His leadership created an environment where both players and coaches could thrive. Together, we collaborated on four pillars of professionalism that shaped the programme and held us accountable throughout: Technique, Mind, Discipline, and Intelligence.

As a coaching group, we reflect on this programme as an exceptionally rewarding one. The general vibe of the unit was warmly positive. Players brought these four pillars of professionalism and intention to every session, while supporting one another throughout the three-month journey. The coaches thoroughly enjoyed being part of this group and left feeling energised by the relationships formed and progress made.

Off the field, we made sure to prioritize experiences that brought the group together and gave players space to reset. Our Muizenberg beach days, padel tournament, and a morning walk through Newlands Forest are activities we all look forward to amidst the hard work. This time is important for players. Feeling supported, connected and challenged in the right ways, often exceeds our expectations of growth.

The program included over 14 competitive games, featuring fixtures against Durham University, Western Province Colts, and touring teams from the UK. A highlight was our annual Fairtree Cup, a week of competitive cricket where two GKC teams participate. It continues to be a standout feature of the programme and a fantastic opportunity for players to build camaraderie through competition.

A number of players secured opportunities for their UK and Ireland seasons, and while this is not the primary aim of the program, we are always willing to assist players on their journey in any way we can.

We would also like to acknowledge the effort and maturity shown by each player throughout. Their openness to coaching, commitment to growth, and care for the group created an environment we were proud to be part of.

The 2025 program reaffirmed what we believe to be true: when high performance is approached with purpose, clarity and enjoyment, the results take care of themselves.

We look forward to welcoming the next cohort in 2026.

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Throughout the program, we grappled with the evolving concept of “High Performance.” Through many thoughtful conversations—often over morning coffee—Gary helped distill the Academy’s approach into three core principles:

• Creating a psychologically safe environment

• Training with clear and intentional purpose

• Prioritizing enjoyment throughout the process

These themes formed the heartbeat of the 2024 program and continue to guide everything we do today.

A highlight of the year was the generous involvement of cricketing greats Faf du Plessis, Dale Steyn, and Neil McKenzie, who spent time with our players, sharing wisdom and enriching the learning environment. Their presence served as a powerful reminder of the strong community that surrounds and supports our HPA players.

With over 12 games played across the program, players had ample opportunity to test their skills and complete the learning cycle through playing, reflecting, practising, and planning for performance. Off the field, experiences like our Muizenberg beach day and padel tournament were among the many activities that brought joy to the group, allowing players to switch off from the game and connect.

We’re proud to acknowledge the achievements of several standout players in 2024:

• Kai Smith – Warwickshire

• Clayton Floyd – Netherlands (KNCB)

Their selections are a testament to the quality of their work ethic and dedication throughout the program.

As we close the chapter on 2024, we do so with immense gratitude—for the continued growth of the program, the warmth and energy of our players, and the shared belief that high performance is built slowly, purposefully, and together.

We look forward to what 2025 will bring.

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To the players, the parents, the local cricket community — your energy, openness, and support were the heartbeat of this camp. From coaching U10s, to working with national U19 and senior players preparing for the next stage in their journey, the week was filled with games, spirited play, and connection around the game.

A meaningful event of the camp was our Parent in Sport evening. It was a conversation that reinforced just how important the parenting is in the development of any young athlete. It gave us a chance to listen, reflect, and grow alongside the very people shaping the next generation of players.

Our coaching team — Derek, Gary & Jordan — brought their expertise and passion to every session, and it was a privilege to work across such a wide and enthusiastic group of athletes. From game days to training blocks, the atmosphere remained grounded in the spirit of the game — competitive, respectful, and full of joy.

We were also proud to run a coach education segment, which was very well received. For us, these moments of knowledge exchange are central to the wider goal of strengthening the global cricketing community. We’re always open to genuine partnerships and future camps, where both players and coaches can benefit and grow together — in the right spirit, and with mutual respect.

This camp reminded us that high performance isn’t about results — it’s about relationships, perspective, and purpose. We’re grateful to Anchor Sports, and to every parent, player, and coach who contributed to this experience.

Here’s to more opportunities to connect, coach, and grow together — wherever the game may take us next.

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As a 19 year old, Jamie is a probationary member of the MCC and has spent the summer playing games for the prestigious club to become a playing member. He has also been opening the batting for his team, Exeter Cricket Club in the Devon Premier League, gaining some great experience up the order. So far he has contributed with a few good performances including a 93 and 4 for 16 with his leg breaks.

