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Meet Ben Calitz

From Vancouver to Malahide - learn about Ben's life and cricket journey

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23-year old Canadian-born Ben Calitz, a left-handed batter and wicketkeeper, has received his first international call-up after qualifying to play for Ireland.

Speaking from his home in Belfast, Calitz was talking about his life and career to date:

“Both my parents are South African, but my dad got a coaching job in Canada so my parents moved there – my sister and I were born there during that time.

“We lived there for two years, before my parents decided to move back to South Africa. However, in that time my mum got really ill, and for two years it was just in and out the hospital – it was a bit of a rough time. After my mum improved, my parents decided they wanted a ‘restart’ and we moved to Namibia. I spent nine years while mum continued her recovery. We then returned once more to South Africa where I finished school, at which time I was 15.

“Just after that, Canada was in South Africa playing against Namibia in a World Cup qualifier and the Canadian coaches discovered that I held a Canadian passport. When I was about 17, they invited me over for trials and I ended up playing at Under-19s level for Canada.

“The 2020 Under-19s World Cup was, just coincidentally, held in South Africa and, as luck would have it, we were drawn in the same Group as South Africa [Calitz top scored in that match with 62*]. But after this I had a big injury, which put me out for seven months.”

Calitz then spoke about his route to Irish shores:

“My plan was always to do a UK season as an overseas player, but never to stay. I intended to then try six months in Australia, as many young cricketers do.

“But then as soon as I came to Belfast, I really fell in love with the place and really enjoyed it. Holywood Cricket Club was my first club in Ireland, and I was their overseas player. While playing at Holywood and I met Mark Adair and we went for a coffee. At the time I was looking for some extra cricket and had heard about some Emerging Ireland games, but that conversation that day in the coffee shop in Holywood changed my thinking. I learnt about the qualification process to play for Ireland – and in my mind, I was like: I love this place. I love Belfast, why not!

“I was still only 20 at the time, but I walked out of the coffee shop called my dad immediately to tell him I was staying in this country. Once I’d made the decision, I got the ball rolling straight away. So, Mark is the reason I’m here today, and I’m so grateful for that.

“Jonty [Simon Johnston, Northern Knights head coach] then invited me to training – and here we are 3.5 years later. Both Mark and Jonty have been instrumental in my development, they deserve so much acknowledgement for what they’ve done and helped me get here today.”

What was his childhood like?

“I come from a very sporty family – my grandpa and dad were big rugby men. I’ve played cricket since the day I could walk, but I played all sports – I’m an absolute sports fanatic. I played rugby, tennis, cricket, athletics, hockey – everything I could try. Probably the three sports I loved the most were tennis, rugby and cricket. At that time, I was quite a decent tennis player, but it started to take up a lot of time.

“It came to a point where I had to choose between tennis and cricket, and I chose cricket. Obviously, rugby was a was a winter sport, so I continued with that for a while, but eventually I had to make a call and, again, I chose cricket.”

Calitz left Holywood CC and moved to Muckamore CC – eventually making the move to his current club, Lisburn CC.

So, how has his cricket developed over the years?

“Amusingly, for some reason on Cricinfo it says I’m a slow bowler. We should get that changed, because if you ask anybody that knows me, they would highly recommend that I do not bowl.

“I’ve always been a wicketkeeper-batter, although keeping has been off and on over the years. I’ve always enjoyed keeping, and feel it’s an extra string to my bow, but I really grew up as an opening batter. Since I’ve been working here with Jonty, he’s changed me into a middle order batter – and that move has drastically changed my career. This call up would definitely not have happened without Jonty’s guidance – he has been instrumental in the way I think about cricket and life.”

Tell us about the ‘call-up’?

“I found out about my selection on the Friday after the Emerald Challenge. Andrew White had a chat with me and let me know that I had been selected for the upcoming series against England – it was a dream come true. Ever since I can remember, I’ve always had a dream to be a professional cricket player. Now I’m close to being a capped international cricket player. Obviously when I was young I never thought it would be Ireland that I’d represent, given how many countries I’ve lived in, but the way my life has worked out, I’m very blessed and very lucky to have this opportunity. I see Ireland as home and love this country. I really appreciate all the people here that have helped me, and I want to do my best for them.”

This is your first senior call-up, but you had an earlier call-up to an Irish representative side:

“Yes, the first call up for us on the Ireland Wolves tour in April. It was quite an exciting time, but in all honesty, the tour did not go as planned. I played the four-day match, which was my first experience of proper red-ball cricket, then was all set to play in a 50-over game after that. But I woke up with a bit of stomach pain and it ended up being my appendix – so I ended up getting surgery in Abu Dhabi which put me out of cricket for the next two months.

“That delayed my season by quite a bit, but Cricket Ireland coaches and staff were with me the whole time, and so supportive of everything and have been absolutely amazing taking care of me. Mark Rausa, Chris Siddell and the whole coaching staff were always there to support me and all the players – so that tour didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to, but I hope I can make up for that in the future.”

What shirt number have you chosen?

“My shirt number is #72. Normally I’m #3, but as that was taken, I chose 72 for a specific reason. 1972 is the year my mum was born – she is my idol for what she’s been through in life. At one stage she was told she had a 4% chance of living – and she’s still with us today. And she does crazy things like runs marathons. She’s my inspiration – if something goes bad in life, I just look back at what she’s been through and it puts it in perspective.”

Ben Calitz has been named as one of the 14-player squad to face England Men at Malahide next week.

Sunday 21 September has sold out, while Friday 19 September is almost sold out as well. Fans looking to catch the action should get in quick on Wednesday 17 September before it sells out as well.

THE SERIES

The upcoming matches are:

17 September: Ireland Men v England Men – 1^st T20I (Malahide Cricket Ground; start 1.30pm)
19 September: Ireland Men v England Men – 2^nd T20I (Malahide Cricket Ground; start 1.30pm)
21 September: Ireland Men v England Men – 3^rd T20I (Malahide Cricket Ground; start 1.30pm)

Tickets are selling fast – Sunday 21 September is officially sold out. Fans can purchase tickets at: www.cricketireland.ie/tickets

SQUAD – Ireland Men