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

[Rasimione]

Not that he'll get to bat in this match because of the rain, but I think it wasn't bad move to pick him as a pure batsman. We all know he has the ability to hit boundaries, but he needs to show the application to play long innings and he does tend to come in down the order, so opportunities for that are limited.

I do think he needs to improve at least one of disciplines as at the moments he's kind of one of those all-rounders who gets selected because he can bat and bowl reasonably well, but perhaps isn't good enough at either to be selected purely on that. I do think there might be more scope to improve his batting, maybe even to the extent where he becomes a batsman who might only bowl occasionally, which wouldn't be the worst thing for the national side given the lack of black batsmen which we've commented on before. Of course, there would be a long way to go before he could be considered a genuine batsman, but he wouldn't be the first player to ditch the bowling in favour of batting.

I've always said Andile needs to improve his batting. Preferably batting at 6 for his franchise side. There's no way he's good enough to get into the side for his bowling.

 

[SeamUp]

Draw was called in Durban. Eastern Cape cricket can be proud of their season. Even with Kolpaks they've juggled Ingram (limited overs) , Harmer (4-day cricket) & Ackermann (full-season) but they have a good bunch of honest pro's. My only disappointment is Birch can't play more. But there is some good emerging players in Moore, Breetzke, Qeshile, Nortje, Bokako & Sipamla.

Jon-Jon Trevor Smuts
‏@JonJonSmuts21
So proud of @WarriorsCrickEC on the great season we had. Played great cricket and showed great character this season. Proud and privileged to be apart of the Warriors.

 

[SeamUp]

It's like the Titans don't want to get over the line losing senior players Kuhn, Davids and Behardien so close to victory.

vob Berg & Morris get them over the line.

TITANS : Sunfoil Series Champions 2017/18

 

[StephenZA]

It's like the Titans don't want to get over the line losing senior players Kuhn, Davids and Behardien so close to victory.

vob Berg & Morris get them over the line.

TITANS : Sunfoil Series Champions 2017/18

Sigh.... my poor Warriors.

Well done to Titans.

 

[SeamUp]

Sigh.... my poor Warriors.

Well done to Titans.

Got to doff our caps to them. They were pipped late last season by the Knights and started this round in 4th place.

Pretty ****** for the Cobras too.

Think you guys produced the best home wickets during the season. Hopefully country wide this is looked into for next season.

 

[GRAB]

Well-done, Titans are by far the most talented squad in South Africa, even when half their players are in the Proteas squad! Meanwhile Cobras brave declaration is backfiring, with Reeza and Cook putting their bowlers to the sword...

 

[StephenZA]

Not to forget Muthusamy's 7 wickets and 84 top score for Dolphins.

 

[SeamUp]

Not to forget Muthusamy's 7 wickets and 84 top score for Dolphins.

Turning into a real handy cricketer to have around for SA cricket. Of course he will be going to India this winter.

Really speaks well too. Thought he or Savage would have captained the Dolphins in this game but they gave it to Subrayen.

 

[GRAB]

So if there's a s/c A tour a squad would look something like:

MALAN P
CLOETE

HAMZA
KLAASEN
BAVUMA
DE BRUYN

SECOND
VERREYNE

MUTHUSAMY
MULDER

BOKAKO
OLIVIER
HENDRICKS B

VON BERG
SHAMSI

Probably try and squeeze on more POC, so Verreyne out for Zondo/Phehlukwayo I guess? Three keepers is overkill, but they're all making runs!

 

[SeamUp]

FINAL LOG

Titans 143.96
Warriors 142.44
Cobras 133.36
Knights 126.68
Dolphins 126.66
Lions 120.46

Leading run scorers

1. Van der Dussen (Lions) 959 @ 73.76
2. van Jaarsveld (Dolphins) 989 @ 52.82
3. P.Malan (Cobras) 892 @ 55.75
4. Hamza (Cobras) 828 @ 69.00
5. Second (Knights) 803 @ 80.30
6. Vilas (Dolphins) 734 @ 66.72
7. Ackermann (Warriors) 660 @ 66.00
8. R.Hendricks (Lions) 658 @ 43.86
9. Moore (Warriors) 648 @ 38.11
10. Vallie (Warriors) 633 @ 42.20

Top wicket-takers

1. Harmer (Warriors) 47 @ 21.85
2. Muthusamy (Dolphins) 33 @ 26.54
3. von Berg (Titans) 29 @ 41.75
4. Siboto (Titans) 25 @ 30.12
5. Nortje (Warriors) 24 @ 35.04
6. Piedt (Cobras) 24 @ 53.58
7. Bokako (Warriors) 22 @ 24.31
8. Williams (Cobras) 22 @ 39.31
9. Smuts (Warriors) 20 @ 24.55
10. B.Hendricks (Lions) 20 @ 29.05

 

[SeamUp]

The squad I think they will go with. Assuming the Sri Lanka senior tour doesn't clash with this.

