Eastern Warriors set for 2024 Cubs Week
The Eastern Warriors squad for the Cubs Week, which will be hosted in Stellenbosch from 5 to 9 January, is almost equally divided between players from Border and Eastern Province, with the former producing just one more selection than its neighbour in the 13-player squad.
Border and Selborne College’s Ben van der Merwe and Tre’ Gilbert will be at the forefront of the side’s batting challenge.
Gilbert has enjoyed a successful couple of years, which included a recent call-up to the Eastern Cape Iinyati’s senior Colts side, and heads into the week with a heap of experience of going up against South Africa’s most talented young players.
Van der Merwe, too, enjoyed a successful 2023 campaign for the East London school, which earned him his call-up. He will, however, be seeking to use the opportunity to get back into form after a somewhat disappointing Khaya Majola Week.
Eastern Province all-rounder, Jean Upman, also cracked the nod from the selectors after a wonderfully consistent 2023. He performed well with both bat and ball to lead Grey High to numerous victories throughout the year, and he was also a standout for an Eastern Province outfit that failed to fire at this year’s Khaya Majola Week.
The Eastern Province spin twins, Esa Gangat and Hamza Khan, both received a thumbs up from the selectors. Given the typical pitch conditions in Stellenbosch, they will likely have prominent roles to play for the Iinyati.
The team
Ben van der Merwe (Border, Selborne College), Sibusiso Mxube (Eastern Province, St Andrew’s College), Jean Upman (Eastern Province, Grey High School), Tre’ Gilbert (Border, Selborne College), Esa Gangat (Eastern Province, Pearson), Amahle Masiko (Border, Mdantsane Hub), Jacques van der Merwe (Border, Selborne College), Hamza Khan (Eastern Province, Westering), Lithemba Noyomi (Border, Hudson Park), Hlumelo Ntlala (Border, Dale College), Ryan Denston (Border, Queen’s College), Randy Syce (Eastern Province, Woodridge College), Luphelo Mdyesha (Eastern Province, Graeme College).
