***Official*** South African Domestic Season 2017/18

[SeamUp]

Might as well get this one on the road.

CSA Spin camp in India at the end of the month. Following confirmed :
Cobras : Jason Smith , Aviwe Mgijima , [Dane Piedt, George Linde, Kyle Simmonds]
Titans : Aiden Markram [Shaun von Berg]
More to follow

SA Academy in-take for 2017 : Starts 22 MAY at HP Centre and runs till end of July and from there they go on an emerging players tour to Sri Lanka in August.

“The National Academy Programme forms a very strategic part of our developmental pipeline,” commented CSA General Manager: Cricket, Corrie van Zyl, “and has as its aim to prepare young players for the demands of professional cricket. These selected players that are carefully identified include previous graduates of the SA U/19 programme, performing Senior Provincial and emerging Franchise players.

2015 examples : Junior Dala (Titans), Clyde Fortuin (EP/Warriors), Zubayr Hamza, (WP/Cobras), Heinrich Klaasen (Titans), George Linde (WP/Cobras), Aiden Markram (Northerns/Titans), Lesiba Ngoepe (EP/Warriors), Diego Rosier (NC/Knights), David White (EP/Warriors)

2016 examples : Marques Ackerman (Gauteng), Bjorn Fortuin (Lions), Dayyaan Galiem (WP/Cobras), Jason Smith (Cobras), Eldred Hawken (Norhterns/Titans), Rivaldo Moonsamy (Northerns/Titans), Leus du Plooy (FS/Knights), Patrick Kruger (NC/Knights), Mbulelo Budaza (Knights), Andile Phehlukwayo (Dolphins/SA), Sibonelo Makhanya (Dolphins)

2017 in-take

Batsmen : Wihan Lubbe (North West/Lions) , Yaseen Valli (Gauteng/Lions) , Tony de Zorzi (Northerns/Titans) , Janneman Malan (North West/Lions), Karabo Mogotsi (Gauteng now moved to Knights) , Senuran Muthusamy (KZN/Dolphins), Isaac Dikgale (North West), Mathew Christensen (EP)

Keeper : Kyle Verreynne (WP)

All-rounder : Wiaan Mulder (Lions)

Spinners : Kyle Simmonds (Boland/Cobras), Thomas Kaber (Northerns), Ndumiso Mvelase (Gauteng)

Seamers : Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Lwandiswa Zuma (FS/Knights now moved back to Dolphins), Tladi Bokako (EP/Warriors), Migael Pretorius (Northerns), Okuhle Cele (KZN)


SA 'A Tour to England. Squad should be released by the end of the month.

South Africa ‘A’ schedule

Sat 27 May - 1-day v County - Headingley, Leeds
Mon 29 May - 1-day v County - The 3aaa County Ground, Derby
Thu 1 June - 1st A ODI v England Lions - Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Sat 3 June - 2nd A ODI v England Lions - Northampton
Mon 5 June - 3rd A ODI v England Lions (D/N) - Northampton

8-11 June - 4-day v Hampshire - Ageas Bowl, Southampton
14-17 June - 4-day v Sussex - Arundel (v Duke of Norfolk XI if Sussex in RL play-offs)
21-24 June - ‘A’ Test v Lions - The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury


SA U19s preparation for 2018 u19 CWC in New Zealand

Not sure if there will be a camp at the HP Centre or not. A few players are out of school already and like Breetzke is going to England for club cricket. 9 of the last SA u19 squad qualified for selection for the world cup but for me the squad should come from the following players turning 17, 18 and 19 (borthday post September) this year.

Batsmen/ Kepers

Karl Vermeulen (18) - Wynberg (WP)
Justin Broad (17) - Rondebosch (WP)
Jesse Christensen (19) - Rondebosch (WP)
Jean Du Plessis (19) (wk) - Glenwood House (SWD)
Sinalo Gobeni (18) - WCSS (Boland)

Jarryd Lookwhy (19) - Grey PE (EP)
Matthew Breetzke (19) (wk) - Grey PE (EP)
Jason Niemand (19) - Hudson Park (Border)
Sinethemba Qeshile (18) (wk) - Hudson Park (Border)