“The HPA was unforgettable! There was such a fantastic group of boys and we shared some amazing experiences together on and off the pitch”, he says in reflection of his time in South Africa. “It was invaluable for my development and understanding of cricket”, as he beams and recalls stories of the comradery and challenges which was a hallmark of the program.

Coaching Director of Gary Kirsten Cricket, Garreth Von Hoesslin worked closely with Jamie throughout his one on one sessions and speaks highly of the young mans’ skill and tenacity. “His ability to present a full face on the ball and hit the ball down the ground was incredible to watch. To be fair, Jamie put in a lot of extra yards on his weaker areas as well, he went from a player who was a very inconsistent sweeper of the ball to being able to produce the shot under pressure in games. This is the kind of development you want to see as a coach.”

Jamie now moves into the much debated University Cricket system in the United Kingdom for Durham University in September which has traditionally produced players for the major county 1^st XI. Jamie has high hopes that he may follow in these footsteps and knows the work that needs to be put in to achieve this. Gary Kirsten Cricket wishes him all the best in his pursuit of his best and will be following his progress with an eager eye.

Applications for the Gary Kirsten Cricket High Performance Academy 2020 are open. For more information visit www.garykirsten.com/high-performance-academy/

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Since leaving the HPA in March, Callum has been training with Worcester and minor county team Herefordshire. Playing for the Worcestershire 2nd XI, he has already notched up a two fifties and was involved in a hundred run partnership scoring 78 with fellow HPA player Josh Breed against Warwickshire 2nd XI last week which consisted of a strong bowling line up.

Callum reflects on these early successes in the season, “I have noticed improvements in my game from my time in Cape Town and think my game is in a good place.”

He goes onto add that the HPA provided a well organised and professional setup that stimulated training from both players and coaches which was of a high standard and quality. “I felt like all the coaches were solely focused on my development as a cricketer and the environment they created was exceptional.”

Making runs is not all that Callum is currently busy with, he has also founded a charity to raise awareness and provide for mental health in young sports people which is a hot topic at the moment in the UK and around the world. “The charity will aim to educate coaches, players and staff in mental health related to sport, this includes dealing with the pressures of a career in sport and funding individuals who need professional help”.

His aspirations for the season are to continue to make match winning performances for Worcestershire 2nd XI and Herefordshire with a view to play for Oxford MCCU next year as he furthers his studies. With a good head on his shoulders and a strong drive to succeed, this is a goal which he is capable of achieving.

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Following a successful Khaya Majola Coca Cola Week and CSA Cubs Week, Justin attended the Gary Kirsten Cricket High Performance Academy 2019 under the guidance of Gary Kirsten and Adi Birrell. Having been involved in the High performance pipeline of Gary Kirsten Cricket for the past 4 years, Justin’s primary motivation for attending the program was to prepare for the English summer in an intense and professional environment. With a keen eye on playing first class cricket, Justin’s goal for this season is to score as many runs as he can for his club and hopefully attract some opportunities to play in the county setup to showcase his abilities.

He has successfully started in the quest of achieving match winning performances at club level scoring a hundred and contributing with the ball with 2 for 28. He plays alongside fellow GKC and Rondebosch Boys High alumni Daniel Moriarty who is progressing along a similar path and the two have been training hard and have had a strong hand in the clubs first two victories of the season.

When asked what the highlight of his 8 weeks at the HPA was, he sites confidently, “Spending quality time with some of the best coaches who have coached all around the world. The one on one coaching was the stand out for me and I learnt a lot about my game in the white ball format.” Justin alongside the others at the HPA took away learnings of game plans across the formats as well as working tirelessly on the specific drills alongside top class international and county players during their time on the program. Adrian Birrell, current Hampshire Head Coach, was not only impressed with his all round technical ability but also on Justin’s attitude for the game saying, “Justin has high potential and a high ceiling”.

There is no doubt that this humble young man has a bright future ahead and with a steely determination and a solid foundation there is no doubt that we will be hearing more of this exciting player in seasons to come.

Image source www.buryfreepress.co.uk

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Having recently concluded a High Performance Camp in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, as part of a launch event for the partnership of Gary Kirsten Cricket with Starfield Sports, an academy involved in various sports with cricket as its flagship, I was amazed by the unbridled passion and love for the game which I saw in this developing nation at the grassroots level. Both players and coaches exuded an enthusiasm and a thirst for knowledge which was truly remarkable and the signs of a spark which could alight something special in the region.

