By Nick Creely
Buckley Ridges captain-coach David White harbours no regrets about his eight years as a first class cricketer.
The 27-year-old South African compiled a fine career, made centuries both in his native country and abroad, and gave everything in his pursuit of making it at the very highest level.
But, in February of this year, White hung up the whites after almost decade of toiling for Eastern Province/Warriors in the South African franchise system, in a decision he describes as a “transition” from the intense nature of life as a professional career into the life of business and studying.
“For me personally, it (his career) was very up and down, there was a lot of frustrating times, and I look back at it grateful, but very bittersweet,” he said.
“There were times where I showed the ability to perform well at franchise level and showed I had the capability to potentially play international cricket, but I wasn’t consistent enough.
“I sort of got to a point where I realised that I needed another career – I’ve got no regrets, I gave absolutely everything I had for a long period of time.”
White is now moving forward in the next phase of his life, focusing on his studies, all with the aim of entering the business world, and potentially travelling and living around the globe.
“I graduated (from university) last year, and all of this year, I’ve done an honours degree, through correspondence with University of South Africa. I started the degree at the beginning of the year, and I’ve got three sit down exams in February, so I’m hoping to pass those and get that under the belt,” he said.
“My degree is in business, in strategic management – I met some good people in the UK, and we chatted about life after cricket, and there were a few guys that have done well business wise, and we spoke about that.
“It looks like one of those could help me with an opportunity in J’oburg, so it looks like that’ll be my first move – I’ll get into the corporate life, get into the suit, and finally work for a change.
His latest journey is in Australia, with White coming to the country to play some club cricket for the first time, and it happens that Buckley Ridges – arguably the most powerful club in the Dandenong District Cricket Association – have signed him on as captain-coach as he focuses on his studies.
“It’s my second time here, but my first time playing an extended period of cricket – I did a tour in 2014 with South Africa A, and that was in Townsville for three to four weeks, but I haven’t played club cricket here before,” he said.
“The guys (at Buckley Ridges) have been good to me so far, no complaints – the guys did well last year, and have continued that this year, it’s a good cricket team, and obviously with the rules allowing certain points we’ve got a few overseas players that are really experienced.
“When I was in the UK, at Ashtead in Surrey, we had quite a young side, and here, I’m finding the average age is older and most of the guys know the game pretty well. And that definitely shows on the field.
“It’s not only the overseas guys, we’ve got a really good group of handy local cricketers, like DJ Watson, who has done the business in the DDCA for a really long time, and other players that are locals.”
