Have you ever thought about the wider impact of cricket outside of the nitty gritty of techniques, tactics and results?

Makhaya Ntini has.

For Ntini, cricket is opportunity on a wider scale. He knows from personal experience. He was plucked from nothing as a boy in a Cape Province village, and went on to play a hundred Tests for South Africa. Recently, I spoke to the fast bowler about his new Academy, and it's clear that this passion continues.

He didn't want to speak about net practice or streetwise tactics, he wanted to say right from the start; sport is a way for society to grow as a whole.

And when you think about the "big picture" for a moment, you realise how important the game is to the world.

Makhaya Ntini Cricket Academy

Makhaya's academy might have cricket in the title - and it's certainly state of the art - but the truth is the goal is about helping young people in rural township areas of South Africa. Of course, cricket is the start of it all. Sessions are run in schools for beginners with the aim of developing a passion for the game. It's how Ntini himself came into cricket, yet the old structure has vanished leaving a void for the youngsters of today, and a decline in cricket in rural areas.

So while better players are identified as talent for the future, the academy goes about building up the next generation of cricket lovers on a much wider scale. Makhaya told me, "it's about taking people away from the streets and giving them the chance to put bread and butter on the table."

Makhaya Ntini Academy is no elite, unobtainable fortress of cricket. Those on the programme are filtered into society in a number of ways. Through scholarships the academy is creating doctors, lawyers and a host of other much needed professions alongside cricketers.

That can only be a good thing. "Though sport," the Proteas' legend revealed "there is so much you can achieve."

From most people's mouths that would sound trite, but coming from a man with his history, you believe every word. It makes the Makhaya Ntini Cricket Academy a unique place.

Cricket as social good

It's not a well covered subject here at PitchVision Academy, but it's important to think about cricket outside the world of cricket occasionally.

Ask someone why they play or coach cricket, and the answer almost always has a social element. Perhaps you pray to become a professional because it means a better life. It may be that you coach youngsters because you know it "keeps them off the streets". Cricket is about a lot more than having fun with friends and meeting the challenges of the game.

The great thing is that you can have fun and the rest falls into place behind you.

Makhaya Ntini's academy brings that to life.

You can find out more about the work done, and how you can help through cricket at the Makhaya Ntini Cricket Academy website.