Revision as of 06:24, 12 June 2024 by Munnawar888(talk | contribs)(Include new information about his participation in an international tournament. The added line states that in May 2024, he was named as a reserve player in South Africa’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament. A citation was provided to support this information, enhancing the accuracy and credibility of the update.)
Lungisani True-man Ngidi (born 29 March 1996) is a South African professional cricketer who plays for the South Africa national cricket team.[2] In the 2018 South African Cricket Annual Awards, he was named as one of the five Cricketers of the Year.[3][4] In July 2020, Ngidi was named both ODI and T20I cricketer of the year at Cricket South Africa's annual awards ceremony.[5]
Ngidi was raised in Kloof, Durban and received a scholarship to attend Highbury Preparatory School. While growing up, Ngidi's mother was a domestic worker and his father was a maintenance worker at a local school. Ngidi received a scholarship to attend Hilton College School. During his first three years at Hilton, Ngidi represented Hilton at rugby before he stopped to focus on cricket. While at Hilton, Ngidi was coached by the former Zimbabwe all-rounder Neil Johnson.[6][7]
After graduating from Hilton, Ngidi enrolled in a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in Industrial Sociology at the University of Pretoria.[8]
In September 2019, Ngidi was named in the squad for the Tshwane Spartans team for the 2019 Mzansi Super League tournament.[17] In April 2021, he was named in Northerns' squad, ahead of the 2021–22 cricket season in South Africa.[18]
In January 2017 Ngidi was included in South Africa's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for their series against Sri Lanka.[21] He made his T20I debut for South Africa against Sri Lanka on 20 January 2017[22] and was awarded man of the match.[23] During the T20I series, Ngidi was named in South Africa's squad for their One Day International (ODI) matches against Sri Lanka.[24] However, he was ruled out of the ODI series because of an abdominal injury.[25]
In January 2018, Ngidi was added to South Africa's Test squad ahead of the second Test against India.[26] He made his Test debut for South Africa against India on 13 January 2018. He returned figures of 7/87 in the match, including 6/39 in the second innings, as South Africa won by 135 runs.[27] Later the same month, he was named in South Africa's One Day International (ODI) squad for their series against India.[28] He made his ODI debut against India on 7 February 2018.[29]
In July 2020, Ngidi called on the national team to have a discussion about the Black Lives Matter movement in South African cricket, and for the team to support the movement. He also addressed institutionalised racism in cricket. Ngidi said he would not mind taking the lead in the team's efforts, and stated, among other things: "We're all together again in person. We obviously have spoken about it and everyone's aware of what's been going on. But it's also currently a difficult (issue) because we're not together. I think it's something that's hard to discuss when we're all still separated, but once we get back to play, we'll address it".[38] His comments garnered opposing views and criticism from former Proteas Rudi Steyn, Pat Symcox and Boeta Dippenaar. At least 30 former Proteas, all players of colour, along five coaches, released a collective statement, showing support for Ngidi and the BLM movement, while urging Cricket South Africa to "be unequivocal about its position and to make sure the problem is confronted".[39]
Andile Phehlukwayo and Lizaad Williams were not initially in the squad, but were named as replacements for Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala in the final squad.