CAPTAIN OF THE COCA-COLA SA UNDER 19 CRICKETER, DIEGO ROSIER, ENJOYS THE LEADERSHIP ROLE

Diego Rosier, captain of the Coca-Cola under 19 cricket team, currently doing battle against their England counterparts, sees being chosen to lead his country as a great honour.

“It is an honour to have been made captain and I am really enjoying managing the players,” he said. “I get on really well with all of them and there is great spirit in the team. England has proven to be very tough opponents and some of our players have been struggling against them, which makes them moody and it is my job to help them get through this.”

Rosier, who has been playing cricket for as long as he can remember, finished school at Northern Cape High School in Kimberley at the end of last year and is currently studying for a BCom Management through Unisa.

Rosier represented Griquas at three Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Weeks and says the best of those was in 2011 when he first made the South African Schools teams and was named all-rounder and player of the tournament.

For Diego, Test cricket is the format he loves. “It is the most difficult as you have to be on your guard all the time,” he says. “It is a challenge and only for strong-minded players as you have to adapt and be patient.” He was disappointed with the result of the first Coca-Cola Youth Test, which England won quite comfortably. “I think the batsmen let us down, but the bowling department was very good,” he said.

“We were outplayed by England in the first Test. They are a younger side than us and most of their players will be around for next year’s ICC Junior World Cup in Dubai. Our team, on the other hand, has only 6 players who will be eligible to play there.”

Diego believes the problem with the batting is that they don’t understand what is required in a four day game. “I am a bit disappointed that we lost wickets early in both our innings. We spoke at length in our meetings about being focused and not having to hit out as this is a 4 day game, but we seem to be repeating our mistakes.”

He explains that at schools in South Africa don’t play the longer version of the game, and at under 19 level cricketers generally play one three day game a year. “Adapting to a three or four day game is challenging,” he said. “When you have been playing for two days and realise that there are still another two days to play, you have to shift focus.  We play like we are in a hurry.”

Rosier does believe the upcoming ODIs will be a completely different proposition. “We will have a very different squad and I am looking forward to that. I believe we will give England a challenge there.”

 

BEDINGHAM PLEASED WITH HIS PERFORMANCE FOR THE COCA-COLA SA UNDER-19 TEAM

David Bedingham’s 131 runs for the South African under 19 side on the third day of the second Coca-Cola Youth Test against England may well have set his side up of for victory and a share of the two Test series.

Bedingham made 131, off 204 balls, including 14 fours and a six, to help his side to 320/8 declared and a lead of 317 runs. England go into the final day on 31/0.

David matriculated at Wynberg Boys’ High School last year. Wynberg is one of the country’s most famous cricketing nurseries and the alma mater of his role model, Jacques Kallis, as well as other international stars including Garth Le Roux and Alan Lamb. “Jacques comes to the school often and talks to us and is very inspiring. I have learnt a lot from him,” he said.

Western Province’s Nabeal Dien helped David secure a place at Plumtree Club in Nottinghamshire, England this winter, so his immediate future has been decided and he will be looking to start university studies in 2014.

The Coca-Cola Youth Test series against England was the first time David has played 4-day cricket. “I have enjoyed it, but it is different,” he said. “You have to stretch the game and you need to be more disciplined. I wasn’t scoring in the first game which was frustrating, but in the second I applied myself better and focus on what I do best. However, I have a weakness of losing concentration, so I enjoyed batting in partnership with Shaylen Pillay who is a more experienced player and helped calm me down when I hit some silly shots.”

David played in two Coca-Cola Khaya Majola cricket weeks. One of the worst cricket experiences was his poor performance in his first appearance, in Cape Town in 2011. However, last year he came back fighting and managed to get into the Coca-Cola U19 national team.

His best cricketing moment has been this one: scoring 131 in the Test! “I am so happy to have made such a huge contribution to the team and put them in a winning position,” he said.

David says there is good team spirit among the boys in the team. He is very complimentary about the captain, Diego Rosier. “He is a good leader, sets a good example and leads from the front and is always approachable. He is also the joker in the team together with Kagiso Rabada. Between those two they keep the team always laughing and therefore the spirits are high.”

His biggest friend on the team is his Western Province team mate Clyde Fortuin “We have been playing together for years, so know each other very well,” he said.

David Bedingham is a real cricketing talent, firmly grounded in the best traditions of the game. He is certainly one to watch in the years to come.