It was certainly an incredible experience for the cricketers who attended the 5 day program, getting to work with the GKC High Performance coaching team. The cricketing system that Starfield have put in place has all the makings of a pipeline which if managed correctly will reap great rewards in years to come. Emphasis and investment is also being directed at the coaches and there is no illusion that they will be key drivers of the success of this program.

Prior to the Camp, the GKC conducted a Coach Education workshop for 25 coaches who are involved in the setup for Kenyan Cricket and Starfield Sports. These 2 days were enlightening and covered a range of topics from player management to practical competencies for a coach as well as the relevant fundamentals of the technical aspects of the game. Having received their accreditations, these coaches will no doubt be more confident and competent to continue to improve themselves and the players that they work with at all levels of the game.

Famous coach, John Wooden, was famously quoted for saying, “No written word, nor spoken plea, can teach our youth what they should be. Nor all the books on all the shelves, it’s what the teachers are themselves” and no saying is more fitting for a GKC coaching team that left their mark on this African region with energy and expertise which will last for years to come in the hearts and minds of the players and coaches. Kenya also made its impression on the GKC coaches who left with a fulfillment of a hard week of work and some impressive sock tans and croaky voices as a reminder… and isn’t this really what it is all about!

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So what is it about slip catching that makes this skill so difficult and specialist? Firstly, the reaction time is often very minimal as the ball is released in excess of 140 kph and then additional force added in the deflection to your hands at slip. In some cases the close distance that one would stand when fielding slip for the spinner also adds to the difficulty level. The ball can also find you at different heights, angles and speeds which makes the catch awkward to take.

Secondly, one of the challenges that faces a slip fielder is the infrequency of the ball coming to them. Put yourself in the shoes of a test match fielder in the slips as the opposition plough along a partnership over 200 and he has been fielding for 2 days without even smelling the ball. Concentration certainly plays a role here to be able to snaffle that chance with minutes to go after a long day in the searing heat.

What can be done to solve these challenges and allow for improved slip catching both individually and collectively as a cordon? A few quick suggestions may open a window to unlocking the inner slip genius.

The first is not rocket science, but it is the most important – Practice. Try as often as you can to replicate the skill as you receive it in the game. Often the slips are neglected at lower levels of the game due to reluctance to train this skill or inability to execute drills which directly correlate to slip catching. There really is no replacing quality repetition, not only will it allow you identify and discover the nuances of slip catching, but also breed familiarity through confidence and volume.

Find the correct slippers. It has for many a year been a position for those who are not the most agile in the field or have graduated through the junior ranks and now as a senior in the team, feel their rightful place is to sleep behind the keeper for a few overs. Recruiting players who are genuinely willing to be in the cordon is a good place to start, that will eliminate the pretenders from the real deal. The next filter should be those who seek improvement and are willing to put the work in, without this attitude you are up against it. Lastly, identify players who have good coordination on the ball. This is pretty easy to spot, but often these tend to be some agile movers and good throwers which creates a conundrum whether to put them in the grabbers or keep them in the outer. This takes some management and each team is different, but when that one chance from their best batsman gets shelled you would wish that you had placed the “man with the mitts” in that position.

Thirdly, find those who work well together. The best slip fielders have seen have been part of a quality cordon. Those that understand each other’s roles and strengths. They have had time to earn trust with each other, to optimize their positioning to cover the most distance and angles and be able to help each other get better through a collective will and accountability. There is no better feeling for a bowler than knowing that if he finds the edge his celebration can begin immediately and no worse one for a batsman who looks back at an eager and impenetrable wall and knows that if the knick is found he is on the way to the showers.

The intricacies of slip fielding technique and tactics are vast and hopefully this provides a good starting point. For drills and more information on this log onto Coach Ed powered by Gary Kirsten Cricket on the Gary Kirsten website and make an application to attend our online courses and workshops. This provides a library of information for players and an accreditation platform for coaches.

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There is a lot of nuance in this debate and although the purists will maintain the principles and traditional style, most modern batsman are being exposed to T20 cricket at an earlier age. One only has to look at a week in the life of a 17 year old batsman playing in the 1^st XI at a school. Mid-week he is playing a T20 Cup game and on the weekend may be playing a 50 over match and a “Time or Declaration” match the very next day. This is difficult for the player to adjust to and challenging for the coach to manage as a batsman’s roles may vary from format to format.

