Absolutely. I honestly think the cricketing people (particularly the older generation for each time once they stopped playing could have been used more than they were). But they were made to feel unwanted. A lot of our young cricketers coming in from the 50s to early 00s were getting professionals from England to be the school coaches and that has stopped now too.
I put up a few stats a few months ago on twitter and which provinces have produced our test hundred makers (and how much) since re-admission and I got contacted by Andrew Breetzke (who represents the SA players at SACA I think) saying what great stats and it is a big point of discussion and that he may use them the next time they have a meeting. It was just simple stats but it also showed how the major cities are producing our main batsman now. Obviously things were even more re-fined in the 50s/60s and before. Only when WP got serious in the 70s with Lamb/P Kirsten they were producing quality batsman. But here is an interesting question. Why were white farming families in Grahamstown, Queenstown and King Williams Town producing batsman? Is that just up-bringing from father-to-son?
Another one is I chat with a guy who used to supply stats for the Knights and then the Dolphins, he chatted with a few people and even now the majority of the black batsman trying to make their way in the game are going to the cricketing traditional schools and the numbers aren't as high as they hoped to be and supposedly CSA really don't know why we still in the position we are in says it all for me.
I think there has always been a family dynasty element in cricket (many sports really). And that has lots to do with having an uncle/father/family sportsperson to pass on technical 'know-how' at a young age, and possibly just simple things like proper equipment and time. And it definitely effects skills and technique of batsmen more than bowlers.
Ultimately you need to catch potentially skilled batsmen at a young age, and help develop them. Firstly, that requires that the kids have the opportunity to play (facilities, equipment etc), and then CSA and the community must actively and consistently scouting those kids play, (not occasionally, not once a year at some bakers cricket setup). Then there is a plan in place to take those kids and find them mentors and get them to play each other, and provide further opportunities to hone those skills.
It is easier to do this in bigger cities because of logistics. Regardless, it will be a hugely expensive and time consuming outlay initially, and this is why I talk about cricketing communities being part of this. Volunteers who set this up at a local level for everyone, and not just their immediate family/community but open it up to include more people from surrounding areas.
As you said, many were made to feel unwelcome by CSA and the new political structures. But that was true both ways in different manners. However we may or may not like admitting it to ourselves, SA is made up of lots of small communities protecting themselves and insulating themselves. Understandable, but looking after their own interests first. But that just results in fewer opportunities for all and less passing on of knowledge openly in places that need it. So the whole solution is multi level. Both changing peoples attitudes and minds on how to approach the problem, but also creating and funding a big lower level infrastructure to look after and nurture the talent. And I just don't see that happening with the current attitude at any level.
It would be absolutely brilliant to have the equivalent of a black G. Pollock, or Lara, an ATG black black batsman come along and provide inspiration to a whole new generation, and get this sort of system started because people want to be part of the hype. I don't see it happening any other way.
