POTCHEFSTROOM (South Africa), Feb 26: Namibia batsman Jan-Berry Burger hopes that his impressive performances at this World Cup will pave the way for a career in cricket, but only after he completes his education.

The 21-year-old, popularly known as JB, is studying for a qualification in human resource management but, away from the textbooks, he has been one of the shining lights of the tournament among the part-timers with 154 runs in four matches.

“I would definitely like to make a career out of cricket, that is in the forefront of my mind,” the right-hander said on Tuesday.

“If I perform well, then there may be opportunities. You never know, and I have contacts in England through our coach Dougie Brown and Bob Woolmer who could help me.

“That means if I wanted to go there I could but, at the moment, I am going to concentrate on my studies and we will wait and see what happens from there,” he added.

JB would certainly find an appreciative audience if he played in England as it was against Nasser Hussain’s side that he produced an inspired 85 that, for a while, gave Namibia hope of causing the biggest shock of the World Cup.

That innings in Port Elizabeth, against the likes of Andy Caddick, Andrew Flintoff, Craig White and the fast-emerging James Anderson, confirmed what he had shown in Namibia’s opening match against Zimbabwe, that he is no respecter of reputations.

In Harare, in Namibia’s first ever World Cup game, he announced himself to a startled Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak by lofting him over extra-cover for six.

“I don’t plan to bat like that,” he said. “It just comes naturally.

“I am a bit surprised at how well I have done but my main aim always is to go in positively and play the ball, not the man who is bowling it.

“I try not to hang back as I believe that, if someone bowls you a bad ball, you should hit it, no matter who the bowler is.”

Burger’s presence at the World Cup is all the more remarkable because he never expected to be playing the game after the age of 16.

Brought up in Pretoria, the 16-year-old JB moved with his father to Namibia, where he thought his cricketing dreams would die as he believed the game was not played in the south-west African country.

But, discovering that the opposite was true, he worked his way into the Namibia side that took part against provincial teams in South Africa’s domestic Bowl competition.

Burger impressed sufficiently to gain a place at the Free State cricket academy in 2000, before returning to Namibia to ensure he qualified to represent the country at the World Cup.

“These matches have been the highlight of my life, with England the biggest highlight of all,” he said.

“That innings against them is my foremost memory of the tournament so far but, facing Wasim Akram, who is probably the best bowler of all time, was also brilliant.”

Next in line for the flashing blade of Burger are world champions Australia on Thursday, when his attitude will remain as positive as ever.

“I’m very excited and it is a dream come true to play against them,” he said. “I have only ever seen them on television and I have never seen them play live.

“Watching them over the last couple of years I hope I know what to expect. We will try our best and all I will focus on is batting as long as I can and trying not to concentrate on who is bowling at me.

“I don’t plan to change anything in the way I have been batting, as it has worked for me in the World Cup so far.”—Reuters