Cricket: Shy off field, but really quick on

JOHANNESBURG - A shy Mfuneko Ngam yesterday gave possibly the shortest press conference for a test cricketer making his debut.

The 21-year-old Ngam, South Africa's fastest bowler, was confirmed as the injured Allan Donald's replacement for the third test against New Zealand.

Ngam's quicker ball occasionally tops 150 km/h. He bowls a useful outswinger, and is rated by knowledgeable cricket watchers as second only to Australia's Brett Lee in the world pace-bowling stakes.

But he was not rattling off quotes at the same rate yesterday as South African officials banned any questions from the large media contingent on the eve of the test.

"I'm very happy and delighted to represent my country and I'll give it all my best," Ngam said, before repeating the statement in his native Xhosa tongue.

Ngam grew up just down the road from his team-mate Makhaya Ntini in the Border township of Middledrift, near coastal East London.

The story of his rise to prominence is similar to Ntini's, coming from modest, poverty-stricken beginnings to be the first test graduate from South African cricket's development programme.

He hardly looks the fearful fast bowler, slightly built, around 1.75m tall and looking even younger than his 21 years.

But his presence was enough to excite his new captain, Shaun Pollock.

"I haven't played against him, thank goodness, but I've seen a bit of him and have been quite impressed," Pollock said.

"We're not going to protect him too much. He's been picked for test cricket and he's good enough to be here."

- NZPA