South African Domestic Season 2016/17

[SeamUp]

More cricket for the SA domestic season. This time the big T20 league for 8 teams.

Cricket South Africa has put out a tender inviting bids for eight T20 teams that will make up its new tournament to be played in the last quarter of 2017.

The competition will be similar to other major T20 tournaments around the world such as the IPL, BBL and CPL, and will be South Africa's flagship event in the format. It will be a completely separate event from the current six-team franchise system.

CSA is seeking foreign ownership of the teams and advertisements were placed in several international newspapers, including the front pages of some Indian dailies. It is understood CSA has already received interest from several sponsors and will have the funds to lure big name internationals to compete.

Tentatively, the tournament is set for November-December with a final pencilled in for December 16, a public holiday in South Africa. The dates of the inaugural event may depend on the availability of India for a four-Test, five-ODI and three-T20 tour of South Africa scheduled for the 2017-18 summer. The schedule has not been decided but CSA is hopeful of securing India for the festive season.

That will mean South African cricket fans will enjoy their busiest summer yet, with ten home Tests and a flagship T20 tournament.

"Our vision is to drive the creation of a new #T20 destination league in South Africa that would energise the sport of cricket in South Africa by creating a global platform for the best-in-class to perform and showcase their talent to a global audience," Chris Nenzani, CSA president said.

Nenzani and CEO Haroon Lorgat informed other member countries of their plans for the tournament at the ICC meetings in Dubai this week and early indications are positive that there will be global support for the event.

"We have received a very favourable response to our plans from the ICC and member boards and look to their support in our endeavour," Nenzani said. "We now look forward to another exciting chapter in the evolution of South African cricket and to the whole game benefitting from our new #T20 Global League."

 

[StephenZA]

More cricket for the SA domestic season. This time the big T20 league for 8 teams.

My negativity but feel this is going to fail big time,... already saturated by bigger cricket associations (BBl,IPL,CPL) and England trying to create city franchise system. Does anybody even watch the CPL? and I didn`t bother with the BBL recently. Honestly what does SA have to offer? Its trying to get scraps off the table 2 years to late.

 

[SeamUp]

After watching more of these Varsity Cup Games, I am more convinced that there is loads of talent around in this country.



Ryan RICKELTON (21) - Former SA u19 opening batsman. Currently playing for Gauteng. But no invite to SA National Academy ? UJ
Janneman MALAN (21) - Former SA u19 opening batsman. Currently playing for North West. SA National Academy 2017. Pukke
Tony DE ZORZI (20) - Former SA u19 captain. Currently playing for Northerns after schooling at KES (Lions country). SA National Academy 2017. Tuks
Zubayr HAMZA (22) - Contracted to Cobras but playing for WP after getting taste of franchise cricket early in the season. SA National Academy 2016. UWC
Marques ACKERMAN (21) - Former SA u19 batsman. Chosen to play Sri Lanka in Inv XI. Another St Stithians* pupil from the new cricketing factory. SA National Academy 2016. Pukke

Wihan LUBBE (25) - Contracted to the Lions but mainly plays for North West. LHB and bowls tidy off-spin. SA National Academy 2017. Pukke
Thomas KABER (25) - Former SA u19 chinaman bowler who now bats in the top 6 and still bowls chinamans for Northerns. SA National Academy 2017. Tuks
Stefan KLOPPER (21) - Former SA u19. Big and burly. Hits the ball beautifully inside out and bowls good left-arm spin. Made the move from Titans/Northerns country to UJ/Gauteng/Lions.

Dyllan MATTHEWS (20) - Exciting leg-spinner. Looks a treat going down the line with a bit of maturity, confidence and games. leg-spinner and googly nicely disguised. Pukke/North West

Migael PRETORIUS (22) - Tall. Strong. Gets effortless pace. Playing for Northerns. SA National Academy 2017. Tuks
Brandon GLOVER (20) - Former SA U19. Tall. More elastic.Can be round arm on the occasion. Gets in-swing at good pace. Made the move down to the Cape for Uni.Debuted for Boland early in season and got injured. SA National Academy ? Maties
Lizaad WILLIAMS (24) - Contracted to the Cobras & played for them only last week and former SA u19. Skiddy. UWC
Craig KIRSTEN (23) - Former SA U19. Contracted by Dolphins out of school but injuries derailed career. Made the move to Tuks Uni & on the come back. Tall and gets good seam movement. Good slower ball. Tuks


A couple of players just out of school but not in SA u19 team.

Jiveshan Pillay (LH Opening batsman who has made the move from Maritzburg College to Tuks so a similar move to Ngidi in that down the line he could represent the Titans and not Dolphins.
Justin Watson ( Going to UJ so maybe Gauteng then Lions down the line. Hits the ball far. Hits the wicket hard and it's on to the batsman quicker than they think)

* Just on St Stithians factory above

Kagsio Rabada + large proportion of guys mentioned above in Rickelton, Ackerman, Glover, Watson + Mulder/Makwetu currently with the SA u19s. This is all in recent years.

