Esa Gangat, the Giant Slayer.
From sitting in the car with his mother waiting for his brothers to finish cricket practice to being an SA U-19 player.
South Africa is by no means a known factory of spin bowlers but over the years, I’ve found it interesting that we seem to be producing more and more Slow Left arm spinners. A topic worthy of delving deeper into one day.
I am someone who has a lot of passion for development. I’m always excited to know who and what the next generation of SA cricket has. I remember a few years ago, as I was following the U13 week, I stumbled upon a name. The name of a young slow left arm spinner called Esa Gangat. I have kept tabs on him since that day and today I bring you his story.
17 year old Esa Gangat is the 3rd of 5 children(3 brothers and a sister) and was exposed to the game of cricket from an early age. His love for the game started from sitting in the car with his mother onFridays, waiting for his brothers to finish their cricket sessions where they were attending private coaching sessions. Once he got tired of sitting in the car and waiting, he joined his brothers. You’re probably wondering, “Once he got tired?” Well, the truth is, he never really got tired of sitting in the car but simply became old enough to be able to join his brothers. He then became part of the Friday afternoon cricket sessions. This is something that could be said for all the Gangat brothers. For all 4 of them, it began at the cricket academy in Walmer, Gqeberha. That’s where they learnt cricket for the first time. The cricket would, however, not stop there as the brothers took it to their garage or the backyard at home. They all played some mini cricket here and there but, according to their father, mini cricket games were very few and far between so their sessions at the academy and in their backyard were all the cricket they had.
At the age of 9/10, Esa was already playing corporate league against much older men and this is something that his father credits for his toughness as a cricketer. With not much cricket under his belt except corporate league, some backyard cricket and the private coaching, Esa joined the famous Gelvandale hub. Just a month after joining Gelvandale hub, he was then sent to EP(Eastern Province) U11 trials and was selected for the U11 side. “Having played with men before, Esa just enjoyed being on the field playing with kids his own age. That experience gave him the confidence to just go onto the field and enjoy himself.” His father said. That U11 tournament was to be the making of young Esa as he finished the U11 week as the leading bowler. He wasn’t done just yet, in fact, he’s not done even now. 12 year old Esa then attended U13 trials and I’m sure whoever is reading this can guess by now. Yes, he made the team, dominated the U13 week by picking up 24 wickets and finishing as the leading bowler. This also saw him get the U13 player of the year award for EP.
Gelvandale hub played a massive role in his development as a cricketer and human being. According to Mr Gangat, it was not just important for Esa but his entire family. He explains, “Playing at the Gelvandale Hub was also good in that our entire family were exposed to the challenges the kids at the hub face. This is where you learn to appreciate what you have.” Esa’s journey of dominance continued in March the following year when he made EP’s RPC U16 team. Having missed the first game due to a niggle he had, he came in typical Esa fashion and finished the week with 13 wickets and as the leading wicket taker. A great week with the ball that ended on a low as he missed out and didn’t make the RPC team of week. “I had to make him understand that they probably didn’t select him because of his age.” With no reason being given for his omission, his father had to pick up the pieces and try to make him understand. This disappointment didn’t break him as he turned out for Gelvandale’s 2nd league team a week after that and then Gelvandale’s reserve league team were picked up a 5-fer. You know what they say about dynamites and small packages. Esa was clearly a dynamite.
Choosing a high school is not something that’s particularly easy because there’s always a number of things to factor in. It’s something parents take really seriously because they understand the implications of whatever choice they make. Things were no different for Esa. “Choosing a high school for Esa was a difficult decision and at the end we settled on Pearson High School. We just felt that his personality was more suited to the Pearson environment and that this choice would best serve his academic goals and allow him to play cricket.” His father explains. In his very first year at Pearson high school, Esa proved why his parents got it right. He captained the school’s u14A cricket side. Batting at 4 for the side, he got the opportunity to show his allround skills with an average of 41 to go with his 30 wickets. He scooped all 3 U14 awards.
For me, it was always clear that the direction Esa was going was up and in a year where everything was pretty much a stop start due to covid, Esa still dominated. He unfortunately couldn’t play U15 cricket where he could have gotten a chance to bat more and develop his batting but, he did make his Pearson 1st XI debut and didn’t waste time. On debut against Grey PE, he picked up 5/38 in the 1st innings and led Pearson to victory. In his second 1st XI match, he took 5/9 and 3/16 against Graeme College. These two matches were the only matches that Pearson’s 1st XI could play due to Covid and both were time cricket matches. Same year, Esa made the EP U16 week where he had a decent week. He then got a late call up to EP’s Cubs week side in January 2022 where he made an Esa-esque entrance with 4 wickets in his first game.
The talented left arm spinner has not restricted himself in terms of where he plays cricket. In 2022, he made his premier league debut for Gelvandale in the Mayoral cup. He couldn’t play a lot of matches due to his school’s matches but when he played, he made sure everyone knew he was there. 2 for 13 in his 4 overs against Old Grey in the Mayoral cup and 14 premier league 50 over cricket wickets in 3 matches. He has some serious players to the list of his victims, to name but a few, likes of Kyle Jacobs, Wihan Lubbe and the Spanish international, Daniel Doyle.
2022 was easily one of the toughest years of Esa’s journey in and with cricket. Needing to make changes to his bowling action with not much assistance or monitoring which resulted in him contacting one of his old coaches - EP’s senior women’s coach - Robin du Plessis. Him and Robin worked on his bowling action. He was picked for the U17 TAP camp and that’s where suggestions of a change in bowling action were made and his father explains, “When he returned, however, he found himself alone and trying to unlearn his old habits and implementing the new action. He struggled and could never settle into a rhythm often getting caught between the two.”
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He had his sights on a National week that was fast approaching so he really needed someone to assist and guide him hence he gave Coach Robin a shout. They worked on his action and he was ready for Cubs week. He didn’t do poorly but, he felt by his standards, he hadn’t really done as well as he could. Understandably so, a change in bowling action is like a change in diet. You are never really sure whether you’re getting it right or wrong.
“Cricket has kept our home alive. The brothers mutual love for the sport extends to their support of each other. Each has their own unique qualities and approaches. As a parent you need to be able to identify the differences in your kids and the approach to each will also be different. How I handle Esa and Sulaymaan for example will be totally different. Esa is so naturally talented that I often have to get him into the frame of mind where he gets determined to prove me wrong whilst Sulaymaan on the other hand works so much harder for his results and is hard on himself so with him I need to make him realise that it’s ok when he fails.” - Mr Gangat
Cricket clearly plays a massive role in the Gangat household and I’m sure a lot of parents can learn a thing or two from how Mr Gangat handles his sons. Dare I say, even coaches can a learn a thing or two from his approach.
From a young age, Esa has always been ahead of time. He has played a level ahead more often than not and having even played Cubs week at the age of 15, Esa’s trajectory has really been great to witness. 2023 could be the year he fulfils his dream playing for the U19 side. A dream he has worked really hard for. His resilience, willingness to learn and hard working nature has really paid off for him.
Esa is currently the only player from Eastern Province in the SA U19 side and became the first player from Pearson to make the side.