How you can help us

By Khalid Mohidin

Hey, guys! Welcome to another issue of Cricket Fanatics Magazine, the first and only fan-driven Cricket publication in South Africa.

We started this venture on 1 July 2019 with a vision to get fans from all walks of life engaged with the game and give them access to the personalities in South African Cricket.

We want to tell the untold stories of South African cricket and we want fans to be heard.

Since we started, we covered the Mzansi Super League, Women’s Super League, Proteas Men and Women International Test, ODI and T20I series, as well as school and club cricket, with the aim of providing entertaining, engaging and educational content.

But haven't stopped there.

We started a Monthly Magazine where we provide multi-media content, including exclusive features, opinion pieces and analysis.

This works hand-in-hand with our YouTube channel where we produce unique cricket shows that allow fans to call in and have their say.

We have the Daily Show, which reveals all the major talking points in South African cricket, the Sunday Podcast Show where we sit back, relax and engage with the live chat, answering all the questions fans have about us and the game.

We have Off-Side Maidens, the first ever All-Women’s Cricket Show on YouTube, which helps empower women in cricket and gives them a place to share their own views on not only women’s cricket but all cricket.

We have a Legends show, where we interview all legends in cricket.

To produce all of this, we’ve invested a lot of money, time and effort to bring this to you for free.

But to keep this going we need your help.

So we have opened a Patreon account.

In the past, the super-rich supported the work of artists as patrons of the art.

Today, we are fortunate that technology has enabled anyone to become a patron of creative work, even if they are not billionaires.

We have therefore launched a campaign for you as a Cricket Fan to become a patron and support us as an independent, bootstrapped publisher.

As a Patron, you also get your voice heard as a Fan.

Plus: You have the opportunity to become more engaged with the content we produce.

Every month we produce at least:

• 60 Website Articles
• 20 Daily Video Shows
• 4 Weekly Podcasts
• Match Previews
• Match Reviews
• Video Interviews
• And more…

So please join our Patreon today initiative today. Even a tiny amount can make a big difference.

Proteas Women plan to ‘maintain consistency’ ahead of T20 World Cup

Marc Jacobson

It will be fight or flight for the women’s Proteas side as they head into the T20 World Cup – that starts on October 3 – and the team as a whole would be feeling wary of their chances, but cautiously optimistic at the same time.

The side, captained by the astute Laura Wolvaardt, won’t exactly be entering the world showpiece on the ground running, since they’d just lost both of their warm-up games to New Zealand and India respectively. However, they can cup a ray of hope in their 2-1 series victory over Pakistan on away soil just last month.

Admittedly, the South African side in recent times hadn’t really reaped similar success to what they’d once enjoyed, when they’d become the first South African senior side to reach a WC final on home soil in the last T20 event in early 2023. Their results and performances – in all formats – over the last several months have been mild to say the least, with a lack of consistency one of their key hindrances.

However, without further digression into the recent past, their focus now turns to the upcoming World Cup, to which interim head coach Dillon du Preez has remained rather positive with regards to his side’s chances.

“The team has shown great potential,” Du Preez told Cricket Fanatics Magazine. “We’ve been working hard on our skills and strategies.

“Our preparation has been really good, and I believe we have a strong squad that can definitely compete with anyone at this WC. The recent bilateral tour has been crucial in our preparation – during that Pakistani tour we’d taken away key insight [regarding] our batting and bowling partnerships, as well as our own conditioning, which will all be vital in the WC.”

Without remaining too diplomatic, Du Preez did echo earlier sentiments that the side needs to perform considerably more harmoniously as a group if they want to go all the way in this tournament.

“We need to focus on key areas like maintaining consistency in performance, and we also need to make sure we handle pressure moments better than the opposition, as T20 matches can swing very quickly.

“We’ve been focusing a lot on our skills and obviously the way we want to play. The mood in the camp; everyone’s excited and they’re really looking forward.”

Preparing for the T20 showdown can be a lot more fickle than that of a 50-over event or a Test series, for example, simply because there is much less margin for error, which reinforces their need to be as precise and meticulous as possible in their approach.

“We’re just focusing more on explosive batting, being more aggressive bowling and being a lot sharper in the field.

“There is a big emphasis on quick decision-making and adaptability since every ball can change the game.”

