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Ntini ponders his options

Author: John Harris
Date: 06/01/2010
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Makhaya Ntini is set to end his illustrious South Africa after 101 Test matches, having become his country's first iconic cricketer since their re-emergence on the international scene.

The 32-year-old has been one of the mainstays of the Proteas attack for almost a decade, with current skipper Graeme Smith admitting that the axing of Ntini for the third Test against England in Cape Town was a tough call.

He stated: "It's a sensitive issue in South Africa and that's being honest.

"Makhaya is an 'icon' through the country, not only the most iconic player of colour that we have, but also one of our most iconic cricketers in terms of performance over the last decade."

Ntini's international career started in early 1998, with his Test debut arriving in March against Sri Lanka and, while he was firmly in the shadow of both Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock, he showed plenty of potential.

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That began to be realised in 2000, when his first five-wicket haul arrived when he snared 6-66 in the second innings against New Zealand in Bloemfontein to set up a five-wicket win for the home side.

Ntini's slippery quick-armed action helped him record another 17 five-wicket hauls, and he also managed to take ten wickets in four matches.

The paceman's angle of delivery also made him a menace as he often went to the edge of the return crease to bring the ball in at the right-hander and across the left-hander to deadly effect.

His impact became even more important when Donald and Pollock departed the scene, with Ntini thrust forward as the spearhead of the Proteas attack.

His first ten-wicket match came at the home of cricket in 2003, when he took 5-75 and 5-145 as England were beaten by an innings and 92 runs.

Ntini's best match figures arrived in April 2005 when he took 13-132 against the West Indies in Port of Spain, with his second-innings Test-best return of 7-37 crucial to an eventual seven-wicket victory.

Just under a year later Ntini took ten wickets in back-to-back Test matches against Australia and New Zealand and the man known simply as George continued to be a regular wicket-taker well past his 30th birthday.

However, time and a few niggling injuries eventually caught up with him and the Boxing Day 2009 second Test against England at Kingsmead in Durban proved to be his last.

Ntini's current figures show 390 wickets in 101 tests at an average of 28.82, while his legacy goes well beyond the cricket field.

As the first black African player to represent South Africa, Ntini has blazed a trail that many will follow in the years to come.

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