Photo Credit: SA20 League
Smith praises team’s spirit and resilience to qualify for ICC World Test Championship Final
Betway SA20 Commissioner Graeme Smith is incredibly proud of the Proteas Men’s team after their qualification for the ICC World Test Championship Final set to be staged in London next year.
Smith holds the distinction of being the only Proteas captain to have lifted the coveted mace, after leading the Men’s Test side to the ICC No 1 ranking at Lord’s in 2012, the same venue for next year’s final.
The Proteas earned their qualification after defeating Pakistan by two wickets in a thrilling conclusion at Centurion to win the first Test of the two-match series. Chasing 148 for victory, the home side battled back from 99/8 by showing great resilience and determination through a magnificent unbeaten 51-run ninth wicket partnership between Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s Marco Jansen and MI Cape Town’s Kagiso Rabada.
It earned the Proteas a sixth successive Test victory helping them reach 66.67 percentage points atop the WTC standings with only the Newlands New Year Test remaining in the cycle.
“Congratulations to the team for what they’ve achieved to get into this place and be given the chance to hold the mace,” Smith said.
“You can see that the team has a good energy. They look like a team that’s really playing for each other. They’re committed to each other and they’re playing well. It’s also great to see the spirit with which they’re playing the game.”
With the much-anticipated Betway SA20 Season 3 set to kick-off on January 9, 2025 in Gqeberha after the conclusion of the second Test at Newlands, Smith feels there is a feeling of excitement and pride running through South African cricket again.
“I feel there’s some real spirit being built back into the game with people starting to get behind our team again,” Smith said.
“At Betway SA20 we’re part of the greater cricket ecosystem and play a role in helping South African cricket grow. Our goal remains to expose our local players to an outstanding competition where the best are playing against the best. That way they get used to pressure situations.
“We want to try and create a player pool that has depth and for players to push for a place in the Proteas team. That creates good competition and that’s ultimately how you get better national teams.”
Proteas Test stars Rabada, Jansen, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton and David Bedingham will all be involved in the Betway SA20 competition opener between Sunrisers Eastern Cape and MI Cape Town at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on January 9, 2025.
“There are so many key events in the upcoming six months from the Betway SA20, ICC Champions Trophy and WTC, I really hope South Africans will get behind the team and the players.
“The League kicks off in only 10 days and gives fans another opportunity to watch some of these stars in action at home. I hope everyone will come out in their numbers to support their teams in this anticipated third season,” Smith concluded.
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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.