The 42-year-old former medium-fast bowler, who formerly represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL in 2009, said his squad selection for the WC strikes a fine balance between experience and youth.

“We’ve got some seasoned players who’ve been crucial in previous tournaments, and in bringing leadership and composure, while the younger players add a bit of energy and a fresh perspective. Overall, we’re happy with the balance we have.”

With Wolvaardt, who is ranked 2nd on the ICC ODI batting rankings and 5th in the world on the T20 standings, spearheading the side the Proteas should be in safe hands.

“Laura has been a big part of our success over the past few years. Her ability to lead goes on and off the field, which has been amazing.

“She also has a strong support system – beyond Laura there are several other experienced players who also contribute, which takes some pressure off the captain.”

Du Preez, who stepped into his head coach role in May this year, admitted that every team can pose a threat at the world event that is held in the UAE, especially “given the competitive nature of the T20 game”, and also because the conditions can sort of be a neutralising factor.

“It can come down to who has the better form on the day, which is what makes this tournament so exciting. I think the biggest thing for us will be to focus on our strengths while respecting the opposition. It’s important to stick to our game plans, but also to be flexible in adapting at any stage.”

South Africa is set to kick-start their WC campaign against the West Indies in Dubai on October 4.

Business Corner

By Khalid Mohidin

Businesses can now market affordably and effectively to a cricket audience!

We are excited to announce the launch of our Business Corner to help you market your business, products and services affordably and effectively to a cricket audience.

Since we started Cricket Fanatics Magazine in 2019, we've survived a pandemic, lockdowns, no cricket and even the financial woes of Cricket South Africa.

As a small, independent startup, we know how difficult it is to remain competitive under difficult circumstances.

We have to compete with some of the biggest media companies in the world ourselves, despite not having the budget and the resources they have.

However, we found a strategy that works for smaller businesses and that has been proven to work for thousands of businesses all over the world.

When we first discovered this strategy, we didn't believe that it would work.

After all, everybody around us was trying to blast their way to success via social media, just like the big brands did with traditional media like print, radio and television.

But it made so much sense that we decided to test it ourselves.

Today we are a well-respected publication in cricket circles.

And we have the systems to help any business implement the strategy.

We've therefore decided to start a Business Corner to help businesses implement this strategy.

But we know it's not for everybody.

Read more about the strategy and the system on our Business Page to decide whether you are ready to implement a modern online marketing strategy that gets you more long-term happy customers.

Test Series in Bangladesh

Test head coach Shukri Conrad announced a strong 15-player squad for the two-match series against Bangladesh in October.

Dafabet Warriors all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy has been recalled for the first time since his last appearance for the Proteas in March 2023. The 30-year-old, who has three Test caps, has taken 247 first-class wickets and amassed nearly 5 000 runs at an average of 30.41.

Muthusamy is one of three frontline spinners in the squad, alongside Keshav Maharaj and the Knights’ Dane Piedt.

Kagiso Rabada will spearhead the pace attack, which also includes Nandre Burger, World Sports Betting Western Province’s Dane Paterson, and DP World Lions all-rounder Wiaan Mulder.

Warriors batter Matthew Breetzke, who was part of the recent Test tour of the West Indies, is the only uncapped player in the side.

Captain Temba Bavuma will lead the side in the two-match series which gets underway from 21 – 25 October in Dhaka, before his side heads toChattogram for the second Test from 29 October – 02 November.

Commenting on the squad, Conrad said: “I want to firstly thank both boards, Cricket South Africa and the Bangladesh Cricket Board, for ensuring the series goes ahead.

“Bangladesh is always a tough place to tour. They’ve become a formidable side at home and we have to be prepared for the challenge that awaits us. We have therefore chosen a squad for the conditions we are expecting to greet us when we get there.

“We have three frontline spinners and all of them have the ability to step up at any time they are needed. This is a great chance for someone like Senuran, who has potential to make a mark with both bat and ball. We are really looking forward to seeing what he can offer.

“Overall, we trust the depth and versatility in our squad to meet this challenge head-on.”

