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Ray Jennings
Ray Jennings
Ray Jennings
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Raymond Vernon Jennings (born 9 August 1954) is a former South African cricketer. He was one of South Africa's leading wicket-keepers during the suspension of the South African national team from international cricket during the apartheid era.[1]

Key Information

In October 2004 Jennings was appointed coach of South Africa on a short-term contract, he had previously coached South Africa A.[2] Under Jennings, South Africa played four Test series, losing to India and England before beating Zimbabwe and the West Indies. At the end of the West Indies tour he was replaced by Mickey Arthur.[3]

He coached the Under-19 team in the 2008 World Cup in Malaysia before taking over as coach of the Royal Challengers Bangalore for the second season of the IPL.

Coaching Royal Challengers Bangalore

[edit]

Late in 2008 Jennings took over as head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore, a team in the Indian Premier League owned by the business tycoon Vijay Mallya. He was now heading a unit that experienced a forgettable IPL 2008 after finishing 7th on the log among the 8 competing teams. Jennings brought the team together by making Anil Kumble the captain of the side for the second edition of the IPL that was to start in South Africa. Under Jennings, Royal Challengers Bangalore had success and made it to the finals of the league facing Deccan Chargers in 2009. This was a big turn around for the franchise and the team who had a bad run the previous season. The same year, Royal Challengers Bangalore also qualified for the inaugural Champions League Twenty20. In 2010, the team made it to the semi-finals losing to Mumbai Indians and later finishing 3rd on the table.

Personal life

[edit]

Jennings has a son named Keaton, who has represented Durham, Lancashire County Cricket Club, and the England Test side, scoring 112 on debut against India in Mumbai on 8 December 2016.[4]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ray Jennings

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Raymond Vernon Jennings (born 9 August 1954) is a former South African cricketer and coach, best known as a wicket-keeper batsman whose domestic career spanned the period of South Africa's international isolation due to apartheid-era sports policies. Playing primarily for Transvaal and Northern Transvaal, he established himself as one of the country's most reliable keepers, participating in provincial matches and limited rebel international tours against overseas teams. Jennings transitioned to coaching post-retirement, guiding South Africa's Under-19 side to the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup title in the , where the team defeated in a low-scoring final. He also served as for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the season, emphasizing fitness and discipline in his approach. Earlier, he coached South Africa A and contributed to senior team development before being succeeded by . Known for his outspoken views, Jennings has critiqued aspects of administration and team preparations.

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Raymond Vernon Jennings was born on 9 August 1954 in Vanderbijlpark, Transvaal Province, South Africa. Jennings hails from a cricketing family; his brother, K. E. Jennings, also played the sport at a competitive level in South Africa. He is the father of two sons who pursued professional cricket careers: D. Jennings and K. V. Jennings (known as Keaton Jennings, born 19 June 1992 in Johannesburg), the latter of whom captained South Africa's Under-19 team before qualifying to represent England internationally. The family's involvement in cricket spans generations, with Jennings himself coaching his son Keaton from an early age, fostering a household environment centered on the sport. By Keaton's childhood, the family had relocated to Johannesburg, where Jennings continued his own playing and later coaching pursuits.

Introduction to Cricket

Raymond Vernon Jennings, born on 9 August 1954 in , Transvaal (now Province, ), entered competitive through the domestic structures prevalent in the country during the apartheid era. He made his first-class debut in the 1973–74 season at the age of 19, representing Transvaal in South African provincial , where he began establishing himself as a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper. Jennings' early career coincided with South Africa's international isolation due to political sanctions, limiting opportunities to international exposure but allowing focus on domestic proficiency. In his initial seasons with Transvaal, he demonstrated reliability behind the stumps and as a lower-order contributor, honing skills that would define his role as one of the province's leading wicket-keepers before transitioning to Northern Transvaal later in his playing days. This foundational period in youth and provincial circuits laid the groundwork for a first-class career spanning nearly two decades, during which he played 216 matches and effected 424 dismissals, primarily as keeper.