Thamsanqa Khumalo (18) - Glenwood (KZN)
Gavin Morris (19) (wk) - Hilton (KZN Inland)
Joel Veeran (19) (wk) - Glenwood (KZN)
Sean Gilson (18) - Michaelhouse (KZN Inland)
Matthew Montgomery (17) - Clifton (KZN)

Christopher Schreuder (18) - Grey Bloem (Free State)
Raynard van Tonder (19) - Grey Bloem (Free State)
CJ Klijnhans (17) - Grey Bloem (Free State)

Josh Richards (19) - St Stithians (Gauteng)
Matthew Erasmus (18) - St Stithians (Gauteng)
Wandile Makwetu (18) (wk) - St Stithians (Gauteng)
Jacob Miltz (17) (wk) - St Davids (Gauteng)

Spinners

Jade de Klerk (18) - Woodridge (EP)
Keenan Smith (18) - Daniel Pienaar (EP)

Seamers

Kieran Kenny (18) - United CC (WP)
Thando Ntini (17) - Wynberg (WP)
Mihlali Mpongwana (17) - WCSS (WP)

Akohna Mnyaka (18) - Hudson Park (Border)
Siphamandla Krweqe (18) - Dale (Border)

Fraser Jones (17) - Michaelhouse (KZN Inland)

Gerald Coetzee (17) - St Andrews Bloem (Free State)

Curtis Campher (18) - St Stithians (Gauteng)
Cameron Brunner (18) - Randpark (Gauteng)

* You may notice no Northerns players. Just think it is a generational gap and will be surprised if they have a representative.

 

[SeamUp]

Transfers so far

Keegan Petersen Cobras > Knights
Omphile Ramela Cobras > Lions
Dane Vilas Cobras > Dolphins
Beuran Hendricks Cobras > Lions
Lwandiswa Zuma Knights > Dolphins
Grant Mokoena Titans > Knights
Karabo Mogotsi Gauteng > Knights
Ottneil Baartman SWD > Knights
Grant Roelofsen Gauteng > KZN Inland/Dolphins
Keith Dudgeon Gauteng > KZN Coastal/Dolphins

There are rumours that the Lions want to sign Qaasim Adams from Titans. Clearly something went on there at the Titans when he went on loan to Warriors for T20 because they never used him again after that.
Also rumours the Cobras are trying to get Phehlukwayo to the Cape and because he has a CSA contract can choose where he wants to play.

Was just thinking about the number of players Gauteng has produced in recent season from the Khaya Majola Coke Week and it is quite an impressive list. For quite a few years it was a Gauteng v WP domination and that was broken in 2016 with FS v Northerns. Just that a few of them have had to move to get opportunities.

Kagiso Rabada 22 - St Stithians
Yaseen Valli 22 - KES
Keith Dudgeon 22 - Parktown (moved to KZN/Dolphins)
Karabo Mogotsi 22 - Jeppe (moved to FS/Knights)
Bradley Dial 22 - St Johns (moved to England - played some 2nd XI cricket)
Ryan Rickelton 21 - St Stithians
Marques Ackerman 21 - St Stithians
Grant Roelofsen 21 - KES (moved to KZN Inland/Dolphins)
Ndumiso Mvelase 21 - St Johns
Farhaan Sayanvala 20 - St Johns
Conor McKerr 20 - St Johns (signed a 3-year contract with Surrey out of school)
Brandon Glover 20 - St Stithians (moved to Boland/Cobras)
Ricardo Vasconcelos 20 - St Stithians (moved to Boland/Cobras)
Chad Claasen 20 - St Davids
Wiaan Mulder 19 - St Stithians
Mitchell van Buuren 19 - KES (Signed by Tuks the feeder to Northerns/Titans)
Muhammed Mayet 19 - KES

 

[SeamUp]

Africa T20 Cup kicks off the next SA season in August. One of 3 T20 Comps

 

[Stefan9]

Isn't it only 2? Doesn't destinations replace former ramslam?

 

[SeamUp]

For some reason I thought the Ram Slam is still on which allows quotas but hopefully I am wrong because 3 T20 tournaments is an over-load.

 

[brockley]

Warwickshire are looking for a kolpak after 2 big defeats in Division 1,is their any spare batsmen left?

