Uncategorized
By Johnathan Paoli
The seventh edition of the Fasken Time Cricket Festival wrapped up this weekend at St David’s Marist Inanda in Sandton, reaffirming its status as a launchpad for South Africa’s emerging cricket talent.
St David’s Director of Sports Performance and Cricket, Dave Nosworthy, hailed the event as a true celebration of time cricket.
“It’s massive value to the youngsters to be able to bat for long periods, bowl long spells and learn game management. The spinners come into play, captains think differently about field placements, and players build resilience through the long sessions,” Nosworthy explained.
While hosts’ star Jason Rowles walked away with the Player of the Festival award, and King Edward VII School’s (KES) Steele Grooteman and Tiago Dias claimed Bowler and Batsman of the Festival respectively, the tournament’s impact stretched far beyond individual accolades.
Rowles embodied the resilience demanded by the long format, amassing 272 runs in three innings — including two centuries — and taking seven wickets. Dias topped the run charts with 292 runs, while Grooteman’s 15 wickets at an average of 11 confirmed his dominance with the ball.
Yet the festival’s purpose runs deeper: teaching South Africa’s top schoolboy cricketers the craft of red-ball cricket. Unlike the quick thrills of limited-overs formats, time cricket prizes patience, adaptability, and mental toughness. Matches often turn on concentration or lapses in discipline, and the festival is deliberately designed to immerse players in these realities.
St David’s Director of Sports Performance and Cricket, Dave Nosworthy, said the event is about laying lasting foundations:
“The true test of character isn’t in easy runs, but in the long spells, the tough sessions, and the moments that demand resilience. Any international cricketer will tell you, learning the longer format first gives you the tools you need for the rest of your career.”
The festival’s legacy is already clear: more than 100 former participants have gone on to provincial or international cricket. Among them are Proteas Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen, Ireland international Curtis Campher, and rising stars Kwena Maphaka, Richard Seletswane, and Riley Norton — all once in the shoes of the 156 players who competed this weekend under 12 schoolboy captains.
This year’s edition featured leading schools including St David’s, KES, Waterkloof, St Stithians, Jeppe, St John’s, Clifton College, St Andrew’s, Noordheuwel, Nelspruit, St Charles, and the Lions Invitational XI. Victories were recorded by St David’s, KES, Waterkloof, and Noordheuwel, but the greater goal was to immerse every participant in the tempo and nuance of time cricket.
The festival continues to thrive thanks to committed sponsorship, particularly title partner Fasken Law. Managing Partner Blaize Vance described the partnership as an investment in South Africa’s sporting and personal development:
“We often judge talent by timing or shot-making, but qualities like determination, courage, discipline and temperament are just as important. That’s the kind of talent this festival nurtures.”
With its blend of competitive intensity, developmental focus, and proven record of producing professional cricketers, the Fasken Time Cricket Festival has cemented its place as a cornerstone of South Africa’s schoolboy cricket calendar.
INSIDE EDUCATION