Playing Career

Domestic Cricket in South Africa

Jennings began his domestic first-class career with Transvaal in the 1975/76 season, representing the province until the 1989/90 season, before transferring to Northern Transvaal for the final three seasons from 1990/91 to 1992/93. During this period, which largely coincided with South Africa's due to apartheid-era sporting boycotts, he established himself as a reliable wicketkeeper-batsman, often described as an ever-present figure for his teams. His keeping skills were particularly noted for agility and effectiveness, contributing to a high dismissal rate in domestic matches. In , Jennings played 159 matches, scoring 4,160 runs with a highest score of 168, while effecting 621 dismissals, including 54 stumpings and 567 catches. He also featured prominently in List A domestic competitions, appearing in 148 matches for the same provinces, where he accumulated 1,152 runs with a top score of 81 and took 205 dismissals (18 stumpings, 187 catches).
FormatMatchesRunsHighest ScoreStumpingsCatchesTotal Dismissals
First-class1594,16016854567621
List A1481,1528118187205
Jennings was recognized as the South African Cricket Annual Cricketer of the Year in , reflecting his standout contributions during that season. His domestic tenure underscored a career hampered by the lack of international exposure, yet marked by consistent provincial performances that positioned him as South Africa's premier wicketkeeper for over a decade.

Participation in Rebel Tours

During South Africa's from 1970 to 1991 due to apartheid policies, Ray Jennings' opportunities for representative were restricted to unofficial series against rebel touring teams organized in defiance of the ICC boycott. As South Africa's primary wicket-keeper, he participated in 14 such matches between 1982 and 1990, facing sides from , , and the . These fixtures, often styled as "Tests" and one-day internationals, provided limited but competitive exposure against overseas players willing to tour for financial incentives despite sanctions. Jennings featured prominently in the inaugural rebel series against an XI in 1981–82, serving as wicket-keeper in the four "Test" matches and limited-overs games. won the four-day series 1–0 and the one-day contests 3–0, with Jennings contributing in the field during key victories, including a standout performance where he scored 32 runs in the second "Test" at . He also played against subsequent English rebels in 1983–84 and 1989–90, as well as Australian and West Indian rebel teams, accumulating experience that honed his glovework and lower-order batting against varied international attacks. These rebel encounters, while and controversial for undermining the anti-apartheid , represented the extent of Jennings' international career, totaling 14 caps without official recognition by the ICC. His reliability behind the stumps in these high-stakes, low-profile series underscored his domestic form for Natal and Transvaal, where he established himself as a top provincial keeper-batsman. By the time reintegrated into in 1992, Jennings, at age 37, had retired from playing, having been denied full opportunities.

Coaching Career

Senior National Team Tenure

Ray Jennings was appointed as interim coach of the South African senior national team on October 15, 2004, succeeding following a series of poor results, with his contract extending until the conclusion of the tour to the in May 2005. Known for his emphasis on fitness and discipline, Jennings immediately implemented a rigorous training regimen, stating that players would face consequences for underperformance. Under Jennings, South Africa competed in four Test series, achieving a record of five wins and three losses. The tenure began with a 1-1 draw against in November–December 2004, where South Africa lost the first Test by eight wickets but responded with a ten-wicket victory in the second. This was followed by a 2-1 home Test series loss to in December 2004–January 2005, despite a win in the third Test. South Africa then secured 2-0 Test victories against in February–March 2005 and the in April–May 2005, the latter part of a comprehensive 2-0 Test and 5-0 ODI sweep during the tour. Jennings' approach fostered improved team resilience, particularly in away conditions, though criticisms emerged regarding interpersonal dynamics and selection influences. His tenure concluded in May 2005 when opted not to renew his contract, appointing as the permanent coach amid rumors of board dissatisfaction despite the positive win-loss ratio. Jennings publicly defended his record, asserting that the results justified his methods.