 

[StephenZA]

Warwickshire are looking for a kolpak after 2 big defeats in Division 1,is their any spare batsmen left?

JP Duminy... please take JP Duminy. Excellent FC record....

 

[brockley]

Ashley Giles was asked that today,but would not rule it out.

BTW when are contracts out?

 

[StephenZA]

BTW when are contracts out?

Don`t know... question for SeamUp.

 

[SeamUp]

BTW when are contracts out?

Normally starts coming in sporadically from around this time in April.

 

[SeamUp]

CAPE COBRAS CONTRACTED SQUAD 2017/18

In : Pieter Malan, Qaasim Adams, Simon Khomari, Kyle Verreynne, Dayyaan Galiem
Out : Dane Vilas, Keegan Petersen, Omphile Ramela, Beuran Hendricks , Rory Kleinveldt (becomes bowling consultant/pay-as-you play deal)

CSA Contracted : Hashim AMLA, Jean-Paul DUMINY, Wayne PARNELL, Vernon PHILANDER, Dale STEYN

Batsmen

Andrew PUTTICK (37)
Richard LEVI (29)
Stiaan VAN ZYL (30)
Justin ONTONG (37)
Aviwe MGIJIMA (29)
Zubayr HAMZA (22)
Pieter MALAN (28)
Qaasim ADAMS (33)
Simon KHOMARI (26)

Batsmen (bowl-seam)

Jason SMITH (23)
Dayyaan GALIEM (20)

Keeper

Kyle VERREYNNE (20)

Spinners

Dane PIEDT (27)
George LINDE (26)

Seamers

Dane PATERSON (28)
Lizaad WILLIAMS (24)
Tshepo MOREKI (24)


Malan rewarded as Cape Cobras announce 2017/2018 contracted squad

Four of the five acquisitions are from local provincial sides with only Qaasim Adams rejoining the franchise from Titans.

They also mention the WP players with semi-professional contracts and to be honest only recent SA u19 Michael Cohen with obvious potential. Boland will have some players to watch next season with opener Ricardo Vasoncelos, slow left-arm spinner Kyle Simmonds (who debuted for Cobras 16/17) and strike-bowler Brandon Glover.

 

[SeamUp]

CSA High Performance Spin Camp in India

Batsmen

Theunis de Bruyn (Knights)
Aiden Markram (Titans)
Jason Smith (Cobras)
Aviwe Mgijima (Cobras)

Spinners

Dane Piedt (WP/Cobras)
George Linde (WP/Cobras)
Kyle Simmonds (Boland/Cobras)
Shaun von Berg (Northerns/Titans)
Tshepo Ntuli (FS/Knights)
Akhona Kula (Northern Cape/Knights)
Tshepo Ndwandwa (Fort Hare Academy)
Khaudise Molefe (Jeppe Boys High School/Lions u19)

* Would have expected Subrayen ,Fortuin , Leie to be on this trip.

 

[SeamUp]

My overall impression of the contracted Cobras squad is that some of the changes needed did happen. They've introduced some new blood. Namely Verreynne and Galiem. They needed some energy and if you add them to Hamza and Smith that is quite an exciting quartet.

They've lost some experience but it had to happen. Malan and Adams are decent additions. They just far too good for provincial cricket. The jury will be out on them but with Puttick and Ontong surely finishing up in the next year or two they need to find a new experienced core.

The weak link is definitely strike-bowling. Paterson is a work-horse and had a good 15/16 season but he isn't a strike bowler. They will have to hope Lizaad Williams continues to step up. He can go for runs but is skiddy and quite aggressive with batsman. Think the attack needs a bit of that.

Obviously black-African representation is an issue for the franchise. They probably have the worst options along with the Knights and when you have to pick 3 that will effect your results.

 

[SeamUp]

Wiaan Mulder drafted into the SA 'A' 4-day squad and Jason Smith in both squads now as there was an error in selecting Dwaine Pretorius who is involved in Champions Trophy.

