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{{short description|South African cricketer (born 1977)}}
{{Redirect|Ntini|his son|Thando Ntini}}
{{Use South African English|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Makhaya Ntini
| image = Makhaya Ntini 4.jpg
| caption = Ntini in 2009
| country = South Africa
| full_name = Makhaya Ntini
| nickname = Mdingi Express
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|7|6|df=yes}}
| birth_place = KwaMdingi, [[King William's Town]], [[Eastern Cape]], South Africa
| heightcm = 175
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm [[Fast bowling|fast]]
| role = [[Bowling (cricket)|Bowler]]
| family = [[Thando Ntini]] (son)
| international = true
| internationalspan = 1998–2011
| testdebutdate = 19 March
| testdebutyear = 1998
| testdebutagainst = Sri Lanka
| testcap = 269
| lasttestdate = 26 December
| lasttestyear = 2009
| lasttestagainst = England
| odidebutdate = 16 January
| odidebutyear = 1998
| odidebutagainst = New Zealand
| odicap = 47
| lastodidate = 17 April
| lastodiyear = 2009
| lastodiagainst = Australia
| odishirt = 16
| T20Idebutdate = 21 October
| T20Idebutyear = 2005
| T20Idebutagainst = New Zealand
| T20Icap = 9
| lastT20Idate = 9 January
| lastT20Iyear = 2011
| lastT20Iagainst = India
| club1 = [[Border cricket team|Border]]
| year1 = {{nowrap|1995/96–2003/04}}
| club2 = [[Warriors (cricket team)|Warriors]]
| year2 = 2004/05–2012/13
| club3 = [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire]]
| year3 = 2005
| club4 = [[Chennai Super Kings]]
| year4 = 2008
| club5 = [[Kent County Cricket Club|Kent]]
| year5 = 2010
| columns = 4
| column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
| matches1 = 101
| runs1 = 699
| bat avg1 = 9.84
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 32[[Not out|*]]
| deliveries1 = 20,834
| wickets1 = 390
| bowl avg1 = 28.82
| fivefor1 = 18
| tenfor1 = 4
| best bowling1 = 7/37
| catches/stumpings1 = 25/–
| column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
| matches2 = 173
| runs2 = 199
| bat avg2 = 8.65
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 42[[Not out|*]]
| deliveries2 = 8,687
| wickets2 = 266
| bowl avg2 = 24.65
| fivefor2 = 4
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 6/22
| catches/stumpings2 = 30/–
| column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| matches3 = 190
| runs3 = 1,284
| bat avg3 = 9.44
| 100s/50s3 = 0/0
| top score3 = 34[[not out|*]]
| deliveries3 = 35,039
| wickets3 = 651
| bowl avg3 = 28.98
| fivefor3 = 27
| tenfor3 = 5
| best bowling3 = 7/37
| catches/stumpings3 = 40/–
| column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
| matches4 = 275
| runs4 = 328
| bat avg4 = 7.45
| 100s/50s4 = 0/0
| top score4 = 42[[not out|*]]
| deliveries4 = 13,053
| wickets4 = 388
| bowl avg4 = 25.28
| fivefor4 = 6
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling4 = 6/22
| catches/stumpings4 = 50/–
| date = 30 August
| year = 2017
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/46592.html ESPNcricinfo
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry| {{RSA}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Cricket]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1998 Commonwealth Games|1998 Kuala Lumpur]]|[[Cricket at the 1998 Commonwealth Games|List-A cricket]]}}
}}
'''Makhaya Ntini''' {{post-nominals|country=ZAR|OIS}} (born 6 July 1977) is a South African former professional [[cricket]]er, who played all forms of the game. He was the first [[Black people|black]] player to play for the [[South African national cricket team]].<ref name="Moonda">{{cite web |last=Moonda |first=Firdose |title=Ntini was more than a cricketer |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/south-africa-v-india-ntini-was-more-than-a-cricketer-496094 |work=ESPNcricinfo |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220102212614/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/south-africa-v-india-ntini-was-more-than-a-cricketer-496094 |archive-date=2 January 2022 |date=9 January 2011 |quote=He represented something far more special, partly because he was the first black African cricketer to play for South Africa and partly because he bore the responsibility that came with that with such dignity and grace that South Africans of all colour embraced him. |url-status=live |access-date=2 January 2022 }}</ref> Ntini made his [[Test cricket]] debut against [[Sri Lankan Cricket Team|Sri Lanka]], [[One Day International]] debut against [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]] in 1998. Ntini was a member of the South Africa team that won the [[1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy]].