 

[SeamUp]

My negativity but feel this is going to fail big time,... already saturated by bigger cricket associations (BBl,IPL,CPL) and England trying to create city franchise system. Does anybody even watch the CPL? and I didn`t bother with the BBL recently. Honestly what does SA have to offer? Its trying to get scraps off the table 2 years to late.

Agree totally.

I haven't watched IPL in years. I love cricket but too much makes you lose interest. I just don't get excited about teams coming out to bat 20 overs and expecting to score 200.

So now we going to have 4 domestic tournaments plus the Africa T20 Cup which they trying to give players below franchise the opportunity to push for higher honours and it is on tv etc

 

[SeamUp]

Klaasen also in the runs, 82* at the moment.

We're looking pretty good with our keeper production line - Mosehle, Second, and Klaasen.

Of course, unless QDK gets abducted by aliens or his head falls off, no keeper will get a look-in for the national side for the next ten years.

Nearing a double hundred. All very impressive. Quite tall for a keeper though. Another graduate of Tuks.

 

[SeamUp]

Looks like the Cobras prepared a tired wicket for spinners and seamers so they gave a debut to 22 year-old Kyle Simmonds (reminds me of Tim Shaw) and he has started his franchise career quite nicely with runs and wickets. Wonder why he jumped George Linde ?

Stiaan van Zyl then came and stroked a hundred no doubt on his Home ground ! He knows what that Paarl pitch is about.

 

[SeamUp]

Can't believe no one has said anything but little Temba has got a couple of sticks.

 

[StephenZA]

Can't believe no one has said anything but little Temba has got a couple of sticks.

... and now has scored a solid fifty. Great allrounder

 

[TT Boy]

What’s more disconcerting is the wickets Henry Davids is taking and that he is taking the new ball again. Have to question the quality.
Saw de Bruyn fell to spin twice in the Knights defeat against the Cobras. Would be a concern as he couldn’t buy a run when the A side toured India back in 2015, and he seems to get out to spin far too often.

 

[SeamUp]

What’s more disconcerting is the wickets Henry Davids is taking and that he is taking the new ball again. Have to question the quality.
Saw de Bruyn fell to spin twice in the Knights defeat against the Cobras. Would be a concern as he couldn’t buy a run when the A side toured India back in 2015, and he seems to get out to spin far too often.

It is Pietermaritzburg so that pitch will be as dry and dead as anything. Paarl would have been the same with 10 wickets picked up by spinners in the 4th innings on the 3rd day. Watching the Varsity week and the Potch wickets were turning square as well. The out grounds at this time of the season can be a concern. Look at that T20 wicket prepared by the Wanderers even at a main ground. There is still the whole 50-over comp left which isn't ideal.

Looks like Theunis does have a bit of work to do on that front. His double v Eng 'A' , 50's in T20 and 50-over game v England main, runs in 'A' series v Australia/India in Aus have been high points but that 'A' series in India certainly wasn't for him.

Elgar, Hendricks, van Zyl Rossouw went on a number of sub-continent tours with the 'A' team and all got better and better. Lots of time was taken for them to be better prepared for spin at international level. We've now last two of them and Hendricks hasn't scored a run in two years in 4-day cricket.

 

[SeamUp]

Looks like Keshav Maharaj has injured himself. Didn't finish his 21st over in the 2nd innings of the game and was absent hurt for batting in the 3rd innings. Hopefully no too serious.

 

[StephenZA]

Looks like Keshav Maharaj has injured himself. Didn't finish his 21st over in the 2nd innings of the game and was absent hurt for batting in the 3rd innings. Hopefully no too serious.

Hopefully not serious... do note that Piedt took 8 wickets in the FC match. Hopefully he is coming back into form. Good for the depth.

 

[Rasimione]

After watching more of these Varsity Cup Games, I am more convinced that there is loads of talent around in this country.



Ryan RICKELTON (21) - Former SA u19 opening batsman. Currently playing for Gauteng. But no invite to SA National Academy ? UJ
Janneman MALAN (21) - Former SA u19 opening batsman. Currently playing for North West. SA National Academy 2017. Pukke
Tony DE ZORZI (20) - Former SA u19 captain. Currently playing for Northerns after schooling at KES (Lions country). SA National Academy 2017. Tuks
Zubayr HAMZA (22) - Contracted to Cobras but playing for WP after getting taste of franchise cricket early in the season. SA National Academy 2016. UWC
Marques ACKERMAN (21) - Former SA u19 batsman. Chosen to play Sri Lanka in Inv XI. Another St Stithians* pupil from the new cricketing factory. SA National Academy 2016. Pukke

Wihan LUBBE (25) - Contracted to the Lions but mainly plays for North West. LHB and bowls tidy off-spin. SA National Academy 2017. Pukke
Thomas KABER (25) - Former SA u19 chinaman bowler who now bats in the top 6 and still bowls chinamans for Northerns. SA National Academy 2017. Tuks
Stefan KLOPPER (21) - Former SA u19. Big and burly. Hits the ball beautifully inside out and bowls good left-arm spin. Made the move from Titans/Northerns country to UJ/Gauteng/Lions.

