Southern Districts quick Michael Ninneman a big part of the Crocs’ fast train in Darwin Premier Grade

SOUTHERN Districts cricketer Michael Ninneman was born to bowl fast. Originally from the same small town of Phalaborwa in South Africa that produced the legendary Dale Steyn – one of the Proteas’ most fearsome fast bowlers – Ninneman has walked the same path. And he is enjoying a fine 2020 season with 16 wickets so far – equal third on the leading wicket-takers’ list. Originally from the same small town of Phalaborwa in South Africa that produced the legendary Dale Steyn, one of the Proteas’ most fearsome fast bowlers, Ninneman has walked the same path. The Ninneman-Corey Kelly opening attack is arguably the best in the Darwin Premier Grade competition, complemented by the pair bowling out top-four rivals Palmerston for 64 two weeks ago. Ninneman’s 6-37 and Kelly’s 4-25 were proof, if it was needed, of the potency of the Districts’ attack. “I’ve always enjoyed bowling fast since I was a junior – the main part of the game I really enjoy,’’ the 23-year-old told the NT News. “They’ve been coming out pretty well this season, even if I did not have a massively long pre-season. “But I’ve been doing triathlons and they’ve been keeping me reasonably fit. “It was good to get some reward last week. We’ve had a bit of a shaky start early in the season, but we definitely started to sort things out a bit more. “Getting some more fluency and rhythm in our opening spells has been a goal we’ve been working at.” Ninneman backed up that outstanding performance against the Power with a classy 4-37 from his 10 overs in the Crocodiles’ tense five-run win over PINT at Marrara in Round 9 action on Sunday. Districts are in second spot on the ladder, just one competition point behind Waratah. And Ninneman is now the equal third-highest wicket taker in the competition with 16 scalps to his name. The athletic paceman moved to Darwin aged 12 from South Africa, representing the Territory at junior level before spending three seasons in Canberra with the Comets program. He now works with the Territory’s rising fast bowlers in NT Cricket’s under-23 Academy program, specialising on fast-bowling technique, and player strength and conditioning. The move back home was underlined by him living closer to his partner and her family, with the couple planning to get married at the end of the year. Districts have lost one game in two seasons – the T20 final loss to Waratah on June 8 – and Ninneman said the mood in the club was “incredible’’. “What Districts have done really well is having the same group of young players coming up over the last five or six years,’’ he said. “By sticking with those players the club is starting to see the rewards in terms of a tight-knit unit and knowing each other by playing alongside each other for most of their lives.’’ And being the hunted is no problem for a side used to winning. “We enjoy the competition and the fight,’’ Ninneman said. “Even our batting has had a good few weeks in a row to get us on our way.’’ Ninneman is planning on another move south at the end of the year where his partner and himself will be pursuing their masters degrees.