New Zealand’s Bevon Jacobs may debut against his birth country
The saga of New Zealand cricketers born in South Africa wearing the Blackcaps is likely to continue. The latest addition to this list is Bevon Jacobs, a hard-hitting six-footer, who has been named in the New Zealand squad for the T20 tri-series in Zimbabwe, which will also feature South Africa as the third team. Jacobs is all set to make his international debut, and what’s more, he could make it against the country of his birth, South Africa.
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Jacobs moved to New Zealand with his family at a young age and grew up playing cricket in the country. Despite representing New Zealand at various junior levels, he has never played for the national team until now. His selection in the squad is a testament to his impressive form in domestic cricket, where he has been consistently scoring runs for the Auckland Aces in the Super Smash T20 competition.
Jacobs’ selection has raised a few eyebrows, given his South African roots. However, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has no qualms about selecting players based on their talent and form, regardless of their birthplace. In recent years, several players born in South Africa have donned the Blackcaps jersey, including Colin Munro, George Worker, and Tom Latham.
Munro, who was born in Durban, South Africa, made his international debut for New Zealand in 2013 and went on to play 56 ODIs and 57 T20Is for the country. Worker, also born in South Africa, played 12 ODIs and 10 T20Is for New Zealand before retiring from international cricket. Latham, who was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, but moved to New Zealand with his family at a young age, has played 83 Tests, 74 ODIs, and 38 T20Is for the country.
Jacobs’ selection is a significant development for New Zealand cricket, which has been looking to strengthen its batting lineup. The 25-year-old has a strong record in domestic cricket, with a highest score of 101 not out and a strike rate of over 140. He has also represented New Zealand A in List A and First-Class cricket, scoring centuries against England Lions and India A.
The T20 tri-series in Zimbabwe, which starts on August 4, will feature three matches between New Zealand, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The series will be a great opportunity for Jacobs to make a mark on the international stage and silence his doubters. With his power-hitting ability and aggressive style of play, he could be a game-changer for the Blackcaps in the T20 format.
While Jacobs’ selection has generated a lot of excitement among cricket fans, it also raises questions about the eligibility criteria for international cricket. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has strict rules around player eligibility, which state that a player must have been born in the country they wish to represent or have lived in the country for at least three years prior to playing international cricket.
However, the ICC has also shown leniency in certain cases, particularly when it comes to players who have moved to a new country at a young age or have family ties to the country they wish to represent. In Jacobs’ case, he has been living in New Zealand for most of his life and has represented the country at various junior levels.
As Jacobs prepares to make his international debut, he will be under immense pressure to perform. However, with his impressive record in domestic cricket and his aggressive style of play, he has every chance of making a successful start to his international career. The prospect of him making his debut against the country of his birth is an added incentive, and he will be looking to make a lasting impression on the international stage.
