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South African Domestic Season 2015/16

SeamUp

International Coach
SOUTH AFRICA

Tour to India : 3 T20's - 5 ODI's - 4 tests

2 OCT - 8 OCT the T20's
11-25 OCT the ODI's
5 NOV to 7 DEC the Tests


England inbound tour : 4 tests - 5 ODI's - 2 T20's

26 DEC to 26 JAN the tests
3 FEB to 14 FEB the ODI's
19 & 21 FEB the T20's


Australia inbound tour : 3 T20's

4, 6 & 9 MARCH




DOMESTIC

Momentum One-Day Cup

9 OCT to 25 OCT (1)
29 JAN to 28 FEB (4)

Ram Slam T20

1 NOV to 12 DEC (2)

Sunfoil Series

5 ROUNDS from 17 DEC to 24 JAN (3)
5 ROUNDS from 3 MAR to 10 APR (5)
 

Marius

International Debutant
Really looking forward to that England tour.

I'm going down to Cape Town to watch the first three days of the New Years Test. England and South Africa always have good, hard series against each other.

Ram Slam will also be good, keen to go watch the Dolphins when they're up in Gauteng, would like to see KP - probably the last time there will be an opportunity to see him bat live.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
Squads

NASHUA MOBILE CAPE COBRAS

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

Batsmen : Andrew PUTTICK, Richard LEVI, Stiaan VAN ZYL, Omphile RAMELA, Justin ONTONG, Sybrand ENGELBRECHT, Keegan PETERSEN
Keeper : Dane VILAS
Seamer all-rounders: Justin KEMP, Shaheen KHAN
Spinners : Robin PETERSON, Dane PIEDT
Seamers : Rory KLEINVELDT, Beuran HENDRICKS, Mthokozisi SHEZI, Dane PATERSON, Tshepo MOREKI, Lizaad WILLIAMS

Semi-PRO Western Province

Batsmen : Pieter MALAN, Matthew KLEINVELDT, Lesiba NGOEPE, Zubayr HAMZA
Spinner: George LINDE
Seamer : Travis MULLER

Semi-pro Boland has nothing really worthwhile contracted

SA U19

Seamer all-rounder : Dayyaan GALIEM



Philander not in the ODI squad & Parnell having joined from the Warriors. I am not sure how they going to balance their seamers as competition will be high and with the new quota rules it will be a tough balancing act. Ontong will captain the shorter-formats while Ramela is the newly appointed 4-day captain. Robbie P may have had a good 1-day season but he will need to step up to the plate with young spinners Piedt/Linde around. Rory Kleinveldt & Richard Levi return from county stints so not sure how much Rory will be used in the beginning. Beuran Hendricks will hope to stay injury free and Dane Paterson will want to push on from his impressive last season. Sybrand Engelbrecht has certainly pushed on from just being the best fielder in the county and can contributed the 3-in-1 game for limited overs cricket.

Hamza, Ngoepe, Linde, Muller & Moreki were all with SA academy in the winter in Sri Lanka.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
What happened to Alistair Gray?
He lost his contract before the beginning of last season when the new quota rules came in and Ramela needed to come into the side.

Nothing fantastic but one of those people who worked hard to get that franchise chance. Playing club cricket for Rondebosch CC now.
 

Marius

International Debutant
He lost his contract before the beginning of last season when the new quota rules came in and Ramela needed to come into the side.

Nothing fantastic but one of those people who worked hard to get that franchise chance. Playing club cricket for Rondebosch CC now.
Wasn't great - would never have played for the Proteas - but seemed like a solid journeyman cricketer. Type of guy you'd want in your side, will average around 35-40 per season and will mentor the young guys coming in.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
CHEVROLET EASTERN CAPE WARRIORS

Batsmen : David WHITE, Gihahn CLOETE, Jon-Jon SMUTS, Colin INGRAM , Mohammed VALLIE, Somila SEYIBOKWE, Michael PRICE, Colin ACKERMANN, Christiaan JONKER
Keeper : Clyde FORTUIN
Spinner : Simon HARMER
Seamers: Juan THERON, Andrew BIRCH, Basheer WALTERS, Sisanda MAGALA, Lundi MBANE, Thando MNYAKA, Aya GQAMANE


