Ant Botha
Encyclopedia
Anthony Greyvensteyn Botha (born November 17, 1976) is a South Africa
n former cricket
er who played for the cricket teams of Natal B, Natal, South Africa Academy, KwaZulu-Natal B, KwaZulu-Natal, Easterns
, Derbyshire
and Warwickshire
.
Botha was born in Pretoria
, Transvaal Province
, South Africa and he made his domestic debut for Natal B in the UCB Bowl of 1996 and a month later was representing the South African Under-19s cricket team
in a tour of India, picking up three Youth Test appearances. He played for the full Natal team in the same year, helping them to third place in the Standard Bank League of 1996/97.
His breakthrough to England was to come in 2003, when he first represented Sussex Second XI
, though he was quickly to move to Derbyshire, making his debut in April 2004. Out for a golden duck in his first innings, his blushes would be saved at the expense of fellow South African James Bryant
, who retired hurt in the second innings. Late in 2005, Botha hit 158 against Yorkshire, batting at number eight in the lineup, with a calculated mixture of brave and fearless shots.
In 2007, Botha with Derbyshire took part in the Twenty20 Floodlit cup. Alongside Essex Eagles, 2006's Twenty20 Cup Semi-Finalists, and the PCA Masters. Derbyshire qualified for the final where they lost to Essex.
Botha signed to play for Warwickshire in 2008. He once took over the captaincy as third captain after the injuries of Darren Maddy
and Ian Westwood
. He was forced to retire in 2011 aged 34 due to an unsuccessful struggle against an elbow injury.
Botha married Australian Katie James in 2009. They have one young son.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n former cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played for the cricket teams of Natal B, Natal, South Africa Academy, KwaZulu-Natal B, KwaZulu-Natal, Easterns
Easterns cricket team
Easterns cricket team has played first-class cricket in South Africa since October 1991.For the purposes of the SuperSport Series, Easterns has merged with Northerns to form the Titans.-Honours:* Currie Cup - 2002–03; shared - * Standard Bank Cup - * South African...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
and Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
.
Botha was born in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, Transvaal Province
Transvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
, South Africa and he made his domestic debut for Natal B in the UCB Bowl of 1996 and a month later was representing the South African Under-19s cricket team
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
in a tour of India, picking up three Youth Test appearances. He played for the full Natal team in the same year, helping them to third place in the Standard Bank League of 1996/97.
His breakthrough to England was to come in 2003, when he first represented Sussex Second XI
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
, though he was quickly to move to Derbyshire, making his debut in April 2004. Out for a golden duck in his first innings, his blushes would be saved at the expense of fellow South African James Bryant
James Bryant (cricketer)
James Douglas Campbell Bryant is a former South African cricketer. He played first-class cricket for nine years, for Eastern Province, Nottinghamshire, Somerset and Derbyshire, retiring from major cricket in 2005....
, who retired hurt in the second innings. Late in 2005, Botha hit 158 against Yorkshire, batting at number eight in the lineup, with a calculated mixture of brave and fearless shots.
In 2007, Botha with Derbyshire took part in the Twenty20 Floodlit cup. Alongside Essex Eagles, 2006's Twenty20 Cup Semi-Finalists, and the PCA Masters. Derbyshire qualified for the final where they lost to Essex.
Botha signed to play for Warwickshire in 2008. He once took over the captaincy as third captain after the injuries of Darren Maddy
Darren Maddy
Darren Lee Maddy is an English cricketer who plays first class cricket for Warwickshire. He played three Tests and eight One Day Internationals for England, making one international fifty in his ten innings between 1998 and 2000 before he was finally dropped following the tour of Zimbabwe in 2000,...
and Ian Westwood
Ian Westwood
Ian James Westwood is an English cricket player who plays for Warwickshire County Cricket Club.-Warwickshire:...
. He was forced to retire in 2011 aged 34 due to an unsuccessful struggle against an elbow injury.
Botha married Australian Katie James in 2009. They have one young son.
External links
- Ant Botha at Cricket Archive