Dyllan MATTHEWS (20) - Exciting leg-spinner. Looks a treat going down the line with a bit of maturity, confidence and games. leg-spinner and googly nicely disguised. Pukke/North West

Migael PRETORIUS (22) - Tall. Strong. Gets effortless pace. Playing for Northerns. SA National Academy 2017. Tuks
Brandon GLOVER (20) - Former SA U19. Tall. More elastic.Can be round arm on the occasion. Gets in-swing at good pace. Made the move down to the Cape for Uni.Debuted for Boland early in season and got injured. SA National Academy ? Maties
Lizaad WILLIAMS (24) - Contracted to the Cobras & played for them only last week and former SA u19. Skiddy. UWC
Craig KIRSTEN (23) - Former SA U19. Contracted by Dolphins out of school but injuries derailed career. Made the move to Tuks Uni & on the come back. Tall and gets good seam movement. Good slower ball. Tuks


A couple of players just out of school but not in SA u19 team.

Jiveshan Pillay (LH Opening batsman who has made the move from Maritzburg College to Tuks so a similar move to Ngidi in that down the line he could represent the Titans and not Dolphins.
Justin Watson ( Going to UJ so maybe Gauteng then Lions down the line. Hits the ball far. Hits the wicket hard and it's on to the batsman quicker than they think)

* Just on St Stithians factory above

Kagsio Rabada + large proportion of guys mentioned above in Rickelton, Ackerman, Glover, Watson + Mulder/Makwetu currently with the SA u19s. This is all in recent years.

I really liked what i saw with Migael Pretorius. Tall, fast and looks competitive.

 

[Marius]

In the Dolphins-Titans game Cricinfo says Grant Mokoena was stumped and bowled by Subrayen. Anyone know what happened?

 

[SeamUp]

Looks like Keshav Maharaj has injured himself. Didn't finish his 21st over in the 2nd innings of the game and was absent hurt for batting in the 3rd innings. Hopefully no too serious.

Hopefully not serious... do note that Piedt took 8 wickets in the FC match. Hopefully he is coming back into form. Good for the depth.

Grade 1 tear of the groin.

 

[StephenZA]

Grade 1 tear of the groin.

Not good... but has a month to recover, think that is enough time for that grade?

 

[SeamUp]

SUNFOIL SERIES

ONE GAME LEFT STARTING ON THURSDAY

Titans V Warriors @ Benoni
Dolphins v Cobras @ Durban
Lions v Knights @ Joburg

Titans 94.62
Knights 92.24
Cobras 85.74
Dolphins 84.67
Lions 83.34
Warriors 78.66

Leading run-scorers

Cobras : Ontong 531, van Zyl 500
Warriors : Ackermann 728 , Moore 509
Dolphins : van Jaarsveld 797, Zondo 723
Knights : de Bruyn 679 , Second 639
Lions : D.Hendricks 547 , Pretorius 524
Titans : Klaasen 621 , Markram 541


LEADING WICKET-TAKERS

Cobras : Piedt 28 , Paterson 23
Warriors : Walters 28 , Harmer 28
Dolphins : Frylinck 26 , Maharaj 21
Knights : Olivier 46 , de Lange 28
Lions : Viljoen 25 , Mulder 23
Titans : Siboto 30 , von Berg 22

 

[SeamUp]

Not good... but has a month to recover, think that is enough time for that grade?

If all goes well then a month max. Don't think the tests start before then ?

 

[SeamUp]

Commitment, character key to win

The Buildnat Cape Cobras achieved abundantly more than merely dismantling the table-topping Sunfoil Series team, the VKB Knights, within three days in the penultimate match of the four-day showpiece to underline their steely character after a mediocre start with the bat.

“The win by 151 runs really did not reveal the commitment shown by every player on and off the field,” said a proud Ashwell Prince, coach of the Buildnat Cape Cobras.

“We have now won three out of four matches (the elements played a role in denying the Cobras a win in the fourth match). You cannot ask for more from the players.

“To me it was amazing to see how every player put his body on the line in the field. The senior players like Andrew Puttick and Justin Ontong dived to save runs as they fought superbly,” said Prince in praising the comprehensive home win at Boland Park in Paarl.