Proteas Test squad against Bangladesh
Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), David Bedingham (World Sports Betting Western Province), Matthew Breetzke (Dafabet Warriors), Nandre Burger (World Sports Betting Western Province), Tony de Zorzi (World Sports Betting Western Province), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), Wiaan Mulder (DP World Lions), Senuran Muthusamy (Dafabet Warriors), Dane Paterson (World Sports Betting Western Province), Dane Piedt (Knights), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Tristan Stubbs (Dafabet Warriors), Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions), and Kyle Verreynne (World Sports Betting Western Province).

The squad will attend a red-ball camp at the Centre of Excellence in Pretoria from 12 – 14 October, before departing for Bangladesh from OR Tambo International Airport on 15 October.

Test batting coach Ashwell Prince will return for the tour.

Test Series

21 – 25 October

Bangladesh vs South Africa – Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

29 October – 02 November

Bangladesh vs South Africa – Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram

SA20 Full Squads and Buys in Auction

By Khalid Mohidin

MI Cape Town has bought Proteas opener Reeza Hendricks for R4.30 Million which was the biggest buy at the SA20 Auction

Squads as they stand ahead of Season 3 Auction:

Durban’s Super Giants: Brandon King, Quinton De Kock, Naveen Ul Haq, Kane Williamson, Chris Woakes, Prenelan Subrayen, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Noor Ahmed, Heinrich Klaasen, Jon-Jon Smuts, Wiaan Mulder, Junior Dala, Bryce Parsons, Matthew Breetzke, Jason Smith, Marcus Stoinis.

Picked up in Auction: Shamar Joseph (R425k), Christopher Jayden King (Rookie)

Joburg Super Kings: Faf Du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Maheesh Theekshana, Devon Conway, Gerald Coetzee, David Wiese, Leus Du Plooy, Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger, Donavon Ferreira, Imran Tahir, Sibonelo Makhanya, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Picked up in Auction: Wihan Lubbe (175k), Evan Jones (175k), Doug Bracewell (175k), JP King (Rookie), Matheesa Pathirana (wildcard)

MI Cape Town: Rashid Khan, Ben Stokes, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, Azmatullah Omarzai, Dewald Brevis, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Nuwan Thushara, Connor Esterhuizen, Delano Potgieter, Rassie Van Der Dussen, Thomas Kaber, Chris Benjamin.

Picked up in Auction: Reeza Hendricks (R4.30 million), Colin Ingram (R175k), Dane Piedt (175k), Tristan Luus (Rookie)

Pretoria Capitals: Anrich Nortje, Jimmy Neesham, Will Jacks, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Will Smeed, Migael Pretorius, Rilee Rossouw, Eathan Bosch, Wayne Parnell, Senuran Muthusamy, Kyle Verreynne, Daryn Dupavillon, Steve Stolk, Tiaan van Vuuren, Liam Livingstone.

Picked up in Auction: Marques Ackerman (800k), Evan Lewis (R1.50 million), Kyle Simmonds (175k), Keagan Lion-Cachet (Rookie)

Paarl Royals: David Miller, Mujeeb Ur-Rahman, Sam Hain, Joe Root, Dinesh Karthik, Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Van Buuren, Keith Dudgeon, Nqaba Peter, Andile Phehlukwayo, Codi Yusuf, John Turner, Dayyaan Galiem, Jacob Bethell.

Picked up in Auction: Rubin Hermann (wk) (175k), Dewan Marais (Rookie)

Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Aiden Markram, Zak Crawley, Roelof van der Merwe, Liam Dawson, Ottneil Baartman, Marco Jansen, Beyers Swanepoel, Caleb Seleka, Tristan Stubbs, Jordan Hermann, Patrick Kruger, Craig Overton, Tom Abell, Simon Harmer, Andile Simelane, David Bedingham.

Picked up in Auction: Okuhle Cele (175k), Richard Gleeson (R2.30 million), Daniel Smith (Rookie)

South Africans Unsold:

Tony de Zorzi (Batter)
Temba Bavuma (Batter)
Zubayr Hamza (Batter)
Rivaldo Moonsamy (wk)
Grant Roelofsen (wk)
Slade van Staden (wk)
Meeka-eel Prince (wk)
Andile Mogakane (All-rounder)
Dian Forrester (All-rounder)
Duan Jansen (All-rounder)
Matthew Boast (All-rounder)
Lutho Sipamla (Fast-bowler)
Beuran Hendricks (Fast-bowler)
Siya Simethu (Spinner)
Imraan Manack (Spinner)
Junaid Dawood (Spinner)