Kevin McKenzie Shaped Players Beyond Cricket

Why this is here: Ali Bacher spent a couple of hours throwing balls to Kevin McKenzie on a Sunday rest day, personally working to improve the young player’s hook shot before a match against Mike Procter.

Kevin McKenzie, a former Transvaal cricketer, left a lasting impact on those who knew him in South Africa. Ali Bacher, a teammate from their time at KES, remembers McKenzie’s dedication to his players, spending hours personally coaching a young McKenzie to improve his hook shot. Bacher also recalled acting as McKenzie’s doctor one winter, diagnosing him with encephalitis after a lengthy conversation about cricket.

McKenzie’s influence extended beyond the cricket pitch. Writer Kevin McCallum describes a chance meeting at Giles in Craighall Park where McKenzie offered sincere encouragement, bolstering McCallum’s confidence. He shared a column of McCallum’s with friends, praising its quality.

A celebration of McKenzie’s life will be held at the Country Club in Woodmead, promising many stories of a man who connected with people deeply. There is no formal biography of McKenzie, but his legacy persists through the memories of those he touched, and the lessons he imparted.