Third Time Lucky ?.....
Seven years of trying to establish a league, the 3rd attemp prevails for CSA
After 7 years and 3 attempts later, South Africa finally has a T20 league of its own. Yeap! CSA has pulled it off (Not Without Graeme Smith’s help of course). We are almost into the 10th or the 11th game of what started off as a “Nameless T20 League” while everything else around it was falling into place and I must say, So far so good. When looking back at the first attempt made by CSA of establishing a T20 league and even perhaps the second, one begins to understand the sort of scepticism the SA20 league was met with by a lot of South African cricket supporters. Myself included.
In 2017, the first attempt to establish a T20 league started in the form of the SA Global T20 League. A league that failed miserably and left CSA in debt and saw a negative impact on a few relationships that CSA had with some of the investors. With the Global T20 league, the only thing we saw of it was the draft and the logo and that was it. CSA’s second shot at a T20 league came in 2018 in the form of the MSL or the Mzansi Super League. Another one that left CSA in debt but this time, not many relationships were broken, especially with investors, and nobody was served papers. We at least saw the tournament even though we may argue that the standard of the MSL was below that of the SA20. The MSL’s 2nd edition was then then postponed till date.
3rd time lucky? A bit of relentlessness from CSA’s side has seen a 3rd attempt in the form of the ongoing SA20. I wont lie, I had my concerns and questions around the league and so did many Saffas. However, I have been impressed with how the league is progressing. This is only the first edition and already the league is doing even better than our own domestic cricket. We had the One day cup and T20 KO tournament just recently but I am sure very few people even can even remember that now.
A couple of matches into the league and the scepticism is only now displayed by a few people. I am not a big t20 cricket fan, but I have enjoyed watching the games, both at the stadium and from home. I do, however, wish that going forward we will see the introduction of a “rookie” pick that will be strictly South African and that the league will also be widespread in terms of access. Domestic cricket is already not accessible to, and international cricket is very selectively accessible, it would make a massive difference if the SA20 was, at some point made available to most South Africans. One of the reasons behind the league is to resurrect CSA’s finances but that should not be the only benefit we see from the tournament. The league needs to benefit CSA holistically, from finances to development. One can really hope that the funds that will be made from the tournament will go where they need to go. It has also been great to see the bums on seats that the league has brought, and we can really hope that this somehow transfers into our domestic cricket, and we see more people coming out to watch. The standard of cricket from both locals and overseas pros, has been really good and can only get better from here.
There has not been an out and out best team so far, all teams are still trying to find their feet. A few interesting calls here and there in terms of selection but overall, the teams all look good in their own way on paper.
My Analysis of Teams
MI Cape Town – Number 1 on the table but only due to superior NRR. A lot lies on Dewald Brevis to give them a flying start because he is the only one in their top 5(along with maybe Sam Curran), who can give them flying starts. Their top 5 is packed with slow starters but there is some power in their lower middle order in the form of George Linde and Delano Potgieter plus Rashid Khan, their captain. The challenge could be come only when these players come in too late. Their highest total batting first so far is a mere 158.
Paarl Rocks – 2nd on the log, one of my favourites to win the tournament. They are one of most balanced sides in the tournament for me and the arrival of Lungi Ngidi just added some extra bowling firepower. Their batting has a lot of firepower and perhaps the fact that they made 189 chasing 200+ is proof of what their batters can do. They might want to replace someone like Jason Roy, who struggles to score runs in SA. Even in the MSL he barely did much.
Pretoria Capitals – 3rd on the log and with a game in hand, the Capitals look like the team to beat at the moment even though they lost to JSK just last night. They just need one or two batters to fire, and their seam attack will do the rest. They have a quality seam attack.
Durban Super Giants – Easily the most interesting side in terms of selection. The only side in the league that plays with 1 specialist batter. They have done well so far, winning 2 out of 4. It feels they are a better light but so their method is working, whether it is sustainable is yet to be seen. One gets the feeling they are a batter light, but we shall see.
Jozi Super Kings – The only side to have been bowled out cheaply twice but have managed to bounce back and win two matches out of 4. JSK’s top 4 looks better after the change they made but they too have a problem similar to MICP, if Faf and Leus do not manage to start well, they will need their middle to lower middle order to fire. It is a good thing that they seem to know when to bring in Donovan Ferreira and it will be crucial for them to constantly get it right.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape – My team of choice, the team from Gqebs. We are currently sitting last on the table, but all is not lost after the crucial victory against MI Cape Town. There has been a sense of over reliance on Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs, and they cannot do the job alone. Bowling has not been bad. Biggest thing for Sunrisers is having Jordan fit. Having Sarel, JJ and Ackerman in one T20 squad was never going to great however, we can take pride in the fact that Sarel seems to have found form in the last game and hope he carries on.
The not so nameless T20 league or rather the SA20 seems to have woken South African up and for the good. We can only hope that from here, our cricket grows stronger and bigger. A financially set CSA should be able to take cricket to the poorest of communities and that one of the things we hope can be achieved through the success of this league.
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Behind the Stumps is a crowd funded Newsletter. The Newsletter continues to exist thanks to readers that Buy me a coffee. To help keep the articles coming, consider buying me a coffee or help grow my following by sharing the newsletter.