Semi-Pro Eastern Province

Batsmen : Edward MOORE , James PRICE, Kelly SMUTS
Seamer : Ngazibini SIGWILI

Semi-Pro Border

Seamer all-rounder : Darryl BROWN

SA U19

Batsmen : Matthew BREETZKE
Seamer : Lutho SIPAMLA


Gihahn Cloete leaves the Knights to join the Warriors & could be part of an opening partnership of decent potential with David White in 4-day cricket. Both have been backed with SA 'A' selections in recent seasons. As ever the Warriors will have to punch well above their weight like they did especially under Russell Domingo. Their attack has been solid but not enough strike bowlers and that leaves huge pressure on Simon Harmer to bowl lots of overs often on pitches not exactly turning square. But with Harmer involved in the Proteas set-up he may be missing for some part of the season. As usual they will have to rely hugely on captain Ingram in all formats & JJ Smuts' contributions in limited overs cricket. Their other 2 new signings in Fortuin and Vallie are very shrewd additions & could contribute greatly to the Warriors this season.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
SUNFOIL KZN DOLPHINS

CSA Contracted : Dave MILLER, Ryan MCLAREN, Imran TAHIR, Kyle ABBOTT

Batsmen : Imraan KHAN, Divan VAN WYK, Khaya ZONDO, Cody CHETTY, Vaughn VAN JAARSVELD, Daryn SMIT, Cameron DELPORT, Jonathan VANDIAR, Daniel SINCUBA
Keeper : Morne VAN WYK
Seamer all-rounders : Calvin SAVAGE, Andile PHEHLUKWAYO, Robbie FRYLINCK
Spinners : Keshav MAHARAJ, Thandi TSHABALALA, Prenelan SUBRAYEN
Seamers : Craig ALEXANDER, Daryn DUPAVILLON, Mathew PILLANS

Semi-Pro KZN Coastal

Batsmen : Sibonelo MAKHANYA , Chad BOWES, Senuran MUTHUSAMY, Mishkal RAMSAROOP
Seamers : Craig KIRSTEN , Rabian ENGELBRECHT, Brandon SCULLARD

* SA u19 World Cup winner, Greg OLDFIELD, has lost his Semi-pro contract. Played for Leicestershire & Derbyshire 2nd XI's in the winter.


Seem to have a large squad with quite a few format specific players. Zondo & Maharaj need to back up their performances last season as becoming seasoned players. Excited to see the development of players like Savage, Phehlukwayo, Dupavillon & Kirsten.
 
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SeamUp

International Coach
VKB CENTRAL KNIGHTS

Batsmen : Reeza HENDRICKS, Gerhardt ABRAHAMS, Rilee ROSSOUW, Pite VAN BILJON, Tumelo BODIBE, Obus PIENAAR, Diego ROSIER, Letlotlo SESELE , Michael ERLANK
Keeper : Rudi SECOND
Spinner : Werner COETSEE
Seamers : Dillon DU PREEZ, Quinton FRIEND, Malusi SIBOTO, Shadley VAN SCHALKWYK, Corne DRY, Duanne OLIVIER, Tumi MASEKELA

Semi-Pro Free State

Batsmen : Andries GOUS, Patrick BOTHA, Leus DU PLOOY
Seamer all-rounder : Romano TERBLANCHE
Seamer : Lwandiswa ZUMA

Semi-Pro Griquas

Batsmen : Aubrey SWANEPOEL
Seamer all-rounder : Patrick KRUGER
Seamer : Jan FRYLINCK

SA U19

Spinner : Sean WHITEHEAD


The constant over-achievers. The loss of Elgar did hurt in the longer formats particularly but as always find answers from elsewhere. They may have lost Elgar/McLaren but Hendricks-Rossouw are a good back bone. Rudi Second & Pite van Biljon contributed hugely last season and captain Coetsee is under-rated. Have a good battery of quicks with a good mix of young and old.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
BIZHUB HIGHVELD LIONS

CSA Contracted : Aaron PHANGISO, Kagiso RABADA, Lonwabo TSOTSOBE

Batsmen : Stephen COOK, Rassie VAN DER DUSSEN, Alviro PETERSEN , Temba BAVUMA, Neil MCKENZIE, Jean SYMES, Dominic HENDRICKS, Devon CONWAY
Keeper : Thami TSOLEKILE
Seamer all-rounders : Dwaine PRETORIUS , Shaylen PILLAY
Spinners : Eddie LEIE, Bjorn FORTUIN
Seamers : Hardus VILJOEN, Pumelela MATSHIKWE, Sean JAMISON, Nono PONGOLO

Semi-PRO Gauteng

Batsmen : Yassar COOK, Yaseen VALLI, Bradley DIAL
Seamer all-rounder : Matthew MCGILLIVRAY
Seamer : Keith DUDGEON

Nothing really for Semi-Pro North West

* Former SA Schools & SA u19 batsmen , Ryan RICKELTON & Grant ROELFOSEN , will be two players to watch who could earn provincial opportunities this season without a contract.

