The Namibia World Cup Qualifier Cricket Team
Cricket Namibia announced a 15-player Australian U19 squad ahead of next month’s ICC U19
Cricket World Cup
*JJ Smit will play a key role for Namibia with the new ball.
Cricket Namibia has today announced a 15-player Namibian U19 squad ahead of next month’s ICC
U19 Cricket World Cup, beginning on 14 February in the United Arab Emirates.
Namibia will compete in Group B of the tournament against Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Australia
with the top two teams progressing to the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Super League quarter-finals.
Namibia U19 15-player squad:
Gerhard Erasmus (Captain)
JJ Smit (Vice-Cptain)
Cobus Brand
MP Delport
Michiel Du Preez
Zane Green
Joshuan Julies
JP Kotze
Malan Kruger
Jano Coetzee
Xander Pitchers
Wayne Raw
Ricardo Strauss
Bredell Wessels
Tiaan Snyman
The 15-player squad is a selection of Namibia’s top emerging talent, including National
representatives that are currently participating in the ICC CWC Qualifier in New Zealand like Captain
Gerhard Erasmus, JJ Smit, Xander Pitchers, and JP Kotze. Other players that also represented the
National team on previous occasions like MP Delport, Michiel Du Preez, Zane Green, Wayne Raw,
Ricardo Strauss, Bredell Wessels and Christiaan Snyman will form a well experienced side.
JP Kotze and Wayne Raw are skilful stroke-makers, who also provide excellent glove work as
wicketkeepers, and join a number of genuine all-rounders selected in the squad who will provide solid
depth with bat and ball.
Jano Coetzee can bat up the order and bowl pace, helping make up a strong bowling contingent,
including Cobus Brand, JJ Smit, Ricardo Strauss, Bredell Wessels and Christiaan Snyman. The
depth of Namibia’s fast bowling stock is in good health and indicative of the high level of talent that
continues to come through our system.
MP Delport is our specialist spinner and will be supported by top-order batsmen Michiel Du Preez
who can bowl quality leg-spin.
“Our batting is a good mix of left- and right-handers, explosive stroke makers along with players that
can build partnerships and have the ability to make big scores and take us to competitive totals, such
as Gerhard Erasmus, Alexander Pitchers and Malan Kruger.’’ Manyande said.
Next month’s ICC U19 Cricket World Cup follows the last few months of preparation. Namibia Under19 played in various competitions in South Africa, which has tested the country’s emerging players in
a variety of conditions.
Namibia’s squad for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup will be coached by Namibia’s High Performance
Coach Rangarirai Manyande.The team will be managed by Manager Polly Negongo, Physio Clint
Henry and Video Analyst Jason Douglas.
The Davin Sport Trust
Herman and Jeanne Davin of the Janine and Suzelle Davin Trust handed over cricket bags that are
sponsored, to the Namibian Under-19 Cricket World Cup Captain and Vice-Captain JJ Smit and
Gerhard Erasmus. The team is currently participating in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup that’s held in
the UAE.
Some of the best young cricketers from 16 nations will take part in the tournament, which will be
staged in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 14 February to 1 March. And they would do well to
heed the advice of de Kock, Dhawan and Tamim, who used this platform to further their development
as cricketers and go on to achieve laurels at the highest level.
Namibia is playing alongside Australia, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in a very tough group. Namibia
did exceptionally well in their warm up games, and their looking forward to the big challenge that lies
ahead the next few weeks. Namibia will play their last group match on Wednesday against
Afghanistan.