Proteas bowling coach shields young Kwena Maphaka ahead of second test
4th July 2025
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Bowling coach Piet Botha has moved swiftly to dismiss any whispers about teenage quick Kwena Maphaka not getting any wickets for the Proteas in the first test match against Zimbabwe.
Playing in only his second match, and perhaps a victim of his own success with expectations so high, Maphaka did not pick up a single wicket across both innings.
Botha says there are ways to contribute to a test match if it’s not your day with the wickets, and that’s what the young man offered them.
"Yeah, look, it's always about a bowling unit. So, sometimes someone doesn't get wickets, it doesn't mean he didn't contribute. I thought he was really aggressive, so he did a good role in that respect, for him it's just to put his mind to a good practice again this week with preparation and do what he does well and that is to bowl quickly,” Botha said.
“We had a couple of discussions around various things for him to improve on."
He highlighted that the 19-year-old has only played a handful of first class matches, including the two tests.
He debuted against Pakistan in January this year, claiming the big scalp of Babar Azam with his first ball in test cricket.
Botha says it’s normal for nerves to kick in for a player still as wide-eyed as Maphaka.
"He was very nervous when I spoke to him, nerves were there which is very natural for a 19-year-old playing in the test match. Realistically he's only played five first class games and that includes two test matches,” he added.
“So, ultimately as a coach you can do a lot in terms of talking to a person, working with them technically but he needs to pick up experience, that's the most important for all of us, who've played cricket, you learn as you play.
“For him it's all about getting four day cricket and five day cricket under the belt then he'll improve because as he's in the environment, as he goes through these experiences he'll also work things out for himself and we can talk through things. “We had a good talk this morning, so it's all about just that exposure and making sure that he learns as he goes and he picks up his confidence as he goes."