SA U19

Batsmen : Liam SMITH , Wandile MAKWETU
Seamer all-rounder : Wiaan MULDER
Seamers : Brandon GLOVER, Conor MCKERR

Cook will captain in the 4-day and 1-day stuff while Tsolekile will take over for the T20's. McKenzie will carry on in limited overs cricket. Huge blow losing de Kock and Morris but as a union they will always produce young talent. It is just a matter of keeping hold of them. Bavuma will need to step up as the current Protea but in Cook and Petersen they should have big contributors in the longer formats. Losing Morris is a hug blow to the balance of their team so they will need Pretorius to step up.
 
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SeamUp

International Coach
UNLIMITED TITANS

CSA Contracted : Dean ELGAR, Faf DU PLESSIS, AB DE VILLIERS, Quinton DE KOCK, Morne MORKEL

Batsmen : Heino KUHN, Henry DAVIDS, Theunis DE BRUYN, Farhaan BEHARDIEN, Qaasim ADAMS, Graeme VAN BUUREN
Keeper : Magaliso MOSEHLE
Seamer all-rounders : Chris MORRIS, Albie MORKEL, David WIESE
Spinners : Shaun VON BERG, Tabraiz SHAMSI
Seamers : Marchant DE LANGE, Ethy MBHALATI, Junior DALA, Rowan RICHARDS, Sammy MOFOKENG

Semi-PRO Northerns

Batsmen : Aiden MARKRAM . Rivaldo MOONSAMY (SA U19)
Keeper : Heinrich KLAASEN

* Watch young former SA u19 quick, Lungi NGIDI. He doesn't have a contract but expect him to play for the TITANS this season.

Nothing really from Semi-Pro Easterns

The depth of talent at the Titans is crazy and with their new additions of de Kock and Morris it will be a tough a balancing act. Got almost all options covered. Good top order, good middle order, all-rounder options, two wrist spinners. Probably need their quicks to show improvement and more consistency.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
Stephen Cook, Werner Coetsee & Robbie P on the SA FC system

South Africa’s first-class structure is as impressive as any around the world, while the seamless transition from Sunfoil Series exposure to international cricket and the excellent condition of the domestic pitches contribute to the healthy state of the game, said three domestic skippers who were probed about the status quo.

Stephen Cook, captain of the bizhub Highveld Lions, Werner Coetsee, skipper of the Knights, and Robin Peterson, who briefly wore the captain’s armband for the Cape Cobras last season, praised the current system.

Peterson, who boasts 17 years of first-class experience as well as 115 games for South Africa in all three formats, said the current four-day competition is much more competitive than a couple of seasons ago when it was a two-horse race between the Cape Cobras and The Unlimited Titans.

“Currently we boast four strong teams in the Cobras, the Titans, the Lions and, off late, the Dolphins,” he said.

South Africa is the number-1 ranked test team in the world, but how do Cricket South Africa (CSA) ensure the domestic first-class system remains vibrant and strong?

Corrie van Zyl, general manager (cricket) of CSA, said the national body has developed a mechanism to assess the Sunfoil Series trends over the past few years.

According to the 2014/2015-trend (information provided by Andrew Samson, official statistician of CSA), 20 percent of the 30 Sunfoil Series matches yielded a win in the session after tea on the fourth and final day.

There were a total of 51 centuries, six more than in the 2013/2014-season, while only 10 percent of the matches were concluded within three days, compared to 44.44 percent in 2012/2013.

IMPACT TREND

Cook said the strength versus strength competition in first-class cricket in South Africa is one of the reasons why players were able to step up to international cricket and make an impact almost immediately.

Examples of this trend are Marchant de Lange, who nipped out 7-81 on test debut, Kyle Abbott, who captured 7-29 in his maiden match for South Africa, and Kagiso Rabada, who accounted for six batsmen including a hat-trick in his first one-day international.

South Africa introduced at least four debutants the past 13 months. Stiaan van Zyl managed a century on test debut, while Simon Harmer took 7-153 in his maiden game for the country and Dane Piedt captured 8-152 in his first match representing the Proteas.

Bavuma looked at ease in his first four tests and was comfortably the Proteas’ best batsman in the first test against Bangladesh.

Cook said South Africa’s first-class system compares favourably to others around the world. In fact, if the Lions would face off against Western Australia in a first-class system, or the Cape Cobras clash with Yorkshire, they would be very competitive.

The pitches are also excellent and secured a fair contest between bat and ball last season, Cook added.

