NAMIBIA’S senior National cricket team will play in its first International Cup match for the season starting September 6 to in Belfast, Ireland.
After a successful campaign in the ICC Shield competition where they emerged as victors, Namibia, together with the UAE were promoted to participate in the International Cup. The competition is the ICC’s premier Associate four day competition. The match against Ireland will obviously be a very tough challenge for Namibia, playing in its first match against a top Associate team. Due to the unavailability of some senior players for this important match, it opened the door for a couple of younger players from the MTC national under 19 team who recently qualified for the 2012 u/19 World Cup in Australia. Gerhad Erasmus and Stephen Baard will make their first class debuts for the national Senior Team. This will present a great challenge for both players. Although Erasmus – a Grade 10 learner at Windhoek High School, is only 16 years old he has shown a lot of maturity during the the Cricket World Cup qualifier in Ireland and was also the top batsman for namibia.Baard was one of the best bowlers for namibia during the qualifiers. Pieter Rossouw as well as ST Ackerman make their comebacks in the national team and they will be well supported by seniors like Craig Williams (captain), Gerrie Snyman, LP van der Westhuizen and Louis Klazinga. Pikkie Ya France will also make his debut in the Intercontinental Cup competition and much is expected from him at the top order of the batting line-up. Full team:Pikkie Ya France, ST Ackerman, Stephan Baard, Craig Williams, (Captain), Raymond van Schoor, Gerhard Erasmus, Lp van der Westhuizen, Christi Viljoen, louis Klazinga, Pieter Rossouw, Christopher Coombe (12th man) and Andre Engelbrecht.
