Makhaya Ntini

Makhaya Ntini OIS is a former South African cricketer who was the first ethnically black player to play for the South African team. A fast bowler, he tends to bowl from wide of the crease with brisk, although not express, pace. He was convicted of rape early on in his career, but was acquitted on appeal and went on to become only the third South African to take 300 Test wickets after Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald, and to reach second place in the ICC test match bowling ratings. He played contract cricket for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League till the 2010 season.

Makhaya Ntini was born in Mdingi, a small village in Cape Province which is near King Williams Town . He was discovered by a Border Cricket Board development officer who was setting up a minicricket programme. Although Ntini was both too old and too big to participate in the programme, the officer, Raymond Booi noticed the baredfooted cowherds enthusiasm and talent for bowling. He lent the 15yearold Ntini a pair of plimsolls and arranged for him to participate in a net session in King Williams Town. Ntini impressed Booi, who contacted the head of the development programme, Greg Hayes, and the pair placed Ntini in a junior cricket festival in Queenstown. For the festival, Hayes purchased Ntini his first pair of boots but later had to give the young bowler instructions not to wear them indoors, or when herding cattle.

Source: Wikipedia