The start of the SA20 is fast approaching, with the opening clash taking place on Thursday between the Sunrisers Eastern Cape and MI Cape Town at St George’s Park in Gqeberha (5.30pm start).
With all six franchises spoiled with star-studded squads to pick from, here Obakeng Meletse picks the six players to look out for from each team...
David Miller (Paarl Royals)
The hard-hitting left-hander has had the Boland team as his home for the first two editions of the tournament, and he will lead the way both as captain and, most importantly, in his role as a middle-order finisher.
The 35-year-old Proteas stalwart is well-travelled and a highly sought-after T20 player, and with 467 runs scored in just 21 innings – with a tournament strike-rate of 123.24 – this could be the ideal season for Miller to help his relatively young side kick on from a midfield team to challenge for the title.
Jonny Bairstow (Joburg Super Kings)
Nicknamed ‘Bluey’, Jonny Bairstow announced himself in the T20 tournament game with his destructive opening partnership at the Indian Premier League side Sunrisers Hyderabad with Australian opener David Warner.
Recent times haven’t been easy for the 35-year-old, and he has been short of game-time with the English national team.
But as the shine of his form dims, his class could be on its way to glowing as he embarks on his new journey with the Joburg Super Kings.
Bairstow has scored close to 7 000 career T20 runs at a strike-rate of 137.56, and his experience and power at the top of the order could play a key role in setting the tone early in the powerplay.
Liam Livingstone (Pretoria Capitals)
Livingstone made the move from the south-west coast to the north-east parts of South Africa to join up with the Pretoria Capitals. His stint with MI Cape Town didn’t yield fruitful returns, and the hope moving to the highveld will be for him to live up to the same standards he has shown in England’s colours, as well as the Punjab Kings.
The 31-year-old is also a handy leg-break bowler, and he could be a useful option for captain Rilee Rossouw as they attempt to recover from their disappointing showing last season.
Trent Boult (MI Cape Town)
The former New Zealand international is lethal with the new ball in the powerplay, and he can often be like a force of nature that only a few batsmen can control.
The Cape side will welcome his addition, as apart from a poor second edition that saw them finish last on the table, none of their bowlers managed to make the top 10 of the highest wicket-takers.
His experience playing in the many different leagues around the world could be required as soon as the first match of the tournament against the defending champions tomorrow.
Ottniel Baartman (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
The right-arm fast bowler is the overall leading wicket-taker throughout the two editions, and he will have another key role to play with the ball as the Sunrisers Eastern Cape look to make it three tournament wins in a row.
Baartman was named the bowler of the season in 2024, and he has picked up 30 wickets across the two editions.
He had a part to play in South Africa reaching the T20 World Cup final against India earlier this year, and that experience could come in handy in his third season with the Orange Army.
Quinton de Kock (Durban’s Super Giants)
The destructive opener will make his third appearance for Durban’s Super Giants, and after a couple of fairly quiet seasons, the stage could be set for him to unleash his best game.
De Kock was at his free-flowing best at the T20 World Cup, scoring an impressive 243 runs in just nine matches to end the tournament as the fourth-highest run-scorer.
At his best, the 32-year-old has all the tools to help the Durban-based side to go one better than they did last season, after falling to a massive 89-run loss to the Sunrisers in last year’s final. | Independent Media Sport