New Lions recruit Lutho Sipamla is eager to reach a new level of competitiveness when he joins up with his new franchise, writes ANDRE HUISAMEN.
Speaking exclusively to SA Cricket Magazine, the 21-year-old sensation is extremely excited about his new venture and to build on his rise in the Proteas limited-overs’ ranks.
Playing his cricket at the Highveld was on the reasons why Sipamla made the move from Port Elizabeth, where he’s been playing his cricket for the Warriors and Eastern Province since his school days at Grey High School.
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But now the seamer is ready to test himself with the pacy conditions of the Wanderers, while working alongside some of South Africa’s quickest bowlers.
‘The move to the Lions, for me was purely based in the fact that I want to be in a more competitive environment, which I feel will challenge me a little bit more and also the up country conditions, which normally have been known to assist fast bowlers, with pace and bounce, was another factor that contributed to the move,’ said Sipamla.
The right-armer’s move to Johannesburg was confirmed earlier this week after a successful summer of cricket, where he made his ODI debut for the Proteas against England.
Sipamla made his debut T20I debut for the national team during last year’s Pakistan tour to South Africa and gave a lot of credit to the Warriors for grooming him for the big stage.
‘I think hard work, patience and humility, for the Warriors is known as a hard working province, who make use of whatever they have and always find a way to make it work.
‘The fighting spirit that the Warriors possess, known for always fighting back when the backs are against the wall and taking each match to the last wire, and also the fact that Warriors is a grounded union, who’s people are so welcoming and enjoyable to work alongside with them,’ was the praise coming from Sipamla as he reflected on his time at the east coast.
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He is now ready to build on the excellent start to his professional career and admits his recent time in the Proteas camp, as they faced the strong challenges of England and Australia, taught him an awful lot.
When asked what the most valuable thing was he learnt from his involvement under Mark Boucher and in a fairly new and inexperienced Proteas squad, Sipamla didn’t hesitate to counter with ‘precision.’
‘Taking accountability for the work that needs to be put in by an individual in order to make sure that you can provide what the team needs when the team needs it and to make sure that the team moves forward towards the correct direction,’ Sipamla concluded.