Pieter Malan
Reeza Hendricks

Zubayr Hamza
Theunis de Bruyn
Temba Bavuma

Rudi Second
Heinrich Klaasen

Wiaan Mulder
Senuran Muthusamy
Andile Phehlukwayo

Dane Piedt
Shaun von Berg

Duanne Olivier
Chris Morris
Beuran Hendricks
Junior Dala (Lungi Ngidi if he available)

 

[Rasimione]

Senuran Muthusamy with another solid performance. A spin bowling allrounder capable of batting in the top six is gold dust especially when we tour the subcontinent. Who knows, maybe he and Mulder could solve that problematic 6 position.

 

[SeamUp]

Love it ! Some early transfer news. It makes sense why Janneman Malan is linked with the Knights now.

All the best to Werner Coetsee. Another outstanding first-class career. So many experienced players retiring this season and last.

Miller, De Bruyn and De Lange bid farewell to the Knights

The VKB Knights will have a largely new look to the side for the 2018/19 cricket season with numerous players bidding farewell to the team.


The South African domestic season concluded on Sunday and this does bring an end to player’s contracts throughout the country.

For the newly dethroned Sunfoil Series champions, this brings a close on a chapter for at least four players at the Knights, of which three of them are internationals.

The biggest name to be leaving the team is that of the hard-hitting Proteas batsman, David Miller. The player who is renowned and feared throughout the cricketing world is believed to be heading back to the Dolphins in KwaZulu-Natal.

The departure of the nationally contracted player comes as a huge blow to the side, however, seeing that Miller actually commuted between Durban and Bloemfontein, for the past two seasons, it hardly comes as a surprise.

The Knights captain for the past two seasons, Theunis de Bruyn, will also be leaving the side and OFM Sport has it on good authority that Proteas middle order batsman, will be heading back to the newly crown domestic four-day champions, the Titans. De Bruyn, joined the Knights from the Titans two seasons ago. Seeing that the player has been involved with the national set up for the largest part of this past season, the captaincy of the side shouldn’t be an issue with both Rudi Second and Pite van Biljon being more than capable leaders.

Thirdly the fiery former Proteas fast bowler, Marchant de Lange, will leaving the team as well after two seasons. The opening bowler formed arguably the most formidable bowling partnership in domestic cricket alongside the Proteas seamer, Duanne Olivier. Apart from his aggressive bowling the team will certainly miss his big personality both on and off the field. At this stage it is unclear where De Lange will be plying his trade domestically.

Fourth and not the least the team will be bidding a sad farewell to a player who is truly a stalwart of Knights cricket over numerous years. The spinning all-rounder and former captain of the side, Werner Coetsee, has drawn the curtain on a truly outstanding domestic career after 16-years of first class cricket.

The 35-year-old, Coetsee, who scored ten first class centuries, with a highest score of 202* and 37 half centuries to add to that, and also claimed 353 wickets, was the go-to guy in the team for several years. Arguably the friendliest cricketer in South Africa, he had a knack for striking with the ball at just the right times while was able to score the important runs to win the big games. While Coetsee hasn’t played all that much cricket for the Knights of late, he will definitely be missed by the team.

At this stage it is a still a bit too early to tell who all will be joining the team in the coming months, but it is understood that the 17-year-old Saint Andrews School fast bowler and number three batsman, Gerald Coetzee, has already been contracted at the Knights on a semi-pro contract to start off with. Earlier this year Coetzee was named in the ICC’s U19 World team following a brilliant U19 World Cup campaign in New Zealand. Just a week ago Coetzee was part of the Saints First XI which won the Coca-Cola National Schools T20 title at the Tuks Oval in Pretoria.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport

 

[GRAB]

Love it ! Some early transfer news. It makes sense why Janneman Malan is linked with the Knights now.

All the best to Werner Coetsee. Another outstanding first-class career. So many experienced players retiring this season and last.

Miller, De Bruyn and De Lange bid farewell to the Knights

Was expecting McLaren to announce retirement too? Think de Lange might be considering playing in England exclusively?

 

[SeamUp]

Was expecting McLaren to announce retirement too? Think de Lange might be considering playing in England exclusively?

I suppose they got to keep some experience.

Second, McLaren, Olivier the leaders. Also think this will be good for Olivier to know this.

As a small union they have always given opportunity so expect to see du Plooy, Gous, van Tonder, Coetzee be in the mix and they all have the talent to push for higher honours.

POC is an issue for the Knights. Their best two are Keegan Petersen (signed from Cobras) & Patrick Kruger (Kimberley boy with hype up the order but put in an impressive run at 6 at the back end of the season).

It doesn't help that Cloete & R.Hendricks they produced left for other unions.


De Lange probably going to go T20 route.

 

[SeamUp]

Goodbye Putters ! Some lovely twitter reactions.

