We take a look at the major moves at franchise level and what each player brings to their new sides.
MULTIPLY TITANS
Thando Ntini – Cobras to Titans
Ntini had a breakthrough season at the Cobras. In fact, his career progressed quite rapidly in just a year. He has amazing control with the ball and the ability to hit the danger zones consistently, which is the reason for his wicket-taking prowess. His influence on the Cobras was clear in the 2019/20 season.
He will bring consistency to the Titans setup especially with Lungi Ngidi not always being available for selection due to national duty. He is an all-format bowler, who isn’t a slouch with the bat either.
Okuhle Cele – Dolphins to Titans
The Titans have had some bad luck with their new signings in the fast bowling department. Marcelo Piedt was a promising seamer but injuries have been an issue for him this season. Cele’s move is a final piece of the puzzle for the Titans as he joins a young fast bowling group which includes Thando Ntini. Under the watchful eye of Quinton Friend at the Dolphins, Cele has shown a lot of growth all-round as a fast bowler.
Lizaad Willaims – Cobras to the Titans
Williams has always found it tough to break into the Cobras side as a regular feature. He will add raw pace to the Titans attack which without him only has medium pacers. His experience will be key for the Titans.
READ: LIZAAD WILLIAMS BRINGS COMPETITIVE “ATTITUDE” TO TITANS
Sibonelo Makhanya – Dolphins to Titans
The Dolphins all-rounder now has a chance to take his game to the next level. Moving to the Titans will give the 24-year-old the opportunity to solidify a partnership with Dayyaan Galiem as the main two all-rounders.
WORLD SPORTS BETTING COBRAS
Tony de Zorzi – Titans to Cobras
De Zorzi has been a top prospect for a long time, but it is now time for him to step up and fulfil his potential. The move to the Cobras will give him the opportunity he needs to showcase his talent. The Cobras needed a franchise-ready quality top-order black-African batsman from a selection perspective, especially with their recent troubles regarding the transformation guidelines. De Zorzi ticks all the boxes across all formats and his selection will be essential especially after the departure of David Bedingham and when they lose their players to national duty.
READ: “I REALLY WANTED TO WORK WITH ASHWELL PRINCE” – TONY DE ZORZI
Onke Nyaku – Warriors to Cobras
The Cobras lost their all-rounder in Ferisco Adams to the Knights, Nyaku comes into the Cobras side with a similar repertoire as that of Adams. Eric Simmons signed the youngster at the Bay Giants in MSL 2.0 and showed a lot of confidence in the young man by playing him in big games. Nyaku’s addition will also lengthen the Cobras batting options.
Calvin Savage – Dolphins to the Cobras
After 8 years at the Dolphins Savage has moved to the Cobras. The 27-year-old has particularly flourished in first-class cricket and has 167 wickets in 66 games at an average of 24. The right-arm speedster adds right-arm pace to the Cobras’ fast-bowling arsenal, who are spoilt for choice with left-arm speedsters.
Imran Manack – Titans to Cobras
Imran has had a great 2019/20 season for both the Tshwane Spartans in the MSL and the Titans in the Momentum One Day Cup. The tall 28-year-old has played 23 first-class matches since making his debut in 2013, only being a regular feature at the Titans last season. He’s an ex-factor spinner who comes into the Cobras squad in place of an experienced ex-factor spinner in Dane Piedt.
Corbin Bosch – Titans to Cobras
Bosch is one of the few fast bowlers in SA who can crank it up to the mid 140’s [kph]. He will bring express pace into the Cobras bowling unit.
Tshepo Moreki – Titans to Cobras
Moreki returns to the iconic New Lands Stadium, having represented the Cobras and Western Province early on in his career. He will bring experience in a young Cobras bowling unit.
Ziyaad Abrahams – Boland to Cobras
Isma-eel Gafieldien – Boland to Cobras
IMPERIAL CENTRAL GAUTENG LIONS
Lutho Sipamla – Warriors to Lions
There is no doubt that this is a massive signing for the Lions. Adding this budding Proteas star will add quality to the Lions’ already solid team across all formats. The Lions Coach, Wandile Gwavu, has been working with Sipamla since he was about 11 years-old in the EP age-group sides to coaching him in the SA U19s side. Sipamla will come into a coaching environment he knows very well.
READ: LUTHO SIPAMLA: PROTEAS TAUGHT ME PRECISION
Wesley Marshall – Titans to the Lions
He built a great partnership at the top of the order with De Zorzi. But now he moves to the Lions. He will add necessary punch and calmness to the Lions’ side. He managed to score 500-plus runs for 4 consecutive years in first-class cricket. The 2019/20 season, in particular, was his best year, scoring 884 runs at an average of 49 that included 8 half-centuries and 1 century.
