The Fasken Time Cricket Festival is set to return to St David’s Marist Inanda this September, convening top school cricket programs from across South Africa for a special pre-season event aimed at preparing young cricketers for the competitive demands of the sport.
From September 3-6, in what will be the 2026 edition of the festival, attendees can expect an immersive experience focused on the rigors of longer-format cricket. This event helps players improve their tactical understanding, resilience, and leadership skills as they gear up for the upcoming season.
Initiated in 2017, the Time Cricket Festival has evolved into a key event on the school cricket calendar. Despite interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, it has regained momentum and will host its ninth edition in 2026. The festival’s goal is to offer players insights into the intricacies of playing the longer format of cricket.
Distinct from conventional limited-overs cricket, this festival prompts athletes to engage in strategic thinking, effectively manage their time and resources, and recognize that victory may not come instantly. Players are encouraged to embrace calculated risks, learn from failures, and develop the discipline and focus needed in longer matches.
Additionally, the festival focuses on cultivating leadership skills among young players, granting them increased responsibilities while allowing more time for batsmen and bowlers to hone their craft.
“Time cricket teaches lessons that cannot always be learnt in a shorter format of the game,” says Dave Nosworthy, Festival Director and Director of Cricket at St David’s Marist Inanda. “It is about strategy, tactics, patience and resilience, but also about understanding how to compete. We want the players to play hard, to test themselves and to be prepared to lose in order to learn how to win. Ultimately, however, everything must be played in the right spirit, with respect for the opposition and the game.”
In 2026, the festival will feature 12 teams, including:
- St David’s Marist Inanda
- St Stithians College
- St Andrew’s School
- King Edward VII School
- Clifton School
- Middelburg Hoërskool
- St Charles College
- Waterkloof Hoërskool
- Jeppe High School for Boys
- St John’s College
- Noordheuwel Hoërskool
- Lions Cricket Invitational XI
The event will involve around 156 players, 28 coaches and managers, 12 umpires, and six scorers, with the SuperSport Schools team providing live streaming coverage.
A different kind of cricket festival
The structure of the Time Cricket Festival is intentionally designed to challenge traditional views of school cricket. Matches take place over two days, allowing teams to incorporate 13 players, though only 11 can bat each inning. This format provides opportunities for teams to rotate fielders, assisting in managing player workloads while giving coaches a chance to develop players in various roles. A minimum of 110 overs must be bowled each day, which enhances the focus on fitness, concentration, and bowling accuracy.
The festival mandates compulsory declarations, new-ball opportunities, and a follow-on threshold, prompting teams to make thoughtful decisions about when to pursue aggressive plays or adopt a defensive stance. Matches that conclude early feature provisions for additional “time games” or target-based scenarios, ensuring players continue to gain crucial match experience during the pre-season.
This approach exemplifies the festival’s overarching philosophy to keep players engaged, thinking critically, and acquiring new skills.
Access the Fasken Time Cricket Festival app
The festival can be easily followed by spectators, players, coaches, and supporters via the Fasken Time Cricket Festival app, which contains relevant information, updates, and match details.
The app can be downloaded from:
When prompted, use the access code: Cricket
Complete festival fixtures are also available here.
Awards will be presented for outstanding performances with three honors: Batsman of the Festival, Bowler of the Festival, and Player of the Festival. These awards will be determined by Brad Ireland, Deputy Head: Extra Curricular at St David’s, alongside Theo Garrun, Festival Media Specialist and Reporter, considering input from participating teams as needed. For St David’s Marist Inanda, the event extends beyond a mere pre-season competition; it is a chance to immerse young players in an environment where decision-making, leadership, and resilience hold equal importance to technical prowess.
