Smangaliso Nhlebela

Growing up, Nhlebela weighed two very different futures: a life in science or a career in sport. He went with sport, and his entry into the professional game came at the age of 20, when he was handed a first-class debut for KwaZulu-Natal against Northerns at Centurion in the Sunfoil 3-Day Cup.

That first appearance belonged mostly to someone else. His fellow spinner Keshav Maharaj dominated with the ball, taking 8 wickets across the match, while Nhlebela had a quieter role. Even so, the debutant finished on the winning side, as KwaZulu-Natal beat Northerns by 7 wickets on the strength of Maharaj's bowling.

Away from the cricket field, Nhlebela has an interest in baseball and follows the Yankees. He enjoys music, keeps up with other sports, and likes spending relaxed time with his friends. Above all of these, he places his family first.