TOUGH ONE Boland coach Justin Ontong has spoken about the proposed restructuring of the professional cricket teams in South Africa. Picture: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Image: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
With Cricket South Africa (CSA) considering a change to the structuring of the professional cricket teams in the country, Boland coach Justin Ontong has mixed emotions on the topic.
Boland will be playing in the CSA One-Day Cup final against the Dolphins in Paarl on Sunday.
Boland’s run to the final included topping the table with five wins from their seven matches.
As the coach of the dominant team in the land at the moment, the former Proteas player Ontong is in a good position to shed light on the issue.
“This has definitely got its pros and cons. What is important, we have to make decisions for what’s best for cricket in South Africa,” Ontong told SportsBoom.co.za.
“If we feel this restructuring will be the best chance for our professionals to showcase their skills and ultimately become international cricketers, so be it.
“If it will be for the better, we need to get behind the decision and make sure it becomes a real success. Like I said, there will be some pros and cons to it, and it’s our duty to put cricket in South Africa in a healthy state.”
On his side’s run to the final in the 50-over competition, playing at home has been more than a point of pride for Ontong and Boland.
“I think [visiting] teams find it difficult to come to Boland. We have been playing on these wickets for a while now and we know the conditions really well.
I don’t want to give too many secrets away, but there is a specific way to play cricket on our surface.”
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