He reached second place in the [[ICC Player Rankings|ICC Test match bowling ratings]] and was the third South African cricketer to take 300 [[Test cricket]] wickets, after [[Shaun Pollock]] and [[Allan Donald]]. In December 2017, his son [[Thando Ntini]] was named in [[2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup squads|South Africa's squad]] for the [[2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cricket.co.za/news/22360/Raynard-van-Tonder-to-captain-South-Africa-at-2018-ICC-U19-World-Cup |title=Raynard van Tonder to captain South Africa at 2018 ICC U19 World Cup |access-date=11 December 2017 |work=Cricket South Africa |archive-date=29 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629211358/http://cricket.co.za/news/22360/Raynard-van-Tonder-to-captain-South-Africa-at-2018-ICC-U19-World-Cup |url-status=dead }}</ref> He played his last match against [[India]] in 2011.

A genuine fast bowler, his fastest recorded delivery was measured at 151 kph (around 94 mph).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bowling speeds |url=https://i.imgci.com/link_to_database/STATS/FC/BOWLING/BOWLING_SPEEDS.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001205407/https://i.imgci.com/link_to_database/STATS/FC/BOWLING/BOWLING_SPEEDS.html |archive-date=1 October 2025 |access-date=1 October 2025 |website=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

==Early recognition==
Ntini was born in Mdingi, a village in the Eastern Cape province, which is near [[Qonce]].<ref name="ciprofile">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/46592.html |title=Player Profile: Makhayaluya Ntini |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=2011-01-09}}</ref> He was discovered by a [[Border cricket team|Border]] Cricket Board development officer, who was setting up a mini-cricket programme. Although Ntini was both too old and too big to participate in the programme the officer, Raymond Booi, noticed the bared-footed cowherd's enthusiasm and talent for bowling. He lent the 15-year-old Ntini a pair of [[Plimsoll shoe|plimsolls]] and arranged for him to participate in a net session in King William's Town. Ntini impressed Booi, who contacted Greg Hayes, the head of the development programme. The pair placed Ntini in a junior cricket festival in [[Queenstown, Eastern Cape|Queenstown]] and Hayes purchased Ntini his first pair of boots for the festival, but later had to give the young bowler instructions not to wear them indoor or when herding cattle.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket-cattleherder-ntini-wins-his-place-in-history-1296387.html |title=Cricket: Cattle-herder Ntini wins his place in history |work=[[The Independent]] |publisher=[[Independent Print Limited]] |location=[[London]] |last=Robinson |first=Peter |date=26 November 1997 |access-date=2011-01-09}}</ref>

Two years later, he was selected to tour [[England]] with the [[South Africa Under-19 cricket team|South Africa Under-19 squad]] and played all five of the youth internationals. England dominated both [[One Day International]]s (ODIs) during the tour, with the South Africans only managing to take one [[wicket]] across the two matches, which fell to [[Pierre Joubert (cricketer)|Pierre Joubert]].<ref name="u19ODI">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/South_Africa_Under-19s_in_England_1995/uo_South_Africa_Under-19s_Bowling.html |title=Under-19 ODI Bowling for South Africa Under-19s: South Africa Under-19s in England 1995 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=2011-01-09}}</ref> In the Test series, which England won 2–0, Ntini claimed nine wickets, the second-most by a South African bowler.<ref name="u19Test">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/South_Africa_Under-19s_in_England_1995/ut_South_Africa_Under-19s_Bowling.html |title=Under-19 Test Bowling for South Africa Under-19s: South Africa Under-19s in England 1995 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=2011-01-09}}</ref> His bowling was [[Glossary of cricket terms#expensive|expensive]], coming at a rate of 4.53 runs per over: more than any other South African with the exception of [[Mark Boucher]], who is best known as a [[wicket-keeper]].<ref name="u19Test"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/3/3941/3941.html |title=Player Profile: Mark Boucher |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=2011-01-09}}</ref>

==Domestic career==
[[File:Ntini.jpg|left|thumb|180px|Ntini at Edgbaston, 31 July 2008]]
After two matches for Border against the touring [[Kenya national cricket team|Kenyans]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/4/4067/Other_matches.html |title=Other matches played by Makhaya Ntini (66) |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=2011-01-09 |archive-date=7 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107051933/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/4/4067/Other_matches.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ntini made his [[First-class cricket]] debut in November 1995, facing an [[England cricket team|England XI]].<ref name="fcm">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/4/4067/First-Class_Matches.html |title=First-Class Matches played by Makhaya Ntini (190) |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=2011-01-09}}</ref> He claimed two wickets in England's only [[Innings (cricket)|innings]] as Border were beaten comprehensively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/61/61249.html |title=Border v England XI in 1995/96 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=2011-01-09}}</ref>

