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Player Profile – Ross Boast (Hilton College)

By Franco Oberholzer , in Cricket | News , at 2023-11-08 Tags: ,

On his family’s farm, in a cricket net, is where it all started for the talented Hilton College all-rounder Ross Boast.

His cricketing journey began with tense backyard matches against his older brother Matthew Boast, who currently opens the bowling for the Pretoria-based Multiply Titans.

Ross’s love for the game grew from listening to stories about his great-uncle Vincent van der Bijl, who was one of South Africa’s best seam bowlers in the ’70s and early ’80s.

“Big Vince”, all six-foot-eight of him, claimed 899 wickets, first class and list A, in a 16-year career at Natal and Transvaal respectively, as well as during an off-season stint in the UK playing for Middlesex, so it’s easy to see why he became the reason that a young Ross Boast fell in love with the game.

This planted the seed of a dream to play for South Africa one day and to apply his trade within the domestic structures of the country.

Hilton College’s impact

Boast is currently the captain of the Hilton College 1st XI, an all-rounder with match-winning ability with both bat and ball.

He attributes his success to the professional coaching staff he’s worked with since he made his first appearance in the Hilton kit. “Hilton has allowed me to grow as a cricketer and as a person, thanks to its amazing coaching staff who’ve guided me along the many ups and downs over the last five years,” Boast said.

When asked which of the three formats at high school level he favours, he had an interesting response, saying that he prefers the longest format, time cricket, as he feels it intensifies the battle between bat and ball.

He added, however, that the shorter formats of 50-over cricket and T20s suit his playing style, too, because he likes to play an aggressive brand of cricket.

Biggest inspiration

Furthermore, there was no doubt in his mind that his brother has had the biggest influence on his cricketing career so far.

“My brother, Matthew, has played a massive role in pushing me towards becoming the best player that I can be. We have a great relationship, and we have some huge aspirations for the future,” Ross said.

Reflecting on the memories he’s made on the cricket field during his five years at Hilton, Boast fondly recalls the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Weeks, which bring many of the country’s top cricket-playing schools together to face one other in the Kwazulu-Natal Midlands.

One match that really stands out to him was played at this year’s event, when he produced a man-of-the-match performance against King Edward VII School on the Hart-Davis Oval.

Boast top scored with the bat, contributing 69 from 83 deliveries. He then spearheaded the Hilton bowling attack, capturing a superb five for 33 during his nine-over spell to lead his side to a convincing 129-run victory.

The future

Looking to the future, after the coming weekend’s PinkDrive game against Michaelhouse, Boast’s attention will shift to the annual Khaya Majola Week, which takes place in Makhanda in December.

He’s hoping to stack up the wickets and pile on the runs in the hope of securing himself a spot among the top cricketers in the country next year.

He’s humble and down-to-earth, but the immense talent, along with excellent leadership capabilities, is undeniable. With hard work, Ross Boast is hoping those qualities will allow him to go all the way and realise his goal of playing at the highest level in the green and gold.

Franco Oberholzer
error: Sorry ol' chap, those shenanigans are not permissible.