READ: WESLEY MARSHALL TO CROSS THE JUKSKEI FOR GREENER PASTURES
Sisanda Magala – Warriors to Lions
We saw what Sisanda Magala can do in the shortest format. A king of death bowling, the fast bowler was exquisite at the Cape Town Blitz and proved his ability. He will now aim to add top-quality and experience to an already talented Lions side.
READ: “I NEVER LEFT THE WARRIORS IN BAD SPIRIT” – SISANDA MAGALA
Tladi Bokako – Cobras to the Lions
This is another big loss for the Cobras heading into the 2020/21 season. Bokako offers rare red-ball bowling skills that any franchise team would need to be successful. In 2018, he was called-up in a none-playing role in the Proteas squad, with Linda Zondi explaining that addition as rewarding Bokako’s hard-work in his debut season for the Cobras. The Lions are coached by a man from Motherwell Cricket Club, Wandile Gwavu, which is the same club that grew Bokako to be the bowler he is today. An attack that includes Bokako, Sipamla and Magala is one to look out for next season.
WARRIORS
Marco Jansen – Knights to Warriors
The Warriors have been crying at out for a seamer all-rounder. Jansen fits the bill perfectly. From a bowling perspective especially, with Andrew Birch leaving, he will have room to grow at the Warriors.
READ: “I’M AIMING TO BRING A FIGHTING SPIRIT TO THE WARRIORS” – MARCO JANSEN
Wihan Lubbe – Lions to Warriors
Lubbe is an exceptional talent. He is comfortable across all three formats. The spinning all-rounder who has been a magnificent soldier for the Lions. His move to the Warriors should surely mean more game time for the 27-year-old as and will particularly fit snuggly into a young batting lineup.
ALSO READ: WIHAN LUBBE EXCITED TO LEARN FROM ROBIN PETERSON AT THE WARRIORS
Mthiwekhaya Nabe – Cobras to Warriors
The former Cobras quick never had much game time in recent times at the Cobras, with his career also halted by a couple of injuries. He found himself playing semi-pro cricket more than he would have liked. Now he has a new challenge in a young Warriors side, to show his potential.
HOLLYWOOD BETS DOLPHINS
Keegan Petersen – Knights to Dolphins
Petersen has been a consistent run-machine at franchise level for the last few seasons. He comes into the Dolphins side to complete what already looks a formidable batting order. A top four that includes Grant Roelofsen, Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen and Marques Ackermann will undoubtedly be one of the strongest in franchise cricket. A huge loss for the Knights but a great addition to the Dolphins side.
READ: Keegan Petersen to use Dolphins move as a springboard for Test cricket
Ruan de Swardt – Titans to Dolphins
The all-rounder has struggled to get opportunities at the Titans due to their star-studded lineup. The move to the Dolphins will be the perfect opportunity for the youngster to showcase his ability. An all-format player, De Swardt will be a key addition to the Dolphins especially when their prime all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo is on International duty.
READ: RUAN DE SWARDT AIMS TO BRING “NEW DYNAMIC” TO DOLPHINS
Ottniel Baartman – Knights to Dolphins
Baartman’s fast-bowling capabilities will be handy for the Dolphins especially in the longer format. His record in first-class cricket is 75 wickets in 24 matches, at an economy rate of 3.21. 29 of those wickets came for the Knights. It will be interesting to see how Baartman teams up with Daryn Dupavillon and Ruan de Swardt if they play together.
VKB KNIGHTS
Alfred Mothoa – Titans to Knights
Mothoa has been a regular in the Titans white-ball campaigns in the last two seasons, although game time has been hard to come by in the longer format this season which is a clue to the reason behind his move to the Knights. Mothoa has a lot of varieties in his repertoire which will make him complementary to the likes of Gerard Coetzee who operate with raw pace. With Allan Donald taking over next season it makes sense why Mothoa made the move.
Matthew Kleinveldt – Cobras to the Knights
With opportunities at the Cobras limited, the Knights is a great move for Kleinveldt. He proved his ability anywhere in the top order for the Cobras and will bring solidarity to a young Knights batting lineup.
Ferisco Adams – Cobras to the Knights
Nicknamed the Iceman, Adams has been known for keeping his head in pressure situations. Particularly effective in the shorter formats, with both bat and ball, Adams will add necessary experience and calmness to a Knights side craving players for the big moments.
Migael Pretorius – Lions to Knights
It has been tough for Pretorius to make his mark in the Lions side because of the rise of Delano Potgieter and Wihan Lubbe. With Shadley van Schalkwyk retiring early this season and Marco Jansen signing with the Warriors, Pretorius might get more game time at the Knights.
Jonathan Vandiar – Titans to Knights
With 108 first-class games under his belt, the 29-year-old brings necessary experience to the Knights setup. He joins the likes of Raynard van Tonder, Matthew Kleinveldt and Jacques Snyman at the top of the order.
*List to be updated as stories break.
Photos: BackPagePix
