Lonwabo Lopsy Tsotsobe, born on 7 March 1984 in Port Elizabeth is considered to be one amongst the next generation of quickies in the South African pace battery along with Wayne Parnell and Morne Morkel. This tall left hander with a nippy action can be a skiddy customer, who can deceive the batsman with his pace and late movement.

He made an immediate impact in his 1st season of domestic cricket in 2004-05, picking up 16 wickets at a mean average of 17.75. His next season in domestic cricket with the Warriors brought out his true qualities and was his coming of age as a bowle. He picked up 49 wickets, studded with 3 fifers and one 10-wicket haul.

His run of consistency earned him a call up to the national squad for the tour to Australia in Dec 2008, where he was named in the T20 and the ODI squads. His figures of 4/50 on debut against Australia were good enough to earn him a central contract.

The selectors preferred him over the more experienced Makhaya Ntini for the February '10 Test series against India, and keeping someone like Ntini out speaks volumes about his abilities.

Shaun Pollock, who retired in early 2008, has been playing the role of a mentor to Tsotsobe. Pollock should be credited for converting this raw talent into a finished product and a cricketer who will definitely play a huge role in the country's cricketing fortunes, as they brace themselves for the bigger battles that lie ahead.

by Shashank K