Ontong146;s second coming promises more 145;colour146;

Despite hearing about the sub-continental dustbowls, the Green Park here has presented enough cause for self-doubt in South African all-roun...

Despite hearing about the sub-continental dustbowls, the Green Park here has presented enough cause for self-doubt in South African all-rounder Justin Ontong. He knew his team won8217;t get pitches like at home, and he knew about the prowess of the local batsmen against spinners.

What8217;s doubled his problems is the niggling self-doubt about his batting skills against quality spin.

But on the eve of the match, Ontong chose to push all the negative thoughts away, and said, 8216;8216;I know it8217;s a challenge but there are no two ways about it, I have to make it on this tour.8217;8217;

The evident desperation in his voice has a history to it. Tracing the 24-year-old8217;s past shows that after a tough climb to the top, Ontong had a forgettable Test debut last year followed by long layoff. In Kanpur now, he sees an opportunity to cement his place. On the personal front, he lost his father when just seven and that meant his mother had to work as a housemaid to bring up a family of four daughters and the cricket-playing son. 8216;8216;Those were real tough days,8217;8217; he says.

Ontong8217;s Test debut was anything but a cakewalk. In the squad for the 2003 Australian tour, his name wasn8217;t in the final XI for the Sydney Test. But on the eve of the match, UCB president Percy Sonn threw the colour card. He insisted that Ontong be included in place of Jacques Rudolph. The two players in question being room-mates added more 8216;colour8217; to the story.

Ontong played and had a high score of 32 but a 10-wicket loss for the Safs meant a search for scapegoats and Ontong was out.

But if the first phase of his career was race-induced, Ontong says, rather determinedly, 8216;8216;I have made it to India not on the colour of my skin but my cricketing skills.8217;8217;

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Shift the subject to his cricket and his eyes light up. On his rather interesting mix, Ontong says, 8216;8216;I start with a bit of leg-spin and googly. If that doesn8217;t work, I switch to off spin.8217;8217; Seeing the look on this reporter8217;s face, Ontong adds: 8216;8216;Like Sachin, I do everything. I just want to pick wickets.8217;8217;

And then he sounds a bit of warning to the Indians, who would certainly not have lost any sleep after Ontong8217;s bowling performance in Jaipur. brushing aside talk of his figures of 1 for 100, Ontong says, 8216;8216;We were rushed into that game. But in case I get a chance, Kanpur will be different from Jaipur.8217;8217;

8216;Kambli was a real fun guy8217;

	nbsp;	8226; 8216;8216;Do you know where can I get hold of Vinod Kambli?8217;8217; Justin Ontong asks, evidently tired of answering questions. You think he has got it wrong and wants to catch Anil Kumble. No, he insists. He wants to talk to Kambli who was 8216;8216;with us at Boland, was a real fun guy and we shared a lot of beers after play8217;8217;. You tell him that he is leading Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy these days, and Ontong shouts out the information to his mates. Turning around, Ontong says, 8216;8216;The Mumbai team must be having a blast, he is a great guy.8217;8217; On the other Indian in Boland 8212; Praveen Amre 8212; Ontong is not as excited. 8216;8216;Praveen was more reserved,8217;8217; he says. Which brought us to whether he picked up any tips on countering spin from the Indian batsmen. Smiling, Ontong says, 8216;8216;No. They were more keen to learn about facing fast bowling there.8217;8217;	nbsp;

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More