“I believe our first-class structures are as good as any around the world, and the gap between first-class cricket and international cricket is not that wide. We need to keep it this strong and not dilute it.”

A CASE OF PERCEPTION

Coetsee said an impressive aspect of the first-class system was that Van Zyl, Dean Elgar and Rilee Rossouw were able to make such impacts in international cricket after spending extensive periods in the domestic first-class system.

“Dean made two ducks in his first test, but settled quickly subsequently.”

“The quality of cricket will always be a case of perception and not based on facts or measurements of the quality of the competition,” said Van Zyl.

“Therefore, CSA has measured a few areas to observe the trends in the Sunfoil Series so that we can monitor what occurs.

“One of those is how many games were concluded in the final session of a four-day game. These statistics point to good trends in the first-class system,” Van Zyl said.

“I think it was very important that we measure ourselves against international competition like the Champions League, South Africa A, SA under-19 and the national academy.

“We critically assess every aspect of our pipeline and how every programme can be adapted to consistently produce players of quality,” the CSA general manager explained.

“The retention of players is critically important and that’s why the provincial academy is such an important initiative that we started last year.”

South Africa A romped to a ‘test' series wins at home and away against Australia A in 2013 and 2014. The same team drew a series against India A in 2013, but lost their recent series against the same foe in India after failing to capitalise on a dominant first first few days of the first unofficial test at Wayanad.

Pro-active planning and management of players are pivotal to retain South Africa’s premier players for test cricket, said Van Zyl. “We must ensure that the national team has the best coaching structures and support system,” he said.

PRO-ACTIVE PLANNING

However, Boeta Dippenaar, a former South African player, bemoaned the “astronomical gap” between first-class cricket and international cricket in South Africa.

He said one of the factors which contributed to this state of affairs is that many international stars don’t feature at domestic level. It is a global phenomenon, and not an exclusively South African trend.

Jacques Kallis didn’t play domestic four-day cricket in the last five years of his career. Due to the absence of such players in the four-day game, local players don’t have a role model that they can look up to guide them.

Ask players like Kallis who mentored them, and they will point to Desmond Haynes, or in the case of Allan Donald, he will speak about Franklyn Stephenson. He said the lack of former international players who are involved at domestic level, is a worrying trend.

“Our first-class system is not too bad. We have four strong teams competing for the Sunfoil Series honours – the Cape Cobras, the Titans, the Lions and the Dolphins off late,” said Peterson.

“I don’t think any first-class system in the world completely prepares you for test cricket. The standard of the batting, the bowling, the media hype around the game…it is a completely diferent ball game.

“Our system has been producing a couple of good young players like Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Piedt, Eddie Leie, Rabada and Reeza Hendricks. It is nice to see. Actually the system could produce a lot more, but with four competitive teams in the mix, we will get there eventually,” Peterson said.

A FAILING SYSTEM DOWN UNDER

Recently, Ian Chappell, a former Australian captain, fulminated against the Sheffield Shield series in Australia following Australia’s fourth consecutive Ashes series defeat in England (from 2005 to 2015).

He said the fact so many of Australia’s new test batsmen in recent years were older, was evidence of a failing system Down Under.

Australia's major failures in recent years have come when the ball has moved, either in spinning conditions or against seam and swing.

Chappell said during his playing days, batsmen were exposed to enough variety in conditions during Sheffield Shield cricket that they had confidence in their techniques when asked to tour countries such as England or India, which he believes does not happen now.

"Young players are going to be playing with an IPL contract in mind," Chappell said. "If I can show that I'm a terrific hitter of the ball and I can score at eight an over, that could get me a big IPL contract. So the question you've got to ask yourself is, are they developing techniques that make it easier to play in that manner, to score at eight and ten runs an over and be terrific hitters,” he said.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
Lions

the depth of your squad, and not merely the quality of 11 players, will determine cup-success,” has been the philosophy of geoffrey toyana, bizhub highveld lions coach.

Those words proved prophetic in the 2014/2015-season, as the proverbial substitute bench stepped up a gear and delivered match-winning performances when the squad was depleted. The lions claimed their first sunfoil series title since the introduction of the franchise-system.

Compelling performances by fringe-players and the support of the senior statesmen with bat and ball set up their four-day triumph, according to stephen cook, the lions captain.

In january, the lions’ ranks were depleted, but nobody told the greenhorns shaun jamison and dale deeb to read the script. The hosts beat the defending champions, the cape cobras, in emphatic fashion at potchefstroom. Deeb captured four for 40. The fast bowler jamison finished with an impressive match-haul of eight for 119.