The Cobras, on 85.74 points, still have a more than academic chance of winning the competition, as the Multiply Titans, on 94.62 at the summit, are not out of their reach.

The coach hailed the performance by the two spinners, Dane Piedt, who captured a match-winning 6-87 in the second innings, and Kyle Simmonds, who finished with a match haul of 7-98 on franchise debut and contributed an invaluable 28 in a partnership of 58 for the eighth-wicket with Dane Vilas.

“The performance by Vilas was a very good one, and the way the lower order rallied to get us past 300 was important, as the VKB Knights knew when we had past 300 that it could be difficult on a turning pitch to win it,” Prince said.

Vilas scored 62, while Stiaan van Zyl contributed a 20th first-class ton. “Stiaan is just a class act. I saw in Oudtshoorn when we had to chase down a total in about 40 overs that he has the ability to play very attackingly.

“Sometimes he holds himself back a bit, but he is simply a class act. It is a bit of a pity that a player of such ilk is lost to South Africa and that more could not have been done to keep him available for South Africa.

“Just remember that he played most of his test cricket out of position as an opener and in India he was part of a batting line-up where nobody really blossomed with the bat,” he added.

Prince said Simmonds was very consistent and turned the ball appreciably. That is why most of his victims were scooped up by the wicketkeeper or the slip.

Piedt, he said, has at least 10 years of first-class cricket left in him and will definitely play for South Africa again. He bowled a classic attacking offspinner’s line. He bowled outside the off stump and let the ball turn.

Piedt did not use his variations like the doosra or the Carrom ball at all, but kept it simple.

Yet his greatest trait is that he was attacking, instead of bowling wicket to wicket and keeping the economy rate down.

“I cannot fail to mention the name of Dane Paterson. On the second morning we had to take four wickets and he bowled an attacking and aggressive spell to dislodge the VKB Knights for 153 (a first innings deficit of a solitary run).

“You cannot underestimate his important spell in the bigger scheme of things,” he added.

Prince said he wants the Buildnat Cape Cobras to play an attacking brand of cricket when they step onto the field and they don’t want them to surrender or capitulate.

“If we are beaten, it should be because we played great, but we were just surpassed by a team playing even greater than us. Then we can just salute them for their superior performance.

“But this is what we have done the past few weeks. We have played to a great standard and level,” he said.

 

[SeamUp]

Leading Sunfoil Series run scorer

Biggest career 100 up for VVJ

Reaching a century of appearances at first-class level is not something a lot of cricketers have achieved, but for Hollywoodbets Dolphins star Vaughn van Jaarsveld the dream finally become a reality recently.

VVJ as he is famously known on the field reached the milestone during the Sunfoil Series clash against the bizhub Highveld Lions at the Pietermaritzburg Oval.

The Johannesburg-born left hand batsman made his first-class debut in 2004 while playing for Gauteng against Northerns. According to Van Jaarsveld, he has evolved a lot on the field and he credits all of that to his hard work and dedication.

“My life has changed over the last 15 years of professional cricket and I have matured quite a lot,” he stated. “Playing for this wonderful franchise that is steeped in a lot of tradition and with a lot of former players who have played for the Dolphins and went on to represent the Proteas, really means a lot.”

Others may not know, but Van Jaarsveld is a committed family man and attributes his success to his wife, Carlynne, whom he says is his biggest supporter and critic, as well as their three strong boys, as he likes to call them.

“It really means a lot to notch up 100 first-class games. At one stage in my career going back 10 years or so, I never thought I would get there as I was labelled as a ‘one-day player’ only, but with dedication and hard work we can all achieve what we put our minds to," he added philosophically.

Van Jaarsveld said that his most memorable moment in his career was when he made his debut for the Proteas back in 2009, playing against Australia in a One Day International in Melbourne.

He is a man of many talents as he revealed that he enjoys playing golf whenever he gets the chance. Van Jaarsveld has accumulated 6495 runs in his first-class matches with a top score of 203, which came recently when the Dolphins played the VKB Knights in Kimberley.

The Hollywoodbets Dolphins captain, Morne van Wyk, congratulated him and described Van Jaarsveld as a very dedicated player.

“I think it is fair to say that it is one of the better seasons he has ever had, so it is nice to see him grow.

“Vaughn is a quiet person who likes to keep to himself and just loves batting. You can see that when he has got a bat in his hand he is in a happy place and thoroughly enjoys smacking a couple of balls,” said Van Wyk.

With the rigours of professional cricket Van Jaarsveld admits that he tries to balance his life by spending more time with his family when it is possible as they travel a lot during the season.

Van Jaarsveld is currently the leading run scorer in the Sunfoil Series, having notched up an impressive 797 runs in 14 innings.