Ritu Jha-
A USA Cricket all-rounder discusses how the game has changed for his team
The USA cricket team is on a roll. After winning against Canada and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, it faces India on June 12. On the eve of this USA-India T20 World Cup match, indica spoke to Shadley van Schalkwyk, a right-arm quick bowler and a left-arm batsman of USA’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad.
“It’s been a pleasurable journey so far, especially at the World Cup,” he said. “Every player has enjoyed the success that we’ve had in the little short time.”
Born in Cape Town, Schalkwyk played cricket there for 13 years before moving to the US where he found his way into the USA squad. He played cricket for the Seattle Thunderbolts and the Los Angeles Knight Riders.
“The guys are passionate about creating opportunities for themselves,” he said. “If opportunities come, they’re very excited to grab it with both hands. That is what the USA does for people of all generations, and every expat who comes down. Cricket brings the community, family, and people together, which is the beautiful part. Coming from South Africa and being able to continue playing cricket professionally in the USA is a dream.”
Covid was a game-changer for Schalkwyk.
“I came to the US about four years ago, just before Covid struck,” he said. “USA Cricket
was signing up players for many states, including [Washington]. I settled down in Seattle because it reminded me of Cape Town and there are lots of mountains, lakes, and hiking trails. It is good for outdoor activities. I saw another opportunity for growth for myself here, not only for cricket but in coaching too, which is very important for me and for my family.”
USA’s recent wins have caught the attention of a nation that is yet to fully understand the nuances of the game.
“Our performance surprised a lot of people in different countries because they didn’t know that USA Cricket has grown this much in the last four, or five years,” he said. “Now people are starting to see the talents showcased in USA Cricket. For instance, I am based in Seattle with the Seattle Thunderbolts. Our academy alone has over 200 kids, and that’s one of four or five academies in Seattle, which shows that cricket’s a swiftly growing sport. Many of these academies are full of budding cricketers, which is brilliant for the youth coming through.”
According to Schalkwyk, the game is going to grow exponentially in the US, given the increasing number of children going to cricket academies.
“I wish I had the talent they have, when I was that young,” he said. That would have probably made my pathway a lot easier. In the last two-and-a-half months, the world has started looking at USA Cricket a little bit more because a few things have been put in place – the minor league, the major league, and tournaments that happen in the UA. The Canadian series opened eyes in the US. Then we also won the Bangladesh series. That made the world notice that the US is playing good cricket.”
Recalling the game with Pakistan, Schalkwyk said: “I never say any T20 game in the World Cup is easy. I think everyone was nervous and that fueled us. We know that there’s not a lot of pressure on us because the world thinks the US team shouldn’t be able to beat Pakistan. But we know we have the capability to beat many sides from around the world.
“I think the guys were nervous, but we faced a little bit less pressure because, as the underdogs, we had a big support base. Then we beat Pakistan. The belief in the camp is something amazing. From the build-up of the series we had against Canada and Bangladesh, we decided to keep sticking to our process and that helped us get over the line.”
Asked which team would be the hardest to deal with, he said, “Every game we play is the most important to us, but people from all over the world will be watching our match with India… As long as we can stick to our processes, we can hopefully put on a good show.”
What is his dream in this World Cup?
“We go as far as we can and play consistent, good cricket,” Schalkwyk said. “The US can then know that they’ve got a good side they can get behind. I think that’s the ultimate dream – to help the nation realize that we’ve got a very good cricket side that can compete around the world with the best in the world.”