Under-19 World Cup Campaign

Jennings had served as head coach of the South African Under-19 team since 2005, guiding them through multiple tournaments including a runner-up finish at the 2008 ICC Under-19 World Cup. In the 2014 edition, hosted across the from February 21 to March 2, his side entered as underdogs, with low expectations of advancing beyond the group stage or semifinals. Under captain , South Africa navigated the tournament unbeaten, topping their group with victories over , , and minnows like and . In the semifinals on February 27, they defeated by four wickets after restricting the opposition to 116, showcasing disciplined bowling led by seamers including . The final against on March 1 in saw Jennings deliver a stern pre-match address emphasizing , which galvanized the team; South Africa bowled Pakistan out for 131 in 39.1 overs before chasing the target in 32.1 overs for a six-wicket victory with 47 balls remaining. The campaign highlighted Jennings' emphasis on fitness, preparation, and resilience, drawing from his prior senior team experience, and produced future stars like Markram and Rabada who contributed significantly to the Proteas' senior success. This triumph marked South Africa's first ICC Under-19 World Cup title, ending a history of near-misses in youth events.

IPL with Royal Challengers Bangalore

Ray Jennings was appointed head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on October 22, 2008, ahead of the franchise's second IPL season in 2009, succeeding following a dismal debut campaign with only three wins in 14 matches. His tenure, spanning IPL seasons 2009 to 2013, marked a significant improvement for RCB, which qualified for the in three of those five years and reached the final twice. Jennings emphasized a disciplined, aggressive approach, focusing on player fitness and tactical adaptability, which contributed to the team's highest win percentage under any coach at the time. In IPL 2009, Jennings led RCB to the final after a semifinal victory over Delhi Daredevils, though they lost to by six runs in the title match on May 24 at , . The 2010 season saw RCB advance to the semifinals but exit after defeat to . The pinnacle came in 2011, when the team again reached the final, defeating in the semifinal before falling to by 58 runs on May 28 at MA Chidambaram Stadium. Jennings' strategies highlighted balanced team compositions, including overseas acquisitions like for a record $1.55 million at the 2009 auction, and nurturing domestic talents such as , whom he mentored during Kohli's early IPL captaincy stints. Jennings' coaching philosophy prioritized resilience, as evidenced by his post-match comments stressing recovery from losses as a hallmark of winners. However, the season ended with RCB in fifth place, missing playoffs after eight wins in 16 matches, prompting his replacement by for IPL 2014. No official reasons for his departure were detailed in contemporary reports, though Jennings later reflected positively on the tenure's overall impact on team culture and individual growth, particularly Kohli's development into a prolific batsman.

Post-IPL Coaching Roles

Following his tenure with Royal Challengers Bangalore, which concluded after the season, Ray Jennings returned to coaching South Africa's Under-19 national team. Under his leadership, the team achieved their first ICC Under-19 victory on 9 March 2014, defeating by six wickets in the final at . The triumph marked a significant , with Jennings emphasizing disciplined preparation and mental resilience as key factors in the campaign's success. Despite the win, declined to renew Jennings' contract in April 2014, opting instead for a restructured coaching model that split responsibilities between development (ages 13-19) and high-performance roles. Lawrence Mahatlane was appointed as the new Under-19 head coach, with the decision framed by CSA as advancing broader transformation and equity goals within South African cricket. Jennings expressed devastation at the outcome, having invested nine years in youth development structures prior to the IPL stint. Subsequent high-profile opportunities eluded Jennings, including unsuccessful applications to CSA for senior development positions. By 2017, he shifted focus to level, serving as a cricket professional at Dainfern College in , where he mentored young players on technical skills and personal attributes like commitment and accountability. No further international or franchise roles have been documented since.

Personal Life

Family and Son's Career

Ray Jennings' son, Keaton Jennings (born 19 June 1992), developed a professional cricket career that spanned youth representation for and senior international play for . Raised in , Keaton trained under his father's rigorous coaching from an early age, referring to Ray as "coach" during sessions to maintain discipline and focus. The family relocated to later, enabling Keaton to qualify through residency and ancestry ties. Keaton captained South Africa's Under-19 team during Ray's tenure as their coach, leading the side in events including a 2011 ODI series against . He made his first-class debut for against Free State in December 2011, before moving to Durham in , where he excelled in , averaging 64.5 in the 2016 season as the leading run-scorer. Subsequently, he joined , captaining the side and amassing 42 senior career centuries across formats, including 31 in . Keaton debuted for in the fourth Test against on 16 December 2016 at , scoring 146 in the second and following with 104 in the first, becoming the 19th Englishman to record a century on Test debut. Over 17 Test matches from 2016 to 2019, he scored 781 runs at an average of 25.03. Ray, despite his deep South African loyalties—including 14 caps during rebel tours and national coaching stints—shifted support to for his son's appearances, viewing it as Keaton's independent achievement.

