Assupol TuksCricket must be doing something right as Heinrich Klaasen was named as one of two uncapped players in the Proteas Test squad for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand starting next week.

 

Theunis de Bruyn, a former TuksCricket-player, is the other uncapped player in the squad.  Lungi Ngidi (TuksCricket) is another success story. He starred for South Africa in the T20-series against Sri Lanka taking six wickets in two games. Unfortunately, he got injured. 

 

The 25-year-old Klaasen’s call up should be no surprise. He really distinguished himself playing for the Titans in the Sunfoil-series scoring 635 runs at an average of 48.84. Against the Dolphins in Pietermaritzburg batting in difficult conditions, he proved that he can handle pressure when he scored 195 runs from 353 balls.  Klaasen has no hesitation calling it the best innings of his career so far. As a wicketkeeper, he took 33 catches in nine matches and did four stumping’s in the series. 

 

Klaasen will be Quinton de Kock’s understudy as wicketkeeper in New Zealand as Dane Vilas is no longer available to play for South Africa after he had signed a Kolpak-contract.

 

The National Academy coach, Shukri Conrad, predicted in 2015 that Klaasen has what it takes to play for South Africa.

 

“Heinrich stays very calm in regardless of the situation. He stays in the moment. There’s a very much ‘poor man’s MS Dhoni’ about him. There are really no sideshows to his game and he really takes the game to the opposition. He doesn’t wait for the game to come to him and that is what I 

like most about him. He is as tough as they come,” Conrad said at the time.

 

Klaasen who matriculated at Hoërskool Menlopark credits the former Assupol TuksCricket coach, Pierre de Bruyn, as one of the coaches who really made him believe in his abilities. 

 

“Pierre is definitely one of the best coaches that I have encountered. What makes him good is that even though cricket is a team sport he still considers every player as an individual. So he goes out of his way to get to know all of us and to find out what our respective strong points and weaknesses are. He is one of a few coaches who really believe in a holistic approach when it comes to coaching. It is equally important to him that we excel in our studies and have healthy personal relationships. As a former professional cricketer Pierre believed in never giving up until the last ball is bowled. He installed the same principle with each and every one of us,” said Klaasen.

 

Kruger van Wyk (current Assupol TuksCricket Head Coach) who played test cricket for New Zealand said Klaasen is a good role model to all of the young players.

 

“What I admire most about Heinrich is how he remained patient and just kept on focussing on what really mattered and that was to make the most of every opportunity he got and now he is reaping the rewards. As far as I am concerned he is definitely the second best wicket keeper in South African cricket at the moment.”