N O I S Y NEIGHBOURS

Namibia will be keen to show last year’s performance in the UAE was no fluke.

ICC

FRESH from a memorable performance at last year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Namibia are looking to build on their momentum and spring a few more surprises in Australia.

The Eagles qualified for the Super 12, beating Scotland in Group 2, in the UAE 12 months ago after coming through a tough first round group by overcoming Ireland and the Netherlands.

David Wiese will once again be a key player for Namibia if the African minnows are to repeat last year’s heroics in Australia. - AFP

They renew hostilities with the latter in the first round of this year’s competition, along with Sri Lanka and the UAE, and will be confident of repeating their 2021 display as they look to test themselves against the world’s leading nations once more.

Again led by Gerhard Erasmus, the experienced 16-man squad has a familiar look to it and Namibia will be hoping for more big performances from talisman David Wiese and paceman Ruben Trumpelmann, both of whom played key roles last time out.

Namibia Cricket chief executive Johan Muller hailed the country’s 2021 performances as having “a significant impact on interest, exposure and the growth for the game in Namibia” and they have taken steps to ensure it does not become a flash in the pan.

A link-up with Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions Lahore Qalandars has seen four Namibian players training with the Qalandars academy while a T20 tri-series, also including South Africa’s Lions, has formed part of their World Cup preparation.

Namibia showed they are a force to be reckoned with in the shortest international format by beating Zimbabwe 3-2 in a fivematch series in May, with the same opponents and Ireland lying in wait in warm-up matches before the competitive action gets underway.

With a coaching team containing both Morkel brothers, Albie (assistant coach) and Morne (bowling consultant) supporting head coach Pierre de Bruyn,

Namibia have global tournament expertise to guide them and they will fancy their chances of advancing from the first round.

It is hard to look past Wiese as Namibia’s main man with the bat. The 37-year-old averaged 45.40 at last year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and has continued to impress in short-format competitions across the globe since, striking at over 182 for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred during the English summer.

Namibia begin their Group A campaign against Sri Lanka on October 16 before taking on the Netherlands two days later, with the clash against the UAE concluding their first round fixtures on October 20. All three matches are in Geelong’s Kardinia Park.

IMAGE: AFP