Photo Credit: SA20 League
Dale Steyn took 699 international wickets during his stellar international career with the Proteas.
But Steyn unfortunately never had the distinction of bagging a hat-trick.
The Sunrisers Eastern Cape bowling coach now though has the opportunity of claiming a hat-trick of a different kind.
Steyn has been an integral part of the Sunrisers’ back-to-back Betway SA20 championship triumphs the past two seasons. And now he and the rest of the SEC management and squad are aiming for three in a row next season.
VIEW SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE’S SEASON 3 SQUAD
“A hat-trick would be amazing,” Steyn told SA20.
“You put plans in preparation and then it’s up to the players to perform the magic and the management to keep everyone happy.
“If you get that recipe right, sometimes it works for you, and sometimes it doesn’t, fortunately it has worked for us for the first two seasons, and hopefully it works again.”
While Steyn is the master of simplification – legends tend to find most things easy – there is a much greater science to the Sunrisers’ success that they have achieved over the past two seasons.
And a lot of that rests with head coach Adrian Birrell and the culture he has moulded at the Sunrisers.
Birrell, 63, is almost like a father figure at SEC. His attention to detail in selecting each player and support staff member to join the Sunrisers is impeccable.
The former Proteas assistant coach does not choose individuals purely on their statistics, but also on the character and temperament and the overall value they will bring to the Sunrisers.
“Adi Birrell is a wonderful coach and speaks strongly about his relationship with his players,” Steyn said.
“He has put together a great team where everyone is level-headed.
“It boils down to wanting your players to have the best environment to perform. And I think we have created that.
“We’ve seen guys perform outstandingly and go on to play at the highest honours. Even our international players that have come over and played for us have gone on to play for England.
“It’s about creating an environment that allows players to express themselves and create success which has worked in the franchise’s favour.”
ALL SUNRISERS’S SEASON 3 FIXTURES
The Sunrisers open their double-title defence against MI Cape Town at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on 9 January 2025.
Steyn cannot wait to return to the happy hunting ground for the Season 3 competition opener.
“It really feels like a family unit when you come down to St George’s Park in Gqeberha. It’s a wonderful place to play cricket. Our players have enjoyed it. From the food we get to the preparations. Everyone gels in together,” he said.
“And over the last two seasons, when you’re winning, the band singing in your favour, it’s tough for the opposition to come down. It’s a great place to play cricket. I don’t want to wish days away, but I am really excited for when that day does come.”
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Name of Author: SA20 League
SA20, officially known as the Betway SA20 for sponsorship reasons, is a Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament in South Africa organized by Cricket South Africa (CSA). First held in the 2023 season, the league features six city-based teams. Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the first two editions of the tournament.
