Now that the fixtures are out, you can feel confident things will forge ahead.
Most likely 4-day teams
COBRAS
P.Malan
J.Malan
de Zorzi
Hamza (c)
Verreynne (wk)
J.Smith
Nyaku
Linde
Burger
Moreki
Abrahams
Back up batsmen : Bird, Gafieldien, Mgijima
Back-up all-rounder : Savage
Back-up spinner : Manack
Back-up seamers : C.Bosch, Mnyaka
Think with the balance allowed the first XI picks itself. C.Bosch may force his way in as a strike-bowler but think it will be extremely difficult to fit in Savage (but his time my come in limited overs cricket). Gafieldien is more a 4-day player & when the limited overs season comes around Bird will come into the picture for 1 of the Malan brothers (for Pieter if Janneman isn't selected for SA). Manack is also more a limited overs spinner so there is a possibility of a twin-spin there.
With the weather in Cape Town still offering rain and cold into spring there could be a bit in the wicket for medium-pacers so whilst there are question marks around strike-bowling seamers because you can't fit both Burger/Bosch it could work.
WARRIORS
Moore
Breetzke
Vallie
Second (wk)
Qeshile
Smuts (c)
Ngoepe
M.Jansen
De Klerk
Nabe
Stuurman
IPL : Nortje
Back-up batsmen : Cloete, Lubbe, Marais
Back-up spinner : Ntuli
Back-up seamers : Tait, Walters, Gqamane
Think that XI also speaks for itself. Just such a pity Magala and Sipamla were taken as the Warriors who were really building a team. Cloete may keep Breetzke on his toes in 4-day cricket but I think its chalk and cheese their ceilings and their output currently still favours MB. When limited overs cricket comes around they will want to fit Lubbe, Marais and Tait in. Good luck to them trying to find that balance.
Otherwise their batting is still very solid. A nice mix and in Jansen, Stuurman they have a decent new-ball attack. De Klerk might still need to work on his output still but I think he is worth sticking with he is a 3-in-1 cricketer.
Breetzke & Qeshile need to take their games to the next level.
DOLPHINS
Roelofsen
Erwee
Petersen
Ackerman (c)
Zondo
Muthusamy
Phehlukwayo
Maharaj
Mosehle (wk)
E.Bosch
Dupavillon
IPL : Miller
Back-up all-rounders : De Swardt, Mogakane
Back-up spinner : Subrayen
Back-up seamers : Frylinck, Dudgeon, Mungroo, Ntanzi, Baartman
Continue to recruit in off-season. Think they have a very well balanced team that can win the title this year. Bat to 10 and have multiple all-rounders and can rotate their quicks during the season. Also have spin-bowling variety for home conditions.
Their versatility and options available to them will allow them to deal with international call-ups. Exciting season for many players including Roelofsen, Ackerman, Muthusamy, Bosch, Dupavillon & also the likes of de Swardt, Ntanzi getting more of a taste of franchise cricket.
KNIGHTS
Mokoena
Kleinveldt
van Tonder
Vandiar
van Biljon (c)
Behardien
Makwetu (wk)
von Berg
Coetzee
M.Pretorius
Budaza
Back-up batsmen : Gous, Snyman, Kruger
Back-up all-rounder : F.Adams
Back-up seamers : D.Jansen, Mothoa
Dark horses. Loads of experience in the middle order and in van Tonder a young player who has produced in the longer formats instead of the shorter formats. Nice and simple bat to 7, 4 bowlers and some part-time spinners from Kleinveldt.
Then theire back-up players will contribute more for them in the shorter formats like Gous, Snyman, Kruger, Adams.
LIONS
R.Hendricks
D.Hendricks
Van der Dussen
Bavuma (c)
Van den Bergh (wk)
Mulder
D.Pretorius
Magala
Fortuin
Sipamla
B.Hendricks
Along with the Dolphins the favourites. Especially after their recruitment. Magala/Sipamla is a massive improvement on Siboto/Bokako which they would have used if they didn't recruit the Warriors duo.
Only spot I was uncertain of was Dom Hendricks who will have competition from Richards and Rickelton (who right now has only been used in the shorter-formats but I still reckon can push his case in the longer-formats.
IPL : Rabada
Back-up batsmen : Rickelton, Richards, Marshall, Rapulana
Back-up all-rounders : Potgieter, Pongolo
Back-up spinner : Phangiso
Back-up seamers : Hawken, Bokako, Siboto
TITANS
Elgar
Markram
de Bruyn
Klaasen (wk)
Thomson (c)
Rosier
Galiem
Ntini
Cele
Dala
Shamsi
IPL : Du Plessis, de Kock, Ngidi
Back-up batsmen : Brand, Herman, Davids, Sekhukhune
Back-up spinner : Mahlokwana
Back-up seamers : Arnold, Cartwright, Williams, Gumede
Not sure what to think. Will be decent with internationals around but without them still some players that are uncertain and or inexperienced. Wanted to try fit in Cartwright/Arnold above but I'm not sure how they will do that. They may play Makhanya ahead of Rosier and Williams ahead of 1 of Dala/Cele/Ntini. Also we not even sure if Shamsi play 4-day cricket anymore. Davids at 40 is the oldest player left in domestic cricket. Be interesting to see how much he used in limited overs formats. Galiem was the Titans success story of last season. Be interesting to see how this season goes for him.
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