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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“My first experience at the HPA will always be remembered. Getting to live with 10 individuals and play in a team with them was so interesting and helped widen my view of the game along with the coaches input.” Miguel credits his discipline in the basics as a reason for his success this season. “I got off to a flyer at the beginning of the season, I got 39 not out to finish the game in the first match and the following day made 94 not out in a National Cup game and this helped my confidence grow.” He hasn’t looked back, he has scored five fifties and a hundred in all formats. His highlight however has been being able to get 6 not outs in just 14 knocks. “Being able to see the boys over the line was something which I wanted to pride myself on and I have been able to do so on a few occasions, these performances have been so special to me.”

His aspirations for the rest of the season is to try to keep making contributions to the team and hopefully break into the Essex 2^nd XI squad. Miguel will be joining the GKC High Performance Academy again in 2019 and Head Coach Ryan Cook is looking forward to the working with Miguel again, “Miguel came as a rough diamond to the HPA in 2018, being exposed to the professional environment enabled some polishing of his technique and skills. His attitude and willingness to improve over those 4 months is showing in his performances this season. We welcome him and a few other previous HPA players back this year, this is exciting for us as we can continue to walk the journey with them.”

For more information on the GKC High performance academy 2019  and to enroll in the program go to www.garykirsten.com/high-performance-academy/

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Dan attended the GKC First Team 2 First Class program in 2015 and was impressive amongst some of his elder peers. This 10-week camp aimed to bridge the gap between First Team school and club cricketers and the first class level. He has continued his work with the GKC High Performance coaching team and attended many of the High Performance Academy sessions with an eye on improving not only with ball in hand but also the bat., “Dan has worked tirelessly on his batting over the past few years to transform into an allrounder, his work ethic and strong belief in his ability are starting to reap rewards” said Derek Mitchell, GKC High Performance Coach.

Dan has also joined up with the MCC Young Cricketers as part of their development squad and has represented the Club Cricket Conference during mid-week fixtures. These have been particularly fruitful for Dan as he took a 5 wicket haul against Essex 2^nd XI to complement an allround 4fer and 96 against the British Police Force the week before. For his club, Dan’s figures have been impressive taking 20 wickets at an average of 15 including a devastating 6 for 26 in 20 overs against Horspath CC.

“I am seeking to bring more consistency to my game with bat and ball and am grateful for the opportunities to play lots of matches which is helping me adapt to the conditions and grow my game to a new level”, Dan said. “To this point in his career, Dan has been an asset to any team he has played for. His competitive nature mixed with his insatiable desire for growth is a combination which will stand him in good stead as he moves up the ranks” said Ryan Cook, Head Coach of GKC High Performance.

His stocks as an allrounder are rising and there are exciting prospects on the horizon if he continues on his development curve, but for now Dan is focused on his “process of improvement and contributing with match winning performances in any team I play for”. We will be tracking his progress with a keen eye.

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While the wait for rain continues, Gary Kirsten Cricket is determined to use the dry months fruitfully.

“This is the ideal time to capitalize on private coaching,” GKC Coaching Director, Ryan Van Niekerk said.

It is an opportunity for players to work on their technical skills away from the field.

“This is a chance for us to help kid’s upskill their games. The drought is crippling but it does not mean we must stop working,” Van Niekerk said.

The recently launched GKC Mini League at the Constantia Sports Complex has been suspended but Van Niekerk confirmed that concrete pitches will be used in private coaching spaces.

“Our clients have put a lot into our projects and we will certainly be playing games. Our players will still get time out in the middle. The hard work and dedication goes on,” he concluded.

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Cricketers from around the world have descended on Cape Town for the programme which is designed to prepare athletes for the first-class game.

The four-month long programme is run by Gary Kirsten as well as Ryan Van Niekerk and Ryan Cook.

In addition to the top GKC coaches the HPA regularly invites guest coaches from various industries to add to the dynamism of the programme.

