifty, so things are going okay.”