In his debut season, Ntini claimed 17 wickets at an [[Bowling average|average]] of 37.05 in First-class competitions.<ref name="fcbobs">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/4/4067/f_Bowling_by_Season.html |title=First-class Bowling in Each Season by Makhaya Ntini |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=2011-01-09}}</ref> His best performance in an innings came against [[Free State cricket team|Free State]], when he claimed three wickets for 49 runs (3/49) during his 17 overs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/61/61551.html |title=Border v Free State in 1995/96 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=2011-01-09}}</ref> He again toured with the national Under-19s in March and April 1996, touring [[India]], where he played three youth Tests and one of the three ODIs. After claiming five wickets in the first Test<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/61/61990.html |title=India Under-19s v South Africa Under-19s in 1995/96 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=2011-01-15}}</ref> and none in the second,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/61/61997.html |title=India Under-19s v South Africa Under-19s in 1995/96 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=2011-01-15}}</ref> Ntini displayed his talent in the third match, taking 6/53 in the first innings and 3/48 in the second innings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/62/62010.html |title=India Under-19s v South Africa Under-19s in 1995/96 |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=2011-01-15}}</ref>

==International career==
{{anchor|List of international cricket five-wicket hauls by Makhaya Ntini}}

Ntini returned to the South African team for a Sharjah tournament in 2000. His improvement was clear as he bowled with greater control.
[[File:MNtiniBowling.png|thumb|right|220px|A graph showing Ntini's Test career bowling statistics and how they have varied over time.]]
In 2003, he became the first South African to take 10 wickets at [[Lord's]]. His best performance,{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} however, came when Ntini took 13 wickets for 132 runs against the [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]] in the [[Port of Spain]] on 12 April 2005. This remains the most wickets taken by a South African cricketer in a Test match. On 3 March 2006, Ntini also achieved the best bowling figures by a South African in an ODI, demolishing [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] with 6 wickets for 22 runs. A popular figure in South African sport, Ntini was voted their favourite sportsman in a research poll conducted by the [[South African Press Association]].<ref>[http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/231116.html Ntini voted South Africa's favorite sportsperson | South Africa Cricket News | ESPNcricinfo]. Content-usa.cricinfo.com (30 December 2005). Retrieved on 2012-08-20.</ref> For his performances in 2006 and 2007,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/icc-names-world-test-team-of-the-year-310313|title=ICC names World Test Team of the Year|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> he was named in the World Test XI by ICC. He was also named in the World Test XI by ESPNcricinfo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/twelve-from-06-274468|title=Twelve from '06|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

Ntini went on to establish himself as [[South Africa]]'s premier fast bowler and one of the leading fast bowlers in the world. In February 2009, he was ranked as the world's fifth-best Test bowler behind [[Muttiah Muralitharan]], [[Dale Steyn]], [[Stuart Clark]] and [[Mitchell Johnson (cricketer)|Mitchell Johnson]], but had dropped to being 25th-best ODI bowler, according to the [[International Cricket Council|ICC]] rankings.<ref>[http://www.lgiccrankings.com/ Lgiccrankings.Com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412033853/http://lgiccrankings.com/ |date=12 April 2019 }}. Retrieved on 2012-08-20.</ref>

On 20 January 2007, Ntini dislodged [[Mohammad Sami]] to take his 300th Test [[Wicket (dismissal)|wicket]] in his 74th Test. On 1 August 2008, he removed England opener [[Alastair Cook]] to claim his 350th Test wicket in his 90th Test.

Ntini played his 100th Test on 16 December 2009,<ref>{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=McGlashan|title=Majola lauds Ntini's 100th Test|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/majola-lauds-ntini-s-100th-test-439663|work=ESPNcricinfo|date=16 December 2009|access-date=2 January 2026}}</ref> becoming the only black South African cricketer to reach that mark. Sponsors [[Castle Lager]] promised every fan in attendance a free beer in celebration on the day he took his first wicket and he duly obliged on the second day when he bowled [[Andrew Strauss]] of England. However, after already having lost his place in the ODI team, he was dropped from the Test team after poor performances against England.

Ntini retired from all forms of international cricket in a [[Twenty20 International|T20I]] against India<ref name="India News">{{cite web |url=http://news.indiavoice.info/cricket/india-wins-one-off-t20i-at-durban-2011011123358/ |title=India wins one-off T20I at Durban |publisher=IndiaVoice |date=11 January 2011 |access-date=2011-01-12 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721210430/http://news.indiavoice.info/cricket/india-wins-one-off-t20i-at-durban-2011011123358/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref> on 9 January 2011.<ref name="Ntini retires">{{cite press release | url=http://www.southafrica.info/news/sport/ntini-retirement-031110.htm | title='People's champ' of SA cricket retires | publisher=[[Government of South Africa|South African Government]] Online | date=3 November 2010 | access-date=31 October 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401103508/http://www.southafrica.info/news/sport/ntini-retirement-031110.htm | archive-date=1 April 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

To date, Ntini is one of only three players to have played more than 100 Test matches without scoring a 50.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=high_score;qualmin1=100;qualval1=matches;size=200;template=results;type=batting|title=Batting records. Test matches. Statsguru.|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> [[Courtney Walsh]] and [[Nathan Lyon]] are the others.