Dale Steyn
‏Verified account
@DaleSteyn62
More Dale Steyn Retweeted COBRAS CRICKET
Hear, Hear!
Putters you deserve more bud, great servant to the game and a legend to boot!

Richard Levi
‏@RichardLevi88
To my first ever room mate on tour as a professional, to an outright unbelievable human being and friend. @andrewputtick it’s been an absolute pleasure! The most loyal team man I know... you will be missed

Ashwell Prince
‏@ashyp_5
Meanwhile,yet another domestic cricket season has come to an end, and it’s also the end of an era at WPCA/ @CobrasCricket where for 20 years the 1st name on the sheet has been that of #AndrewPuttick. Congratulations on a stellar career Putters, legend. #feedtheputtershewillscore


Vincent Barnes
‏@VincentBarnes50
It’s fitting that @andrewputtick ends his playing career with a �� The ultimate professional, immensely talented and unfortunate not to have played test cricket for SA.The second part of life’s journey has just begun, all the very best to you. #feedtheputters

Mike Cook
‏@mikeworkbench
Mar 25
More Mike Cook Retweeted COBRAS CRICKET
Cricketers like Andrew Puttick are heroes. Even though they don’t breakthrough on the international stage, they play their hearts outs for club and province, for a long time. Arguably inspiring and transferring skills more to the next generation than any Proteas player.

Jean Smyth
‏@JeanSmyth
With cricket in the headlines for all the wrong reasons @andrewputtick reminds us why we love the game. Signs off after nearly two decades solely at the Cobras with a century. Go well, Putters.

Johan Ferreira
‏@Johan_Ferreira
@andrewputtick congratulations on a remarkable career!! So glad that you signed off with a century because that's what you deserved. #Legend @CobrasCricket

Fiso Mazibuko
‏@mazzi007
Good to see Andrew Puttick getting a 100 on his final appearance as a Pro... What a player he has been for Western Province cricket.

Sports Guru
‏@G_Skev
More Sports Guru Retweeted COBRAS CRICKET
Respect for an underrated gentleman of the game.
Well played sir. Well played.
Andrew Puttick


Philasande Sixaba
‏@psixaba
Amidst all of this madness, today is Andrew Puttick’s final day as a Pro cricketer. Fantastic batsman and one of the unlucky ones not to don Test whites for his country.

stuart hess
‏@shockerhess
Just to interrupt all this drama with a bit of nice cricket news; Andrew Puttick, playing his last innings in first class cricket, trying to help the Cobras get a win which may get them the #SunfoilSeries title, has scored a hundred. What a player!

Cricket Team Alpha
‏@CricketAndre
Andrew Puttick you LEGEND of @CobrasCricket - Thank you for your efforts over the years. Great way to go out with a First Class 100 and 40+ avg. All the best for your future endeavours. @ashyp_5 @DaleSteyn62 @dane_piedt63 @DaneVilas @RichardLevi88 @NeilManthorp @OfficialCSA

Kyle Paulsen
‏@Kyle_CT
More Kyle Paulsen Retweeted COBRAS CRICKET
The South African (in fact the world) cricket community should take a moment to applaud the legend that is @andrewputtick. A true servant of the game, never given the proper chance he deserved in the Proteas team. He will be missed in the Western Province Blue ���� #legend

 

[SeamUp]

Rivash Gobind confirmed as the Warriors coach after impressively taking over from Makweta who joined the Proteas.

 

[SeamUp]

So after retirements of Puttick, Ontong, Coetsee (M.Morkel) this season it seems like the following 34+ will be playing next season until further announcement for the franchise players.

35+ year-olds

1. Hashim Amla (Cobras)
2. Dale Steyn (Titans)
3. Imran Tahir (Dolphins)

1. Rory Kleinveldt (Cobras) - but not on a full player contract
2. Morne van Wyk (Dolphins)
3. Stephen Cook (Lions)
4. Farhaan Behardien (Titans)
5. Henry Davids (Titans)
6. Albie Morkel (Titans)
7. Ryan McLaren (Knights)


34 year-olds

1. AB de Villiers (Titans)
2. Faf Du Plessis (Titans)
3. JP Duminy (Cobras)

1. Heino Kuhn (Titans)
2. Aaron Phangiso (Lions)
3. Robbie Frylinck (Dolphins)

 

[SeamUp]

Quite hilarious. The Titans were running out of time to chase down the score to win the Sunfoil Series with light deteriorating fast. Wickets were falling and when number 5 and number 6 wickets fell Chris Morris and Shaun von Berg had to run out to the middle. Marchant was in the midst of a fiery quick spell and had hit Behardien on the helmet already but von Berg forgot his box & had no time to get it and still pulled de Lange away for 4 to get victory. Legend.

 

[SeamUp]

No Kolpakers Levi or Van Zyl and no Parnell... in end of season pic

Would add Bedingham and Ntini to the contracted list for 2018/19