NEESHAM JUST A KIWI LOVING LIFE IN THE LAND OF THE CAPITALS

Being the only New Zealander in rugby-crazed Pretoria can have some drawbacks. 

Just ask Jimmy Neesham, Pretoria Capitals all-rounder, after a period in which the Springboks have beaten the All Blacks four times in succession, including last year’s epic Rugby World Cup.

“I've already had a few messages from the lads around the Springboks and All Blacks encounters over the last while so there's no lack of banter in that part,” Neesham joked ahead of Betway SA20 Season 3. 

Neesham has though loved the past two seasons spent at the Capitals, as it reminds him very much of home back in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

“Kiwis and South Africans are pretty similar people,” he said. “We both like playing a bit of golf, being outdoors, having a laugh over some yarns and it's great to be able to come together with the same goal instead of always competing against each other.”

The 34-year-old has fast become a fan favourite at Centurion. Not only was he a pivotal figure with both bat and ball in the Capitals’ run to the final in the inaugural season of Betway SA20, Neesham has been electric in the field. 

The Kiwi has managed to snare some sensational one-handed grabs that has left everyone in awe. Equally, it has inspired the Centurion fans to hold on their Catch R2-million one-handed catches with the Capitals’ home ground boasting the most successful spectator catches the past two seasons. 

“The Pretoria fans have been amazing for us,” he said. “We have nearly packed-out crowds every game, so I'm looking forward to seeing that bank fill up again and a few more one-handed screamers from the fellas in the bank would be good.”

Neesham, of course, is an experienced international that has been centre-stage in arguably the greatest cricket match of all time. 

It was Neesham who was at the crease for the Black Caps in the Super Over of the epic 2019 World Cup final against England at Lord’s. 

History tells us that the game never went the way in favour of New Zealand in the cruellest fashion with the tied result being decided in England’s favour due to a higher boundary count. 

It is moments like these that build a player’s character.

Whether batting, bowling or fielding, Neesham is happy to be a Pretoria Capitals player

It is for this reason that Neesham believes the Capitals can overcome a disappointing Betway SA20 Season 2 where the team was beset with injuries to key players such as captain Wayne Parnell, express fast bowler Anrich Nortje and even himself, and come back stronger in the upcoming Season 3 under new coach Jonathan Trott. 

“Yeah, very excited to be retained at Pretoria again,” he said. “I think we had a really successful season in the first year of the SA20 and then last season we just basically couldn't keep the same team on the park. 

“We had a lot of injuries. I ended up myself going home with an injury last season so yeah, certainly looking forward to getting back there this season with a fully fit group and hoping to replicate the first season.”

The Pretoria Capitals open their Season 3 campaign away to Durban’s Super Giants at Kingsmead on Friday, 10 January.