Philosophical Approach to Cricket

Jennings emphasized as a cornerstone of cricketing success, viewing it as essential for players to perform under pressure and adapt to challenging conditions. He argued that internal mental resilience, rather than overt displays, distinguished top performers, stating that South African players were "internally and mentally as tough as any cricketer" despite not matching the ' demonstrative style. This perspective informed his , where he prioritized assessing players' proven mental fortitude alongside technical skills before high-stakes selections. Central to his philosophy was a commitment to fundamentals and rigorous preparation, encapsulated in his belief that "the secret of success is doing very well." Jennings advocated for and resilience in , teaching young players that consistent execution of core skills—such as fielding drills for slip fielders rivaling wicket-keepers' intensity—built unyielding performance. He extended this to mental maturity, particularly in limited-overs formats, urging batsmen to exercise shot selection restraint and bowlers to manage physical demands through adaptive strategies. His approach also stressed sincerity, honesty, and a strong as foundational to team culture. Jennings applied a personal formula of "sincere and honest" effort across business and , fostering commitment through energy derived from happiness while maintaining toughness in enforcement. In building cohesive units, he focused on instilling these values to enhance aggression and adaptability, as seen in his praise for players like whose games were "built on aggression" underpinned by such traits. This holistic view positioned not merely as technical proficiency but as a test of character and sustained preparation.

Legacy and Reception

Key Achievements and Contributions

Ray Jennings achieved significant success as coach of the South African Under-19 team, culminating in victory at the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where his side defeated by six wickets in the final on February 23, 2014, in . This triumph marked South Africa's first win in the tournament and highlighted Jennings' nine-year tenure focused on developing young talent, including future senior players like , whom he positioned as an opener. During his stint as head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the from 2009 to 2011, Jennings engineered a turnaround from the team's dismal inaugural season, guiding them to the 2010 final and consistent playoff appearances in the following years. His strategies emphasized team resilience and player development, contributing to improved performances despite not securing the title. Jennings' brief tenure as senior coach from 2004 to 2005 included leading the team to Test series victories against and the , stabilizing the side amid transitional challenges. His broader contributions to coaching lie in fostering a culture of and tactical innovation, influencing multiple generations of South African players through provincial, A-team, and international roles.

Criticisms and Controversies

In 1999, Jennings was dismissed from his role as Gauteng's coaching manager amid criticisms that his administration failed to sufficiently fast-track "players of colour" into the senior provincial system, reflecting broader pressures on South African for racial transformation following apartheid. During a SuperSport Series Super 8 match in February 2001, Jennings, as coach of Easterns, faced a United Cricket Board disciplinary committee on charges of bringing the game into disrepute after allegedly offering bowler Andre Nel R1,000 to target and injure with short-pitched deliveries following an earlier blow to . Jennings denied the accusation, describing any related remarks as internal jokes among fielders, with Easterns president Cassim Suliman supporting this account in a report; the committee's final outcome was not publicly detailed. As South Africa's national coach in December 2004, Jennings drew backlash for pre-Test comments during the tour of , remarking that the Indian team had carried pillows to the ground ahead of the first match, implying a lack of . Indian players responded by gifting him a pillow inscribed with a message wishing him a restful flight home, signed by the squad, while former player criticized the remarks as a misjudged attempt at that underscored Jennings' limited international experience and backfired amid India's strong performance. Jennings' short-term tenure as South Africa coach, from October 2004 to March 2005, ended amid the team's inconsistent results, including a 1-0 Test series loss to and preparations for challenging tours, with his position reportedly under threat due to performance concerns before he stepped down.

References

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