12 team for junior school players and then broke into Natal B team for under-18 players. He then made a move to Grahamstown to pursue his studies at Kingswood College and opened the bowling alongside Brett Schultz for the Eastern Province schools. He later broke into full South Africa Schools team in 1988. He scored few centuries at high school with the first century coming at the age of 15. His father made a significant influence in his cricketing process and even took him to attend net practice sessions. His father allowed Neil to let him have his own technique and natural way of playing but his technique was fine-tuned as a teenager by Chris Stone who was an English professional coach in South Africa. His talent was later spotted and identified by former dual international Kepler Wessels and Wessels helped Neil to win a bursary to the University of Port Elizabeth. At the University of Port Elizabeth, he pursued his BA degree in the field of Industrial Psychology. He also went onto play for University of Port Elizabeth's first XI and Eastern Province B side. He also made few appearances for full Eastern Province team in Benson and Hedges Night Series Trophy – now Momentum One Day Cup. After the four years at the university, he was awarded a lucrative attractive professional cricket contract with Natal and he agreed without any hesitation. He often acknowledged the patronage under Wessels stating that his assistance helped him to work on his way to top-flight cricket. He considered Natal as his adopted home as he played most of his school and domestic cricket in Natal. He made his first-class debut in the 1989–90 season in the Castle Bowl competition playing for Eastern Province B against Natal B side. He had a breakthrough 1993–94 season for Natal where his all-round performance against Border including a century and five wicket-haul in an innings helped him to secure a place in South Africa A lineup in the tour of Zimbabwe in 1994–95. He was then approached by Denis Streak who served in Zimbabwe Cricket Union who requested and suggested him to consider returning to Zimbabwe with a view to play international cricket for Zimbabwe. He was however, could not commit himself immediately upon his suggestion due to his impending marriage. Returning to Zimbabwe After a year or two of rumours, he became another of Zimbabwe's