Cook pointed to the excellent batting contributions by the top- and middle-order as a significant factor for the all-conquering lions.

“we had four bowlers whose average was about 20 or 21,” he said, referring to chris morris (32 wickets of 20.18), dwaine pretorius (20 wickets at an average of 20.40), hardus viljoen (39 wickets average of 30.43) and kagiso rabada (39 scalps at an average of 21.12) who ensured 20 wickets in several of the four-day clashes.

Toyana said the lions had three bowlers operated at 140 kilometres per hour or more in the 2014/2015-competition, and their strike-force had a demoralising impact on the opposition. The lions set up the innings beautifully through the sheer force of batting numbers in the first innings. Cook, who scored 889 runs and struck five of the 11 centuries for the highveld-team in the sunfoil series, was the cornerstone of their comprehensive first-innings totals. He was one of eight lions batsmen to average 40 or more in the competition last season.

The seasoned professional neil mckenzie compiled 690 runs at an average of 69 in the 2014/2015-competition before retiring from first-class cricket at the end of the 2015/season.

“we had real back-up in our bowling department in lonwabo tsotsobe and pumelela matshikwe,” toyana explained.

“the sunfoil series cup was the trophy we always wanted (the previous title by gauteng came in 1999/2000 before the franchise-system was founded). A big goal in the competition for next season is to win consistently,” toyana said.

The coach is painfully aware that the loss of mckenzie for the sunfoil series and the move by morris and quinton de kock to join the neighbours and rivals, the unlimited titans, might challenge the depth of the lions.

“i believe we have the squad to deliver results. Devon conway, dominic hendricks, jamison and others must just step up,” he added.

Cook says the availability of alviro petersen (who announced his retirement from international cricket for south africa after the final test against the west indies) will provide the lions with a vastly experienced top-order option and will help to fill the hole left by the retirement of mckenzie from the first-class scene.

The captain underlined the importance of pretorius as an allrounder to account for the loss of a genuine batsman in the top-order and a true spearhead in morris.

Both cook and toyana said tsotsobe looked hungry for success and trained well in the off-season. He wants to prove his doubters wrong and would like to show the selectors that he still belong on the international stage as a left-arm swing bowler. He was a significant factor for the lions in the ram slam t20 challenge and could be a spearhead in all formats.

The international selection of eddie leie could help him to complete his apprenticeship as a wrist spinner and improve his consistency. His googly is one of the best in the business, according to a former south african left-arm spinner paul harris.

“if we want to continue our winning ways, it would be about bowling smartly to take 20 wickets in every game,” said toyana.

Cook said thami tsolekile was a fantastic servant to lions-cricket and he backs him to play a significant role in the title-pursuit by the highveld-team. Toyana concurred.

“thami has averaged 40 for us the past four seasons. He has indicated that the next two seasons might be his last. He looks fit and i expect him to play an important role for us,” he added.

The lions won the first instalment of the ram slam t20 challenge in 2012/2013 and was competitive last season before losing to the knights semifinal play-off at the bidvest wanderers stadium.

“the fact that quinton de kock and chris gayle could not get going in that semifinal was crucial, but we have the personnel to post a challenge in the 2015/2016-competition.

“ultimately, we have invested in our young players to settle at the next level and i expect them to support the experienced senior stalwarts in the 2015/2016-season,” said toyana.
cobras

high intensity, even greater team cohesion and a stronger support cast for dane paterson are some of the improvements that the cape cobras are seeking in their quest for a third sunfoil series-title in four seasons.

The cobras have won 10 domestic titles in the past seven seasons. They hosted four finals the past two seasons, but justin ontong, the momentum one day cup captain, said they cannot afford complacency. Improvements are constantly needed to stay ahead of the pack.

Robin peterson (18 wickets in the momentum one day cup campaign last season), andrew puttick (652 runs in the momentum competition), richard levi (392 runs in the ram slam t20 challenge) and kieron pollard (average of 81 with the bat and 14 ram slam wickets) were standout-performers last season in both limited overs formats.

Negotiations with pollard to return to newlands have not been concluded. Nabeal dien, chief executive officer of the western province cricket association (wpca), is optimistic the west indian allrounder will be available for the ram slam t20 challenge.

Ontong said some of the four-day defeats in 2014/2015 were self-afflicted as the team dropped catches at crucial stages which robbed them of critical momentum.

“during the 2013/2014-season we scored 11 centuries, and it had always been our goal that one of our top-order should strike a ton in every match. Last season we did not achieve that enough (and only notched up eight hundreds).

“if you amass a big first-innings score, it sets up the match for you.

