Strandfontein Cricket Club’s rising junior player Jordan Jones is slowly making a name for himself in the highly competitive landscape. And his hard work and excellent performance with the bat and the ball of late haven’t gone unnoticed.
He has, in fact, been rewarded with a call up to the Western Province under-12 side.
The Liesbeeck Primary School pupil, who is an all-rounder, will be officially capped on Wednesday November 30.
The youngster’s march to the WP side was not an easy one, as he had to go through a rigorous selection process, where he competed with a number of other hopefuls.
The 12-year-old was selected for the side after doing well in the regional trials earlier this year. From then on he never looked back.
He said he knew that consistency, from now on, was going to be the difference between progressing from this division and bouncing back to where he was not so long ago.
Jordan, a Grade 6 pupil at Liesbeeck Primary, described his selection as the “breakthrough” that’s been long overdue. He pointed out to the number of factors, including past failures that made him even more determined.
“The feeling is good. I’ve been trying to get into this team without any lucky but, here I am, finally making the team,” he said.
“This is just the beginning because I want to play for the first team one day. I am going to use this as stepping stone towards the first team.
But, before that, I need to make a name for myself in this particular team before expecting to progress to other divisions,” he said.
As much as he is regarded as an all-rounder because of his bowling and batting abilities, the youngster, who turned 12 on Sunday November 13, said he preferred bowling.
He was, however, quick to note that that doesn’t mean he took his batting lightly. He’s still trying to find ways of improving that part of his game too, he said.
“I also think that, without quality batsmen, there won’t be quality bowlers. Coming up against quality batsmen improves your own skills as a bowler,” he said.
His father Lance Jones described the youngster as a true all-rounder, not just on the field but in everything he does.
“Jordan is also good academically, as he always comes up with good marks. He does his work thoroughly without leaving anything unexplored. The same applies to his cricket, he gives his all to both his bowling and batting and that is why he’s been rewarded. He was able to strike that balance and it has, so far, been working,” said Jones senior.
Jordan credits his parents for that because, he said, they were the ones who instilled a high work ethic in him.
“My parents, for instance, always told me that school comes first and, as a result, I have to do my schoolwork before anything else.
“I love cricket too and that meant I have to work hard so that I can do well in both,” he said.