Who to Support in South Africa?

[Andy Mellon]

As a bit of an avid watcher of domestic cricket - both in England and New Zealand when I get the chance - I have a big interest in domestic cricket world wide. Unfortunately at the moment, the only domestic cricket on (before the NZ domestic season starts in a month or so) is the South African league.

Now, if I develop an interest in the South African game - I need a team to support and put my weight behind. Can any of our South African members give me the lowdown on the teams and give me some suggestions as to who I should follow?

[Ben_80]

Well Andy.....

I am a Titans supporter. They are based in Pretoria. International players who play for them are: AB de Villiers, Andre Nel, Dale Steyn, Justin Kemp. Albie Morkel, Maartin van Jaarsveld and Alfonso Thomas have also played for the Proteas. As a squad, they probably have the hardest hitting batsmen around.

There are five other franchises: the Warriors (Border and Eastern Province), Dolphins (Kwazulu Natal and neighbouring regions), Highveld Strikers (Gauteng and North-West), Cape Cobras (Western Province and Boland) and the Eagles (Griqualand west and Free State).

Players of note for each team:

Warriors - Mark Boucher, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson
Dolphins - Dale Benkinsteyn, Lance Klusener, Hashim Amla (aka Dean Jones's buddy)
Highveld Strikers - Neil McKenzie, David Terbrugge, Andrew Hall
Cape Cobras - Jaques Kallis, Herscelle Gibbs, Greame Smith
Eagles - Nicky Boje, Johann van der Wath, Roger Telemachus, Boeta Dippenaar.

[Wanderer]

Ooohhh.. Can I interest you in the Cape Cobra's ...

Did not have the best season last, but things are already looking better this early into the new one.

Okay, lets see...Adam Bacher is a new signing, but I believe he's only going to play the MTN Series (limited overs). He decided to retire from cricket after last season, but got drafted into the limited overs squad by the Cobras. He used to be a Lion...But so far, has made a big difference to that Cobra head...

They will unfortunately have to do without Herchelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and perhaps Ashwell Prince too, for most of the season.

Other players to watch: JP Duminy, Paul Adams is still there, Vernon Philander, Monde Zondeki...And 2 new names that are already making waves on the bowling scene. Dominic Telo and Pepler Sanri. He bowled a right decent spell against the visiting Aussies earlier this year, and got a little nod from the people in the know...

And I think he is a name you can well write in your little black book for the future (if you have one ). This guy can bowl. Like a Makhaya Ntini he is. Can bowl the whole day and give it his all...

Derrin Bassage (opener)had a good-ish season last, and I hope to see much more of him this year.

Charl Willoughby is a Kolpak player...but time for him to come back into the "swing" of things ...

And then of course there is the fact that Newlands is THE most beautiful cricket ground in the world. And there you have it. Support the Cape Cobras!

[gibbs_fan]

Hi Andy

I am glad to hear that you are interested in SA domestic cricket. Are you able to watch the games or do you just follow the results. Anyway, I will give you the lowdown of SA cricket

Since I am from the Cape, you must excuse my bias. SA cricket has been divided into 6 provincial sides, which compete in a 4 day, 20 over and 45 over competitions. The 4 day competition, every team plays every other team twice. Team on top of the log is declared the winner. The other 2 competitions, top 4 teams on the log play semi-finals and final to determine the winner.

Lets go to the teams

1) Cape Cobras:
My local side from the cape. This is a very young but talented side. The main problem is that they lack experience especially in the shorter forms of the game. International players include Gibbs, Smith, Kallis, Prince. Future internationals include JP Duminy and Mondi Zondeki. As you can see, when the national players leave, they weaken the side quite a lot. Cobras usually perform well in the 4day competition. Charl Wiloughby has been the leading wicket taker in the competition for 3 straight years.
Player to look out for. JP Duminy. Talented young batsmen. Will play for SA in the near future.

Cobras also include the likes of former SA players, Paul Adams, Allan Dawson, Adam Bacher. Captained by Thami Tsolikele(wicketKeeper).

2) Titans:
Probably the strongest side overall. Good in both short and long formats of the game. Includes the likes of AB de Villiers, Justin Kemp, Andre Nel and Dale Steyn. I am not sure if Martin van Jaarsveld will be playing here this season. Anyway, he is a very good performer at this level. This team has very experienced players. Titans are particularly strong in the short competition as they have many aggressive batsmen as well as some good allrounders. They were runners up in the 45 over competition and shared the 4 day competition last season. While there batting has depth and strength, there bowling is not as good and can be considered their weakness.
Player to watch. H Kuhn. Talented wicket keeper/opening batsmen.

3) Dolphins
Very good 4 day side. Powerful batting line up including the likes of Hashim Amla(leading run scorer 2 seasons running & already a ton this season), Dale Benkenstein, Shaun Pollock, Andrwe Hall and Lance Klusener. Also include experienced campaigners such as Doug Watson, Jon Kent and Ahmed Amla. This team lacks quality bowlers. the Dolphins struggled in the short games last season.
Player to watch. Hashim Amla. I have watched him on numerous occasions. He truly is a talent and I believe he will perform more regularly on the international stage.

4) Eagles
Best side in the short game. Winners of both the 20 over and 45 over competitions last season. I think that the main reason for this is that the side has a good balance of aggressive batsmen and economical bowlers. Also the Eagles are not really affected by international callups ( only Dippenaar, Jaque Rudolph and Nicky Boje) although due to injuries last year, van de Wath and Telemachus were called up. Recently, Loots Bosman has been called up but only for 1 days. He is argubly the most explosive batsmen in the country although he is not very consistent. Bosman is the only SA player to have scored a 100 in the 20 over game. Because their players are suited to the short game, they tend to struggle in the 4 day game ( finishing in the bottom 2 for 2 seasons running). Good young batmen like Davy Jacobs, Morne van Wyk and good bowlers like Telemachus, van de Wath, Tshabalala(off spinner) and Cliffie Deacon(Left arm swing bowler, very good in short games).
Player to watch: Thandi Tshabalala. (hopefully sooner rather than later, they dump Boje out of the side & give a real spinner an opportunity). He is a real wicket taking off spinner.