“we require three batsmen to score us 700 runs or more this season.

“at least two bowlers must capture 35 wickets or more. Ultimately, though, greater team efforts are required and we need to draw together as a unit even more,” he added.

“a consistent playing unit to ensure a more stable four-day campaign is important. Last season we had a lot of player movement due to call-ups,” said omphile ramela, the cobras’ four-day captain.

“we also need to play at a higher tempo than the opposition.

“more centuries and five-wicket hauls will be required in the four-day competition this season, compared to our efforts of 2014/2015,” he added.

“the cobras are very good at knowing when to occupy the crease and absorb the pressure, and when to transfer that pressure and attack. We must retain that.”

paul adams, the cape cobras coach, said consistency is a vital ingredient throughout the season. Adams said the cobras will field a very good attack capable of consistently taking 20 wickets in the four-day campaign.

Paterson captured 42 wickets in the 2014/2015-season at an average of 22.54, but no member of the support cast was able to nip out 20 batsmen or more. Beuran hendricks (back muscle injury) and wayne parnell (grade one tear of his hamstring) is on the mend, and could be fit for the opening momentum one day cup match of the 2015/2016-season.

Rory kleinveldt took 57 wickets at an average of 27.14 for northamptonshire in division two of the county championships this season. Justin kemp, one of the cobras’ stalwarts, was sorely missed at second slip last season as some costly spills in the slip cordon occurred in his absence.

Kemp has averaged 31.94 for the cobras in the momentum one day cup competition since his move from the titans to the cobras and has taken 38 wickets, while he has also averaged 36.30 and has captured 19 wickets in 30 ram slam t20 challenge matches. The 2015/2016-season will be his last for the cape cobras and adams is sure to use his all-round abilities and fielding prowess.

Puttick has been hard at training as he will act as dane vilas’ substitute behind the stumps when the latter leave for the tour of india.

Adams said he has been impressed with the former sa u.19-bowler tshepo moreki. Moreki was arguably the national academy’s standout-bowler in the four-day and one-day series against the sri lankan emerging team in july and august. He captured 12 wickets in two four-day matches, and nipped out 11 batsmen in the three one-day clashes. It included a superb five for 19.

“a key for us for the new season is consistency as a bowling unit and operating at a high intensity while regularly taking wickets,” said adams.

“we also need to create an environment conducive to player development.”
warriors

the chevrolet warriors will face a season of rebuilding as they attempt to build a team around a few senior pros and a clutch of talented youngsters.

The warriors are certainly a squad in transition with coach malibongwe maketa going into his first full season as a franchise head coach after taking over the reins when piet botha resigned in december last year.

The eastern cape franchise has also lost a host of senior players with ashwell prince, ryan bailey and davy jacobs having retired while wayne parnell has joined the nashua mobile cape cobras.

Maketa, despite his relative inexperience as a head coach, is looking forward to the challenge of building a new team while he feels that his initial spell as coach of the warriors will stand him in good stead going into the new cricket season.

“we are very excited about the season ahead. We have a few young players and a few players who have retired (or left). We are in the process of building a new, young team so it is an exciting time,” maketa told supersport.com.

“i feel great to have got almost a taster last year when i took over from piet. Going into my first full season i have a feel for how the team works and am looking forward to integrating the new faces into the team,” he added.

The warriors have moved to off-set the loss of senior players by recruiting 22-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman gihahn cloete from the vkb knights while batsman yaseen vallie, who spent the season on loan at the warriors last year, and former sa u19 wicketkeeper clyde fortuin have arrived from cape town.

The rebuilding phase means that the warriors’ captain colin ingram will have to shoulder a hefty part of the batting load.

Ingram enjoyed a superb season with the bat last year and he was second on the four-day sunfoil series run-scorers list with 852 runs at an average of 53.25 with three hundreds and four fifties.

Ingram was by far the warriors’ leading run scorer in first-class cricket last season with the next best total being 607 runs from michael price.

The left-handed ingram also scored 624 runs in the momentum one-day cup to also end second on that list of run scorers.

Maketa said ingram played a vital role for the team, both on and off the field.

“colin is a vital cog for us in terms of what he brings to the team. He brings calmness and commands respect from the players. He works wonders for us and he leads from the front. He is always fighting (for the team),” the coach explained.

The warriors’ squad certainly looks a little thin on the bowling front with injury concerns surrounding rusty theron. The experienced duo of andrew birch and basheer walters set to lead the pace attack while back-up will be provided by lundi mbane.

The 24-year-old paceman sisanda magala will also be hoping for a big season as he looks to secure a permanent place in the warriors’ first team.

