Makhaya Ntini struggle story: How did a boy grazing cows and buffaloes become the world’s most feared bowler? He was no less than Yamraj for the batsmen.

New Delhi: 662 wickets in 284 international matches. For a bowler, this figure tells what kind of bowling he has bowled in his career. This is none other than former South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini. Antony started his international career in the year 1998 and has been a terror for the batsmen with his deadly bowling for more than a decade.

However, for Makhaya Ntini’s achievements to be visible in the statistics, he had to face struggles that cannot be imagined. Makhaya Ntini is one of South Africa’s greatest fast bowlers. Before joining the South African team, Ntini’s condition was such that he did not even have shoes to wear. He used to bowl wearing torn shoes.

used to graze cows and buffaloes

Makhaya Ntini’s childhood was spent in poverty. He lived in a small village Madingi. In his childhood, he used to graze cattle barefoot. As he grew up, he started playing cricket for fun. Since he did not have a cricket kit, he was simply handed the ball and he just kept running. Makhaya loved running. Although, while practicing nets, he would be jealous of those boys who had good kits, but his courage was such that he would just tie his torn shoes with a wire and keep running.

When Makhaya Ntini was 13 years old, he did not even expect that he would be able to play at the state level. Making a career at the international level was no less than a dream for him. That’s why he played just for fun. He says, “Cricket was just for fun. You played without any dreams of moving forward because cricket was one of those sports which was dominated by whites.”

Greg Hayes changed Makhaya Ntini’s fortunes

For Makhaya Ntini, cricket was just for fun. In such a situation, he himself was not serious about this game. Then he was noticed by former South African all-rounder Greg Hayes. He had come as the Development Manager of Eastern Cape. Greg Hayes took Antini out of his small village and sent him for trials to Queenstown in the Eastern Cape. Makhaya did not have a kit, so he reached the trial wearing torn shoes and whatever clothes he was wearing.

Greg Hayes was surprised to see Antony. Seeing Antony’s condition, Greg Hayes called him and said that he wanted to take him somewhere. Antini thought that perhaps he would be taken to the field, but it did not happen. Greg Hayes took Antini to a sports shop in Queenstown. After this he bought a pair of old Patrick cricket boots for Antony. Looking at the boots, it seems as if Antony is running in the air and not on his feet. From here, Antony’s luck changed and after a few days of practice, he was selected in the South African team. Makhaya Ntini may not be famous outside his country, but he is no less than a superstar in South African cricket.