Photo Credit: Cricket South Africa
New VKB Knights coach Allan Donald says his players just want to get on to the park and play as they prepare for their 2020/21 season-opener against the Warriors in the 4-Day Domestic Series at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein from Monday.
After an anxious autumn and winter brought about by COVID-19, the new term is finally here – much to the excitement of the entire cricket fraternity.
The franchise red-ball competition is also the only one that will be played for the rest of the year, meaning all the focus will be on South Africa’s next generation of Test cricketers. Amongst them will also be the current generation, who are available for the opening few rounds.
“We’re all set to go and we couldn’t be more ready even if we wanted to,” Donald said. “We’re done with training and basically it’s now into competition we go, so I cannot be happier with the progress as well as the attitude of the players.
“Also the form that the guys are in, it’s been terrific to see, but now we’ve got to go out there and play. Everyone’s anxious because of selection.”
The Knights did lose some of their more consistent players of recent years during the off-season, with the likes of Keegan Petersen and Ottniel Bartman now gone. However, they have recruited smartly by bringing in Farhaan Behardien, Jonathan Vandiar, Migael Pretorius, Alfred Mothoa, Matthew Kleinveldt and Ferisco Adams.
But they will be missing one key man for the start.
“Unfortunately we had a bit of a mishap with Gerald Coetzee and he injured his hamstring quite badly,” Donald lamented. “He took a bad fall in training and it’s such a shame. So he’s going to be on the crocked list for a little while.”
The Warriors will begin a first-class season without Sisanda Magala for the first time in nearly a decade after he moved to the Imperial Lions, along with rising star Sisanda Magala.
But they still have a promising young squad at their disposal and have added former Knights pair Tshepo Ntuli and Marco Jansen to their roster as well as Wihan Lubbe and Mthiwekhaya Nabe.
“With Robbie P and his cricket brain I expect a hard onslaught,” added Donald when sizing up the visitors. “They have one of us from last season in Marco Jansen and, looking at their squad overall, they’ve got a really well-balanced team and there’s no doubt they’ll come here to try and prove a point.
“There’s no question about it so we’re expecting a tough game. When you come to Bloemfontein you should know that you’re in for a hard four days. The pitches here are always very good, mostly for batters, but it’s going to be a tough old slog in this first game. So I’m expecting a big battle from them, they’re a good outfit.”
Warriors boss Robin Peterson, who is taking the reins for his first full season, is also bullish about their prospects.
“We play every game to win,” he says. “That’s the most important thing and it’s the way we always approach games. We want to be competitive and play our best cricket whenever we can. Starting well will be a bonus, but by no means are you going to win the competition if you do it.”
Peterson confirmed that he had a fully fit group of players available for the game.
“The guys are all ready to play now, they’ve had a long pre-season and I think like everybody around the country, cricketers want to get on the park and play,” he said. “We’re no different. We have a full squad available, everyone is fit and heathy. Most importantly, I think everyone is in a good mental space and that’s where we’re at.”
As for the Knights, Peterson warned that they will offer his team a stern opening test. He added: “The Knights are a good team and they’ve been building something there for a few years now.
“They have some good experienced players mixed amongst other extremely talented young cricketers. They had a good season last year too, so they will be hoping to build on that. We’re quite a young group too, so it will be an interesting game.”
The Knights squad for 2020/21 is: Mbulelo Budaza, Gerald Coetzee, Farhaan Behardien, Ferisco Adams, Andries Gous, Duan Jansen, Matthew Kleinveldt, Patrick Kruger, Wandile Makwetu, Grant Mokoena, Alfred Mothoa, Migael Pretorius, Jacques Snyman, Pite van Biljon (capt), Raynard van Tonder, Jonathan Vandiar, Shaun von Berg.
The Warriors squad for 2020/21 is: Stefan Tait, Matthew Breetzke, Lesiba Ngoepe, Wihan Lubbe, Anrich Nortje, Sinethemba Qeshile, Tshepo Ntuli, Jon-Jon Smuts, Yaseen Vallie (capt), Eddie Moore, Gihahn Cloete, Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Basheer Walters, Marco Jansen, Rudi Second, Aya Gqamane, Glenton Stuurman, Marco Marais, Jade de Klerk.
Name of Author: Cricket South Africa
Cricket South Africa (CSA) governs cricket in South Africa. Formed in 2002, it succeeded the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB) and became the sole governing body in 2008. CSA oversees all levels of cricket, including national teams for men and women, and is a full ICC member and SASCOC affiliate.