South Africa ‘A’ squad for 50-over series against England Lions: Reeza Hendricks (Lions), Jon-Jon Smuts (Warriors), Aiden Markram (Titans), Temba Bavuma (Lions), Theunis de Bruyn (Knights), Khaya Zondo – captain (Dolphins), Hein Kuhn (Titans), Jason Smith (Lions), Mangaliso Mosehle -wk (Lions), Sisanda Magala (Warriors), Tabraiz Shamsi (Titans), Lungisani Ngidi (Titans), Duanne Olivier (Knights), Junior Dala (Titans), Dane Paterson (Cape Cobras).

South Africa ‘A’ squad for four-day series against England Lions: Heino Kuhn (Titans), Aiden Markram- captain (Titans), Theunis de Bruyn (Knights), Temba Bavuma (Lions), Khaya Zondo (Dolphins), Jason Smith (Cape Cobras), Heinrich Klaasen – wk (Titans), Wiaan Mulder (Lions), Rudi Second (Knights), Dane Piedt (Cape Cobras), Lungisani Ngidi (Titans), Dane Paterson (Cape Cobras), Duanne Olivier (Knights), Junior Dala (Titans), Beuran Hendricks (Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras).

 

[SeamUp]

Dolphins' Van Jaarsveld 'disappointed' by SA A omission | IOL

Dolphins' Van Jaarsveld 'disappointed' by SA A omission
Proteas | 26 April 2017
LUNGANI ZAMA

DURBAN - When the squad lists for both the Proteas and South African “A” side were announced last week, there was one name conspicuous by its absence.
Since the turn of the year, no batsman in the domestic game - save for Aiden Markram, perhaps - has scored as heavily and as destructively as Vaughn van Jaarsveld of the Dolphins. And yet, despite a run of form that saw him thump 799 runs in the four-day competition, at a season’s-best average of nigh-on 68, he still missed out on national duty over the winter.

“I am obviously disappointed, because I feel as if I am in some of the best form of my life. Getting a call-up at the next level is what we all aspire to, because we all want to represent our country,” the twice-capped top-order batsman explained.

Some of Van Jaarsveld’s ball-striking in January truly took the breath away, as he almost single-handedly kept the Dolphins interested in the Sunfoil Series dust-up.

The southpaw attributes that purple patch to a period of introspection over the December holidays, when there was a break for the domestic scene.

“I wrote down a few goals for myself. One of those was to get over 700 runs, which I managed to do. I was just very determined to do well for the team, and then see where I ended when the season was over,” he explained.

He didn’t relent in the one-day format, either, as he plundered 444 runs off the white ball, with a strike rate bettered only by the brazen Richard Levi (in terms of players who breached the 400 run-mark).

Even then, he was batting atop the order, in a position not too familiar.

“It was what we needed as a team, but something a bit different. It didn’t go as well as the red-ball matches, but I was happy to contribute.”

The Dolphins finished the season in disappointing fashion, falling away in a Momentum One-Day Cup competition they led for a long period.

At term end, Khaya Zondo was named in the SA “A” side, but his regular partner-in-crime with the bat missed the cut.

“Vaughn was definitely considered, because he has had a very good season for the Dolphins,” national convener of selectors Linda Zondi told Independent Media.

“His name definitely came up, but we must remember that our priority is to serve the needs of the Proteas, and we are trying to find more all-rounders at the moment.

“If you look at a guy like Robbie Frylinck, then he also has reason to be disappointed, because he had a great season, too. Unfortunately, we can’t pick everyone, and most of the guys we have as specialist batsmen in the ‘A’ side are either in the Proteas set-up, or on the fringes,” Zondi continued.

“We have to give them the best possible chance to prepare for what will be a massive series against England, and that has to take priority right now.”

Zondi did maintain that the door was not closed on the 32-year-old Van Jaarsveld - or anyone else for that matter - especially given the form he has shown in the past 18 months.

“As long as a player is available for selection, the door is never closed. A guy like Heino Kuhn has waited for years and years, and he is still knocking on the Proteas door, as an opener and maybe even as a keeping option, if needed. No one would have thought Stephen Cook would make his Test debut at 34, but it happened. That is how the game goes sometimes,” Zondi reiterated.

For Van Jaarsveld, then, the challenge seems to be to do even more in the coming season, as Cook did just before he finally got his call-up. He was second in the run stakes for four-day cricket last year, with the best average, and in the top six for the one-day stuff.

It wasn’t enough. Perhaps, he will have to do as Cook did, and make his point by sheer weight of runs and public opinion. It is just that tough at the top.