The warriors will also want to make as much use of offspinner simon harmer as they can before he jets off to join up with the proteas’ test squad during their tour of india.

“birch, bash and lundi are our three experienced (pace) bowlers and we are looking for them to lead the attack.

“we are looking to maximise harmer’s availability. He knows what it takes to play at the next level and our guys look up to and learn from him,” said maketa.

The warriors did not enjoy the best of season’s last year as they finished last in the sunfoil series and fifth in the ram slam t20 challenge.

But maketa made an impressive start as head coach as the warriors won two out of three sunfoil series match under his leadership while they also put together a string of impressive performances in the momentum one-day cup to only miss out on a playoff spot because of an inferior net run-rate to the unlimited titans.

Maketa and his charges will want to replicate some of that form this season.

The warriors’ first match of the season is a one-day cup clash against the titans at centurion on october 9.
 

brockley

International Captain
So who should i go for:)?
Am interested how this season goes and whether the transformation policy lessens the standard of cricket in S Africa.I would say the 2nd tier comp would be strengthened with players heading back to that division,retireing or emigrating.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
So who should i go for:)?
Am interested how this season goes and whether the transformation policy lessens the standard of cricket in S Africa.I would say the 2nd tier comp would be strengthened with players heading back to that division,retireing or emigrating.
I reckon Titans have the best talent. They should see a bit of Elgar/de Kock as they not in all 3 formats. Wiese out for 6 weeks & A.Morkel, de Lange , Morris in India for the first month of the season could be a tough beginning for their bowling depth. Cobras probably then the guys to back as they have great depth and a solid bowling and batting line-up.

The Lions and Dolphins if they get their selections right could be dangers.

Reckon this season we will see the last of a few good solid domestic pro's who will be harshly kicked into the dirt because of the new rules. It isn't right but what can you do.

The Curran's did well to leave SA at the right time.
Levi, Ingram, Kleinveldt went Kolpak.
Sean Dickson & Bradley Wheal played for Kent & Hampshire.
vd Merwe left for Holland and there is talk that Colin Ackermann and Heino Kuhn could do the same.
There was talk Shaun von Berg could go to Australia & Hardus Viljoen to New Zeland but both their unions persuaded them to stay.
Oldfield, Dial, van Buuren, Pillans layed 2nd XI cricket in England in the winter. Interesting to see what happens there.
 
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brockley

International Captain
I like the name Cobras:).
Johan Botha i think becomes an Aussie this year,looks like to be based in Adelaide,despite not playing for a state.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
I like the name Cobras:).
Johan Botha i think becomes an Aussie this year,looks like to be based in Adelaide,despite not playing for a state.
So he will just be playing some club cricket ? Odd how his career has gone. Liked him in the beginning but in the end it just fizzled out for me.

Promo video for Momentum One-day cup :D

 

brockley

International Captain
He will play Big Bash and other T20 tournaments around the world till he qualifies for Australia.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
Been some warm-up games

COBRAS

An unbeaten century by Keegan Petersen, a composed 60 by the South African wicketkeeper Dane Vilas and an attacking 48 by Justin Ontong were some of the standout-features of the Cape Cobras’ preseason-match against the bizhub Highveld Lions at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium which finished on Monday.
​A brutal onslaught by Justin Ontong and Omphile Ramela and clinical finishing by Lesiba Ngoepe powered the Cape Cobras to a superb four-wicket win against the defending Red Bull Campus Cricket World champions, Tuks, at the LC de Villiers Oval on Thursday.

The Cape Cobras avenged their 2-wicket defeat at the hands of Tuks, who won the first limited-overs match against the Cape champions at the same venue on Wednesday in the penultimate over.

“We struggled to adapt with the bat on Wednesday and scored a low total, but our bowling restricted them and they only reached the target with two overs to go,” Paul Adams, the Cape Cobras coach, said.

Ramela opened the innings and Ontong batted at number three on Thursday. Both scored 70’s as the Cobras raced to the target of 238 and reached it thanks to a sensational six by Dane Paterson in the final over.

Ngoepe smashed a half-century, and Adams applauded his belligerent effort to take the visitors to the brink of victory.
Adams also saluted the bowling by the faster men, Paterson, Lizaad Williams and Tshepo Moreki on Thursday.
“Robin Peterson’s bowling was sweet,” he added.

Adams said SA Engelbrecht was impressive with bat and ball. He slammed 60 on Wednesday and bowled beautifully, the coach added.