5.) Lions
An average side, finishing mid table in both forms of the game. Sometimes perform well in the 45 over competition. Internationals include Langeveldt and . This team consists of many SA failures. For example Kruger, Terbrugge, Mckenzie, Ontong, Claude Henderson have not played that many games fo SA. Even though these players have not played often for SA, they are still good performers at provincial level. Signing of Alviro Pietersen will make a difference as he has recently been called up to play for SA.Thus on their day they can beat most teams. A good thing for the team is the average age is still low. Lions will probably improve with experience.
Player to watch. Vaughn van Jaarsveld. Young attacking left handed batsmen. Not very consistent yet but already capable of match winning performances.

6.) Warriors
Ah, leave the worst for last. Always finish in the bottom 2 for all competitions in the last 2 years. International players include Boucher, Ntini and Robin Petersen. Without the experienced national player, this team is very poor. There are almost no players of immense talent or experience. Fortunatley, this season the management finally decided to bring in some experience. Zander de Bruyn( great aquisition, batting alrounder played for SA before), HD Ackermane(former Cobras captain, experienced top order batsmen played for SA), Murray Goodwin (former Zimbabwe batsmen), Hayward( often wayward) and Ngam( A few years ago, the best prospect fast bowler, swing the ball at over 150km/h, unfortunatly kept on getting injured) have been brought in. Add to that Tyron Henderson(top player in last years 20 over competition ) and Arno Jacobs( most consistent batsmen for Warriors over the years.) All of a sudden this side is not too bad.
Player to watch: Zander de Bruyn. Although he isnt young any more, I predict that as captain he will make a considerable difference to the warriors. He will score a couple of hundreds this season.

So there you have it. So who will you be supporting?

[Biggyduets]

I have been keeping a close eye on the Titans as one of there players played for my club in england and was a great player he is only young and must be one for the future. Titans will do a clean sweep in all comps this year

[Ben_80]

Biggyduets

Who was the player?

Was it Johan Myburg? He is very talented. Great batsman!!
Strangely enough, I also played against Goolam Bodi (current Titans squad member) about 7 seasons ago. And he played for a club, Azaadville (Indian community in Krugersdorp, JHB). But he was a left arm wrist bowler, although he got fifty in that club match. He had an attitude though, and my opening batting partner smacked him for the biggest six I ever saw (struck the floodlight mast halfway up on a big field - and the ball was still going up).

I am glad to see that he has changed his tune - and I hope he will continue to prosper at the Titans!!

[Biggyduets]

Heino Kuhn.

He is class he has every shot in the book!!!!!

There are a lot of South africans in the league's in Lancashire there are a lot from pretoria who play club cricket for PHSOB who won club champs twice in a row and also lost in this years final.

[gibbs_fan]

Biggyduets, I doubt that the titans will make a clean sweep. In fact I can guarantee that they wont win the 4 day competition. While they have got some very good batsmen, there bowling leaves a lot to be desired. I watch SA cricket all the time and I can safely say that the titans wont be a threat in the 4 day competition. Yet, I did like the look of young Morne Morkel, he looks like a prospect.

You are right about Kuhn. I saw him play in the club final here and I was very impressed. Then he went on to keep Kruger van Wyk out of the team. He has put in some solid performances especially in the 4 day games. You will notice that I singled him out as a player to watch in the titans team in my previous post. But you must also remember that the other teams also have talented players. Look at JP Duminy, Vaughn Van Jaarsveld, Andrew Puttick. Lets wait and see.

I am glad to see that the players who play in England in the off season come back to SA to play here. We would'nt want England to steal our talent again.

[Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Biggyduets

Heino Kuhn.

He is class he has every shot in the book!!!!!

Hi Biggyduets, and a warm welcome to WAT.

Yes, Heino Kuhn is a good prospect, but he will have to lift Morne van Wyk out of the saddle first...and listening to Morne, he has no plans to relinquish his "A" team status soon.

We'll see how Kuhn does this season. Especially the Pro20 series. He did not play that last season. But now that the Titans have lost Alviro Peterson at the top, he might well find himself filling that position.

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by gibbs_fan

Hi Andy...

Wow! Who to reply to! I put this up last night, expecting maybe one or two short replies by the morning, but wake up to find some very detailed and well thought out posts. I guess domestic cricket in South Africa attracts die hard supporters in much the same way that County Cricket does in England.

Here's a question though - do you support your franchise enough that you would prefer all your stars to play in your key franchise games rather than for the Proteas?

Anyway, thanks to Ben_80, Gibbs_fan and Wanderer for the pointers so far. I'm still finding myself a little torn.

My favourite South African players are Andrew Hall, Makhaya Ntini and Herschelle Gibbs. Unfortunately, they all play for different teams; so no help there

I also have a friend who goes to university in Cape Town - he'd be shouting at me to support the Cobras, but from the sound of their squad, they don't need me rooting for them!

I'd also be tempted to support the perennial underachievers (sounds like the Warriors here), but with the signings they've made, maybe they'll put up a better fight this season.

I am pretty glad that most of the players that Gibbs_fan mentioned, I have heard of. Interesting to see the names Neil McKenzie, Adam Bacher and Lance Klusener still around. They seemed to drop of my radar a few years back.