‘Now is calling’ for cricket development

Audi, the Progressive Partner to the Proteas, has unveiled the Audi Q5 Fast Track, a new development initiative aimed at unearthing the next crop of great South African fast bowlers.  The initiative will be run in conjunction with Cricket South Africa (CSA) and will be the first to utilise state-of-the-art technology to assess and identify previously untapped talent from disadvantaged areas.  The programme will be powered by a fleet of Audi Q5s which will be taking Audi’s ‘Bowling Lab’ technology to locations around South Africa over the coming month. 

“The Audi Q5 Fast Track is an innovative and very exciting concept for South African cricket,” commented CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat. “It is well known that the Proteas have been blessed over the years with a wonderful array of fast bowlers like Allan Donald, Brett Schultz, Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini among the former greats and Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Chris Morris among the current stars.

“It goes without saying that we need to maintain our leadership in this field if we are to remain among the world’s best cricket playing nations.

“It is fitting that we are partnering with Audi who have a long-standing reputation for speed, efficiency, technical innovation and all-round excellence,” Mr. Lorgat concluded.

As Progressive Partner to the Proteas, Audi developed the ‘Bowling Lab’, a set-up which utilises state of the art PitchVision technology to instantly analyse a bowler’s performance by comparing pace, line, length, deviation and bounce to that of a current Proteas bowler.  It is this technology which will assist the Audi Q5 Fast Track team in their aim of unearthing hidden bowling gems.

The team tasked with identifying and unlocking the potential of talented young bowlers will be made up of some of the most prominent individuals in South African development cricket.  They will be led by ex-Protea speedster and development guru Mfuneko Ngam. Ngam will be joined by CSA appointed coaching experts including former Proteas bowler Victor Mpitsang. 

 “’Now is calling’ for the vast array of unidentified bowling talent across our country,” said Ngam.  

“I am really excited to be a part of an initiative aimed at giving young boys and girls who would otherwise never have had the opportunity a chance to be noticed.  To have the ability to utilise world class technology in disadvantaged communities will be a watershed moment in helping us select the right kids to get them into CSA development structures.  I can’t wait to see the talent we will discover, together with Audi, over the coming month.” 

The Audi Q5 Fast Track will be visiting locations across Gauteng, Limpopo, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape over a one-month period with the first event taking place at Kagiso Cricket Club on 23 September 2017. 

Trevor Hill, head of Audi South Africa, concluded, “Audi is proud to be able to support CSA in driving cricketing progress through the technology of the Audi Bowling Lab and the new Audi Q5.  As progressive partner to the Proteas, we strive to bring exciting and innovative programmes and initiatives to the team, fans and customers with the aim of progressing the cricket experience.  In line with that aim, we are now very excited to take our existing initiatives a step further by assisting CSA in progressing cricket as a whole through the Audi Q5 Fast Track.”