The Cape champions shared the Momentum One Day Cup trophy in 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 and finished runners-up to The Unlimited Titans in 2014/2015. Asked how close the Cape Cobras are to the levels needed for the new campaign that starts on 10th October against the bizhub Highveld Lions, Adams said his team is very close.
They have worked extremely hard the past eight days.

The swashbuckling opener Richard Levi suffered a broken index finger but is on the mend and should be ready for the opening match against the Lions, while Andrew Puttick, his opening partner, has joined the South Western Districts for the Africa T20 Cup.

The top- and middle-order have excelled in the two matches against Tuks, with both Engelbrecht and Ngoepe showing their mettle.

The greatest challenges that Adams and the selectors face, are how to finalize their playing eleven, as the management team has at least 17 excellent players available for the Momentum One Day Cup campaign.
Several exciting emerging players, including the former South African u.19-players Jason Smith and Simon Khomari, and the prolific 20-year old Western Province stalwart Zubayr Hamza, have been included in the Cape Cobras team that will clash with the Warriors in two 50-over warm-up games in Oudtshoorn.

Hamza averages 54.23 in 10 first-class games. The classy top-order batsman scored an unbeaten 202 for the Western Province amateur team while still a teenager.

His progress will be monitored by the Cape Cobras management team when the Cape champions and the Warriors meet in two 50-over matches on Tuesday and Wednesday in Oudtshoorn.

The Cobras’ opening match of the Momentum One Day Cup competition is on 10th October, when the Cobras and the bizhub Highveld Lions will be at loggerheads at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium.

Wayne Parnell and Beuran Hendricks, two left-arm swing bowlers, joined their colleagues on the bus to Oudtshoorn on Monday, but won’t be taking the field.

Both are nursing injuries and Paul Adams, the Cape Cobras coach, is optimistic they will be ready for the opening fixture of the Momentum One Day Cup competition.

Omphile Ramela and Keegan Petersen will open the batting for the Cobras. Both have been in scintillating form lately.
Ramela smashed a century on debut for South Africa A, while Petersen struck a century in a preseason-match against the Lions.

Petersen will also take the gloves for the Cobras.

Andrew Puttick has been given a breather after representing South Western Districts at the Africa T20 Cup.
Smith, who has the ability to develop into an all-rounder of note, will slot in at number six.

The left-arm spinner GF Linde and the South African off-spinner Dane Piedt will bowl in tandem and can offer the Cape Cobras some wickets in the middle-period, as both are attacking options.

The fast-medium bowler Tshepo Moreki has shown some class recently, taking 12 wickets for the South African national academy team in two four-day matches against the Sri Lankan Emerging squad.

Khomari was selected for Boland for the Africa T20 Cup recently.

Dane Paterson and Lizaad Williams will spearhead the Cape Cobras’ attack.

The team is: Justin Ontong (capt), Omphile Ramela, Keegan Petersen, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Khomari, Jason Smith, GF Linde, Dane Piedt, Dane Paterson, Lizaad Williams, Tshepo Moreki.
[The in-form Keegan Petersen continued to impress as the Cape Cobras wind down their pre-season preparations with a 50-over game against the Warriors. The visitors romped to an eight-wicket win, courtesy of centuries by Yaseen Vallie and Gihahn Cloete.

Petersen continued to press for selection for the opening match of the Momentum One Day Cup campaign with an 80 at Oudtshoorn as the Cobras reached 221 for nine on a slightly damp surface which severely tested the technique and temperament of the Western Cape hosts on Tuesday.

Cloete and Vallie reached the target on a wicket that became considerably easier to bat on as the day wore on.
Justin Ontong, the Cape Cobras captain, was philosophical about the defeat, saying the young attack learned valuable lessons, but were not able to demonstrate any improvement as the scheduled second 50-over match between the two teams were washed out due to rain on Wednesday.

Ontong also announced that the Cobras will probably not field the two injured swing bowlers Wayne Parnell and Beuran Hendricks in the first game of the Momentum One Day Cup competition, scheduled for Saturday 10th October against the bizhub Highveld Lions at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium.

He said it would be too dangerous to risk them for the first few games as they are still on the mend following injuries.
“Stiaan van Zyl, Vernon Philander and Dane Vilas will be available for us for the first half of the competition before leaving (to join the South African test squad in India),” he added.

Apart from Petersen, Simon Khomari, 24-year old batsman of Boland, also showed his class in the first warm-up game against the Warriors with a composed half-century.

The Cobras will be able to field an excellent fast bowling attack for the opening match of the Momentum One Day Cup match as Philander, Dane Paterson, Rory Kleinveldt, Mthokozisi Shezi and Tshepo Moreki will be available.
 

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