During his career, Ntini took 22 five-wicket hauls. As of 2020, he ranks joint seventeenth among all-time combined five-wicket haul takers (joint with [[Allan Donald]], [[Malcolm Marshall]] and [[Daniel Vettori]]), and joint second in the equivalent list for South Africa, alongside [[Allan Donald|Donald]] and behind [[Dale Steyn]].<ref name="Overall">{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=11;filter=advanced;orderby=five_wickets;template=results;type=bowling;wicketsmin1=5;wicketsval1=wickets |title=Combined Test, ODI and T20I records: Most five-wicket hauls in a career |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=12 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007181014/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=11%3Bfilter%3Dadvanced%3Borderby%3Dfive_wickets%3Btemplate%3Dresults%3Btype%3Dbowling%3Bwicketsmin1%3D5%3Bwicketsval1%3Dwickets |archive-date=7 October 2012}}</ref>

==Controversies==
[[File:Ntini bowls.JPG|thumb|right|220px|Ntini (second right) bowling at the WACA Ground in Perth on 16 December 2005, day one of the first Test, Australia v South Africa. He took 5 wickets for 64 runs on the day, having previously made his international debut at the same venue in 1998.]]

Ntini's career looked like coming to an early end in 1999 when he was charged and then convicted of rape, although he was finally [[Acquittal|acquitted]].<ref>[http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/80370.html South African cricketer Makhaya Ntini to be charged with rape (14 January 1999) | Cricket News | South Africa | ESPNcricinfo]. Content-usa.cricinfo.com (14 January 1999). Retrieved on 2012-08-20.</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/ntini-and-company-ready-for-a-sting-after-the-sorry-tales-541456.html | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Gary | last=Lemke | title=Ntini and company ready for a sting after the sorry tales | date=22 June 2003}}</ref> The case caused controversy in South Africa, with his conviction generating negative publicity in view of his status as the first black South African Test cricketer. Ntini maintained his innocence, was acquitted on appeal and rebuilt his international cricket career.<ref name="cricinfoprofile">[http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/46592.html ESPNcricinfo – Players and Officials – Makhaya Ntini]. Content-aus.cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-20.</ref> Ntini thanked [[Cricket South Africa]] for sticking by him.<ref name="Ntini retires"/>

On 17 July 2020, while on [[SABC 2]]'s ''Morning Live'', Ntini detailed the alleged [[racism]] he experienced throughout his career. He claimed other players would not sit with him during meals and said he "was forever lonely" in the Proteas team. Ntini further stated that he used to run to the stadium and back to hotels to avoid being lonely on the team bus. Ntini's comments came shortly after fellow South African cricketer [[Lungi Ngidi]] called for the national team to show support towards the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/amp/sport/cricket/proteas/makhaya-ntini-recalls-avoiding-riding-on-proteas-team-bus-i-was-running-away-from-loneliness-20200717|title=Makhaya Ntini recalls avoiding riding on Proteas team bus: 'I was forever lonely'|work=[[News24 (website)|Sport24]]|last=Butler|first=Lynn|date=17 July 2020|access-date=17 July 2020}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
In January 2016, Ntini was appointed as the assistant coach of the [[Zimbabwe national cricket team|Zimbabwean national cricket team]] with a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe/content/story/961681.html |title=Zimbabwe rope in Ntini, Atapattu as coaches |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=11 March 2017}}</ref> Following the sacking of the previous coach [[Dav Whatmore]], Ntini was appointed as interim head coach for [[Indian cricket team in Zimbabwe in 2016|the home series against India in 2016]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/16191527/makhaya-ntini-lambasts-zimbabwe-batsmen-approach |title=Ntini lambasts Zimbabwe batsmen's approach |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=11 March 2017}}</ref> He resigned from the role as coach in January 2018,<ref name="resign">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/21991237/makhaya-ntini-zimbabwe-cricket-part-ways |title=Ntini and Zimbabwe Cricket part ways |access-date=7 January 2018 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> although Ntini was reported to have claimed that he was asked to step down by the board on the basis of alleged complaints from the players over his coaching methods.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/21993244/makhaya-ntini-claims-was-asked-step-zimbabwe-cricket|title=Ntini claims he was asked to step down by Zimbabwe Cricket|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2018-01-07}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Makhaya Ntini}}
{{cricinfo|id=46592}}

{{South Africans with 100 or more Test caps}}
{{Bowlers who took 300 wickets in Test cricket}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ntini, Makhaya}}
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Makhaya Ntini - Revision history

Swertvver: wrote the entry added tags