 

[SeamUp]

CLUB CHAMPS on the go at the moment.

Champions from each regional franchise is there. Basically all universities these days. I would probably say only Cape Town and Durban have clubs as the strongest teams but UCT/UWC are competitive in Cape Town. Old Eds used to be the powerhouses in Joburg but UJ very much the power there now but were beaten by Pukke in the Lions final.

COBRAS : Stellenbosch University (Maties) - Vasconcelos, Simmonds, Glover + other Boland players Gafieldien, Mehl, Botha
WARRIORS : University of Fort Hare - Nqolo of Warriors
DOLPHINS : Crusaders - no one really of note
KNIGHTS : University of Free State (Kovsies) - Du Plooy , van Tonder, Whitehead
LIONS : University of Potch (Pukke) - J.Malan, A.Malan, Lubbe, Ackerman (North West team basically)
TITANS : University of Pretoria (Tuks) - Hermann, de Zorzi, H. Klaasen, Kaber , van Buuren, de Swardt, M.Pretorius, Trumpelmann (lot of Northerns boys plus SA 'A' Klaasen)

 

[StephenZA]

Dolphins' Van Jaarsveld 'disappointed' by SA A omission | IOL

I never know how this becomes an article and/or thing... did he really think he would make the squad? He has been given opportunity in the past did not take it. Has performed poorly, way below his ability for a number of seasons, and now after one decent season at the age of 32 he expected to be picked? Sorry this feels like a manufactured article.

 

[SeamUp]

A bit harsh Stephen. If you look Zondo's 4-day record since they have both played at the Dolphins together it's there for you to see. I think it reasonable to say he can consider himself a touch unlucky with what is left and how he performed over the last 2 seasons. They both probably better in limited overs cricket but maybe it's a case of many average players around at the moment 27+ because we lost a few.

VAN JAARSVELD

2016/17 : 799 @ 53.26 (2 hundreds)
2015/16 : 640 @ 49.23 (2 hundreds)
2014/15 : 154 @ 22.00
2013/14 : 39 @ 13.00
2012/13 : 524 @ 34.93 (2 hundreds)
2011/12 : 400 @ 40.00 (2 hundreds)
2010/11 : 233 @ 46.60

ZONDO

2016/17 : 740 @ 67.27 (2 hundreds)
2015/16 : 116 @ 12.88
2014/15 : 365 @ 30.41 (1 hundred)
2013/14 : 541 @ 38.64 (2 hundreds)
2012/13 : 305 @ 30.50
2011/12 : 56 @ 14.00
2010/11 : 39 @ 19.50

 

[StephenZA]

A bit harsh Stephen. If you look Zondo's 4-day record since they have both played at the Dolphins together it's there for you to see. I think it reasonable to say he can consider himself a touch unlucky with what is left and how he performed over the last 2 seasons. They both probably better in limited overs cricket but maybe it's a case of many average players around at the moment 27+ because we lost a few.

Losing a few good players has put people in-line that probably would not have had a shot otherwise. I think van Jaarsveld has been good for the last few years but you can`t compare to the opportunities that will be provided for Zonda for obvious reasons including his age. van Jaarsveld had to beat out de Bruyn, Markram, Miller etc All those guys you can see playing for SA in 3/4 years not van Jaarsveld. Just being horribly practical here.

 

[SeamUp]

Losing a few good players has put people in-line that probably would not have had a shot otherwise. I think van Jaarsveld has been good for the last few years but you can`t compare to the opportunities that will be provided for Zonda for obvious reasons including his age. van Jaarsveld had to beat out de Bruyn, Markram, Miller etc All those guys you can see playing for SA in 3/4 years not van Jaarsveld. Just being horribly practical here.

In agreement. Was a prodigy and of course will score runs with that talent at franchise/provincial level. But there are deficiencies in his game that he will fail at a higher level. I class the guys who make it late into international cricket more your grafters ie Cook and maybe Kuhn now but not these hand-eye players. But in saying that I do think he is more deserving of making it into the SA 'A' team than a few players picked. Whether he is good enough to play for SA is the question but the same question can be asked for others in the SA 'A' side.

The article to me though isn't a non-starter.