Aya Gqamane

Aya Gqamane is a high class seam bowling all-rounder from South Africa’s Eastern Cape. At first glance, fast bowler doesn’t immediately spring to mind, with his compact stature, however, many of his 240 plus First Class/List A/T20 victims have been guilty of such thoughts. With a classical bowling action, Aya generates good pace, upwards of 80mph, through his fluid bowling action and takes the ball away from the right hander with a sneaky & skiddy inswinger that has caught many on the crease. Suspicions about this young man’s ability were confirmed in just his second First class game, collecting match figures of 12/32 (4/7 & 8/25 including a hat-trick), all 12 victims were bowled or LBW.

His first Franchise appearance for the Warriors also yielded exceptional numbers, 11/70 (4/46 & 7/24) in a man of the match performance against the Highveld Lions. He followed this up a fortnight later with a further MOTM against the Titans in just his third game, this time leading with the bat, having scored 86 (89) batting at No. 10 to give the Warriors a 191-run lead. With the Titans at 4-162, Aya returned for his 2nd spell, striking with his first ball and going on to take 6-15 in just a 4.2 over burst, leaving the Warriors a paltry 14 runs to win.

Aya has only two previous trips to the UK, firstly in 2010 consisting of mixed fortunes but did include an innings of 222* (leaving yours truly with a big case of pad rash as a score of 1-365 was accrued) and secondly, an excellent 2016 with Wood Lane CC in the ECB North Staffs and South Cheshire Div 1. Aya is seeking a return to the UK in 2021 and will be a fine signing for any UK club seeking to secure a quality seam bowling all-rounder.