The modern “technique” seems to be born from an outcome rather than a model and this can be an effective way to approach it. The stance or setup is a perfect example, when opening the batting in the longer format, one should look to be patient outside off stump whilst waiting for the bowler to deliver boundary balls at the pads or those not threatening the stumps. Staying resolute in defense whilst waiting for the opportunity to score boundaries or rotate strike. A batsman would thus be advised to cover his off stump to assist with this and allow to play with as straighter bat as possible in the channel. In T20 cricket, bowlers are targeting a shorter length and a tighter line with the new ball which is more difficult to get away with ease, if a batsman detects width it is an open invite, often despite the length to free the arms and hit a boundary with limited risk through or over the field. In this case it may be easier to sit deeper in the crease and be on a leg stump guard in order to create width to generate power for boundaries. This is even more highlighted when batsman move around their crease in the shorter formats to create lengths and angles to help them pierce the field.

Bowlers have adapted to the modern batsman’s new skills such as ramps, lofted drives and an aggressive mindset. Spinners have been on the forefront of this. Bowlers such as Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine and Mujeeb Rahman are examples of those who are combatting current scoring trends by bowling balls that traditional spinners would not even have thought of. With speeds of 95 kph and above, bowling into a length about 7 meters from the crease pose the batsman with a question that old school thinking cannot solve easily. Advancing down the pitch is challenging, sweeping balls which are consistently targeting the stumps is dangerous and playing back from deep in the crease all have an element of risk if you pick the wrong length or variation. Successful batsmen have implement strategies and techniques which combat this through use of adapted slog sweeps, varying guards and “hybrid” type shots (neither those off the front or back foot nor with a straight or horizontal bat) being played in order to get balls into areas not protected by the boundary riders.

It goes without saying that the modern batsman needs to be equipped with the skills and thinking to execute various shots and strategies from a younger age than ever. This starts with intention. Hitting sixes needs intent, dropping short singles needs intent and so does manipulating the ball 360 degrees around the ground. As coaches, this is where strategy and practice should be born. “Drills or games” which allow for freedom of technique to strike a ball in a specific area and with a particular intention are powerful and act a problem solving exercise rather than a stipulated way of thinking and doing handed down over the annuals of cricket. This applies to the forward defense as much as it does the leg side mow over the fence but although this can be played to the same ball it requires an altered mindset and technique and both have their place in developing the modern batsman.

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The first 2 days saw 30 players attending a High Performance camp in the Hague based at HCC. Players in attendance were from various clubs and were treated to skills and middle based training delivered by Gary Kirsten, Ryan Van Niekerk and Garreth Von Hoesslin. The sessions, which were attended by both boys and girls, involved drills and match scenarios as well as energetic fielding games. “The players were like sponges for information and it was great to connect with those attending”, said Ryan Van Niekerk, Head Coach of GKC India.

A short trip down the highway and the following 3 days were based in Amstelveen at VRA in Amsterdam. The camp started with the Dutch U17 team consisting ofmany players that have worked with the GKC coaches on previous trips. “It was a brilliant opportunity to see how the players and the system have progressed over the years.” Ryan said, he continued, “The continuity of the players’ training programs and habits could be noticed immediately.”

In the afternoon, the Dutch National Team, who are preparing for a T20 International tournament in the UK later this month gained the services of Gary and the team to assist with their training. Thorough conversations were had regarding game strategy, modern trends in the T20 game and ways in which to practice them. Ryan Campbell, the Dutch National Coach and Gary facilitated a squad middle session using live scenarios which added great insight into the teams’ plans moving forward. A remainder of the players also upgraded their skill sets one on one in pressurized net drills which extracted valuable learning for the players.

The following two days were once again spent with the U17 team and their enthusiasm and energy shone through as they spent the days honing their craft in preparation for a white ball tour in the UK. Match strategies were developed with each player and attention was given to each individual through various interventions including skills, drills and match play.

Gary had heaps of praise and well wishes for the team, “Having worked with these players for a few years it is great to see their growth and we look forward to working with them again moving forward and wish them all the best for their upcoming tour”. He continued, “GKC has a strong relationship with the Flamingos and the KNCB, we love coming to Holland and we look forward to welcoming more Dutch players to the shores of Cape Town once again for the start of our High Performance Academy”.

Four of the current Dutch National team selected for the T20 tournament have trained with GKC during the HPA in Cape Town over the past 2 years. Stay posted for updates on www.garykirsten.com

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