This is what they had to say…

Stephen Cook – bizhub Highveld Lions Captain

I had the great privilege of spending a few days training and coaching with GKC. The entire setup from the coaches, the facilities and attention to detail was most professional. The training that is happening at the GKC HPA is at the cutting edge of best practice in the cricket world. Thank you to all concerned for having me and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Andrew Wylie – South Africa Universities Head Coach

It has been a very enjoyable six weeks working with the GKC HPA players. It was great to see the progress they have made individually in a short space of time. The programme really enables them to be pushed out of their comfort zones with the intensity they are working at. I have enjoyed the player’s enthusiasm and willingness to learn. It was also good to learn and share amongst the quality coaching staff involved.

Chad Gravenhorst – Baseball Specialist

As with anything people are cagey in the beginning because they think someone is coming in with a different idea – as I come from a baseball background. All I was asking is that they have an open mind. We looked at how important it is to look after your body in preparation to execute skills consistently. It was a short period of time but it was an absolute pleasure working with GKC. Great group of kids, I think they have a big future. Down the line I am confident that the two sports can continue to get the best out of each other.

Shukri Conrad – South Africa ‘A’ coach

The sessions just got more and more enjoyable. The environment and culture created by Gary and the coaching team really bodes well for this programme. It is one of learning. We dealt with playing spin in both the test and one day format both defensively and on attack. The players’ growth has been phenomenal. The work they had put in prior to me arriving was excellent. I look forward to my next session there.

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The venture is in conjunction with Abu Dhabi Cricket, as the revitalised club seeks to generate further interest in the game and help the Emirates Cricket Board develop the UAE’s talent pool. The coaching programme will be run by GKC Coaches, Ed Kilbee, Oscar Nauhaus and Jimmy Cook at the Zayed Cricket Academy from 6 November until 6 December 2017.

Abu Dhabi Cricket’s Acting CEO, Matthew Boucher, commented, “For over a decade the Zayed Cricket Academy has been one of the most successful academies in the region, with an impressive win-ratio through the domestic calendar and a dedicated player base. We committed in May to overhauling both the hardware and the software of the Academy; the hardware is nearing completion and now we move onto the software, with an exciting new partnership with the globally-renowned Gary Kirsten Cricket. This is another step in our journey and we look forward to our boys and girls learning from the world’s best! My thanks to Abu Dhabi Sports Council for their support – together we are breathing new life into cricket in Abu Dhabi.”

“There is a huge amount of talent in the UAE and as a coaching team we are looking forward to assisting with their development,” Kirsten beamed, “In addition to our coaching in South Africa we have enjoyed working with cricketers from all corners of the globe. It is a pleasure to share our knowledge and develop the sport,” Kirsten added.

GKC boasts a well-rounded model and caters for coaching across the playing spectrum from beginners and school players to aspiring first class cricketers as well as seasoned internationals. The Abu Dhabi assignment will include private, group coaching as well as a focus on honing the life skills of players.

“In this programme, players will be exposed to experienced coaches who will analyse their abilities and mentor them rigorously, covering all aspects of the game. Introducing them to the fundamentals is important before we start working on refining their batting, bowling and fielding techniques,” Kirsten commented.

The Gary Kirsten coaches will be with Abu Dhabi Cricket throughout November and will return in Spring 2018 to host a Kids Coaching Camp. For further details about Abu Dhabi Cricket and to join Zayed Cricket Academy head to www.abudhabicricket.ae

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Aspiring professionals from Zimbabwe, Netherlands and England will link up with locally based players for a unique experience to be staged in Cape Town.

Now in its third year the HPA boasts a stringent schedule and will see players train for six hours a day and play club cricket at Premier League level on weekends.

It has been specifically designed by Gary Kirsten himself along with a group of dedicated coaches to assist cricketers to achieve their dream of playing first class cricket.

“It is a programme which is growing from strength to strength and this year we are delighted to welcome a great bunch of players,” GKC Coaching Director, Ryan Van Niekerk said.

The HPA is multifaceted in its approach and will give players a chance to develop steadily through the weeks.

“Players will get every chance to enhance and improve their skills as well as share their experiences with fellow cricketers both through intense practices and competitive matches,” Van Niekerk said.

The first week will see the athletes put through a number of tests to ascertain their current physical and mental states.

“Each player’s physical condition will be assessed, followed up by an individualised training programme. They will also have regular interventions with a qualified mental conditioning practitioner.”

“A personal development plan which includes best practice in leadership across sporting codes is also a hallmark of the programme.”

