Getting ready for the 2023/24 season.
Who’s getting relegated this season?
For the last couple of years, South African cricket has been going through some change. From the board, the board set up to the structure of domestic cricket. The first ever Director of Cricket South Africa was former Proteas captain, Graeme Smith and with Graeme came the new structure of domestic cricket.
In 2021, the announcement that the domestic structure would be reset back to the old ‘province base’ system with semi professional cricket being scrapped was made. The new provincial system would then have 15 teams separated in terms of division 1 and division 2. The new structure would also have a relegation(from Div 1 to 2) and promotion(from Div 2 to 1) system. Division 1 would have 8 teams and division 2 would then have 7. There were a lot of questions asked and a bit of uncertainty as to how it would work. The relegation and Promotion system especially, raised a lot of question. Questions around how it would work and whether or not it was a good idea. Perhaps, not questions one can really answer after just 1 full season of the new structure.
For the first two seasons, CSA sort of piloted the new relegation/promotion system hence teams were relegated based on their performances across two seasons and with all formats being considered. A lot of people were wondering how Knights got relegated finished 6th out of 8 teams in the 4 day series. Northern Cape won Division 2’s 4 day series but despite that, the Tuskers got promoted as per the new system. The Dolphins edged the Lions and Warriors to yet another 4 day series trophy. As of the 2023/24 season, there’s going to be automatic relegation and promotion.
Where to for the Knights ?
The Knights became the first team to be relegated in the new system as the Tuskers became the first to get promoted. The Knights find themselves in very unfamiliar territory and they’ll be looking to bounce back which will make the domestic set up highly competitive. No province will want to be relegated. The Knights will have to do without their star players like Pite, Raynard and Gerald, who all have signed with other division 1 sides. The Knights coach will definitely have his work cut out for him. He will have to assemble a squad first and then lead that squad to promotion back into Div 1.
Tuskers ready to rumble.
Coach Grant Morgan has made a couple of quality signings in order to strengthen and ready his side for division 1. Having coached Dolphins in the old structure, Morgs is also no stranger to South African top flight cricket. The Tuskers should be able to compete and even challenge for titles.
2023/24 season
All Provinces from across the two divisions have made signings. Some have made fewer signings than others but that’s always the order of the day. The 2023/24 season promises to be an exciting one. A lot of eyes would’ve been opened after the Knights got relegated. Everyone is feeling the heat which is exactly what will make the season an exciting one. There’s a lot at stake and not just trophies but a spot in Div 1.
I’ll be looking at the squads in my next article(s) and picking each side’s probable XI. I will also be making predictions as to which team will finish where in which format.