Natural sporting talent combined with humility is always refreshing to find, and brothers Michael and Ben Levitt, from Bergvliet, are models of success and good old-fashioned down-to-earth young men.
Elder brother Michael, a top-order batsman, has been chosen to represent Western Province under-19 at the upcoming Khaya Majola Cricket Week, while younger brother Ben will don the Western Province under-16 cap at their upcoming inter-provincial tournament.
Ben has the added arrow of being a leg-spinner in his quiver.
Shy in terms of boasting about their ability and achievements, these all-rounders of life are popular assets to their school, SACS Boys’ High in Newlands. Natural leaders, both were prefects at SACS Junior, while Ben was head boy.
Michael has represented SACS First XI since Grade 9, and has over 100 caps in all formats for the team. He has represented Western Province since under-11, player of the year at under-13 and under-15, as well as batsman of the year in the latter age-group. He will captain their under-18 team at the Khaya Majola Cricket Week this December.
Ben broke into the powerful SACS First XV while in Grade 10 and has represented Western Province since under-13. He has a few years in hand and promises to forge his own list of special achievements on the pitch.
Until the onset of Covid-19, the siblings also participated in other sports. Ben is a centre, Michael an eigthman, while both are handy golfers.
Their talent and demeanour is definitely inherited. Mom, Raine played netball and hockey at high school, and dad Harold, was a more than useful hooker, cricketer and water polo player, before picking up the golf clubs.