Developing life skills is a major part of the HPA and players will get the opportunity to experience the Mother City in all its splendor.

“In addition to excursions around the city, we will also get the players involved in the GKC Foundation Township coaching programmes,” Van Niekerk said.

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GKC has been based at Curro Hermanus since January this year with numbers in the private coaching space continuously growing at the school.

Over fifty kids attended the free coaching session between the age of 8-13 with Gary Kirsten hosting the much anticipated talk to a dedicated group of parents.

At Parklands College, 70 youngsters were divided into five groups where they received coaching in various aspects of the game.

“We had five coaches at different stations. We focused on target bowling and throwing, speed gun bowling, power throwing and lots of net sessions,” GKC Coach Garreth Van Hoesselin said.

“The response was fantastic at both schools and it was good to see an encouraging number of girls attend as well. There is great potential among these youngsters and we cannot wait to continue our work with them,” he added.

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The 20-year-old has made a seamless transition from amateur to professional cricket over the past three years after an impressive junior career which saw him turn out for South Africa Under-19.

The former Rondebosch Boys High pupil who is a graduate of the Gary Kirsten Cricket, First Team 2 First Class (FT2FC) Programme is now all set to mix it up at the first ever, T20 Global League.

Galiem was picked by the Cape Town Knight Riders alongside superstars like JP Duminy, Dale Steyn and England spinner, Adil Rashid.

GKC Head Coach, Ryan Cook praised Galiem’s hard work over the past few seasons and backs the youngster to grab the opportunity with open arms.

“It is great that he got picked up. As a youngster it is an amazing break,” Cook said.

Having worked with Galiem during his school days, National Academy and at GKC, Cook believes he has all the attributes to succeed.

“He is a very talented individual with a great work ethic and tactical nous. He is able to bowl quite skillfully, bat in various positions and is also a very handy fielder,” Cook explained.

Galiem’s work at the First Team 2 First Class Programme saw him attend sessions twice a week over a two and a half month period in Cape Town in 2015.

“The programme is about trying to bridge the gap between top school and club players and the first class game. Dayaan has managed to make that jump very quickly,” Cook said.

“I am sure that the FT2FC programme was one of the contributing factors to his success. He has worked closely with our GKC coaching team over the last few years and still comes in for regular one-on-one coaching. We wish him all the best for the tournament and the season ahead,” he concluded.

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Training Camp:

We had a nine day training camp before we left for England. It gave us a chance to work on the culture of the team and the way we wanted to approach the series. We tweak technical aspects and had plenty of middle practices and net sessions. I was really proud of the player’s efforts.

Friendly Games:

Wet weather reduced our playing time significantly. Our first game against Yorkshire was rained out after we had batted for 25 overs.

While rain also affected the second game. We looked good for the first 15 overs before we the players were forced to come off.

I was a left bit frustrated that we didn’t get a chance to bowl or field.

Three Match ODI:

We batted first in our first ODI in Nottingham and managed to set a target of 269. The England Lions openers, Ben Duckett and Dawid Malan took the game away from us however with a solid opening stand. In the end they won by nine wickets.

The second game took place in Northampton. Our opponents batted first and set a huge total of 349. We had a fairly good start with the bat but then lost wickets at regular intervals. We were eventually bowled out for 205.

We saw very little action in the third game. The match was rained out after just a few overs.

Role: 

I certainly think that in a short space of time the players exuded great energy and effort. For me it was about creating some awareness around the players fielding, what techniques they needed to use and what attitudes they needed to bring and the skills that are expected at this level.

I feel that the players are much better equipped now to really affect the match and create chances in the field which is often a neglected part of the game.

Personal development:

Being involved in different environments both in the High Performance space at GKC as well as Cricket South Africa has produced growth for me. I think this tour was no different working with a coaching staff that was very professional. They showed great work ethic which always good to see. From a fielding side I definitely learnt that there is much to be learnt in this space and hopefully more emphasis will be placed on this going forward. The players reacted well to the different intervention that came to them but it must be understood that these players do not make mistakes on purpose but there will be mistakes that creep in here and there. Just because they have a higher standard of excellence doesn’t mean they are immune to error. Trying to minimise those errors was something that I focused on and something that I can take into the different spaces that I go into.

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