The Old Diocesan Issue 10 - Magazine - Page 63
SPORT
ABOVE Showing Graeme Smith
a thing or two with a soccer ball.
LEFT The dismissive pull, one of
his favourite shots, on his way to
228, his highest Test score, versus
Pakistan, 2 January 2003.
And I remember batting against
Brett Lee in the Durban Test, the
one we won [in 2002] – there was
an over where he bowled every
single delivery at over 155km/h.
Absolute rockets. [Herschelle was
man of the match.]
PHOTOGRAPHS GALLO IMAGES AND PAUL MURRAY
How do you keep active these days?
When we batted, we had the
licence to do as we pleased. For
me, it wasn’t the best innings
I’ve played, but it was definitely
the most enjoyable. I remember
the crowd shouting Herschelle!
Herschelle! Herschelle! – and I felt
like I could do anything I wanted
while I was at the crease.
But I didn’t see the last eight
or 10 overs. I used to be a nervous
spectator when things got a bit
tight. I was listening to the crowd
while I was in the bathroom,
and I knew we’d won when they
just went absolutely bef-…
Who were the hardest bowlers
to face in your career? I faced so
many world-class bowlers, but
the one that always stands out is
[Shoaib] Akhtar. He was the most
dangerous because of his action,
especially in Tests in Pakistan,
when the pitch started becoming
uneven. That’s where boys became
men. He was the quickest off the
deck and through the air.
I enjoy playing golf. I don’t actually
need to play – I wait for my mates
to make bookings, and then we
play. But I still do a lot of gym.
People neglect strength work
as they get older, but you need to
look after your muscles and joints.
I love training, keeping in shape.
Which old schoolmates do you stay
connected with? Fleckie obviously
(Rob Fleck, 1993O), Craig Lorden
(1993F), Thandekile Dlova (1993W),
Arnold Gcilitshana (1992S), Israel
Palmer (1992F) – and I’m on the
1992 WhatsApp group. I was at
the 30-year reunion – two years
ago, I can’t believe it…
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