A blueprint of what’s to come
MSL draft outlines the early favourites
IN EVERY way, it was a world away from the T20 Global League disaster of 2017.
The Mzansi Super League (MSL) draft, held at Montecasino in Joburg, saw the six franchises pluck the rest of their 16-man squads, adding to the marquee player that each had announced last week.
The Durban Heat started things off, and they made their intentions crystal clear. Rashid Khan was the first overseas player snapped up.
Across the way, the Tshwane Spartans took English-Irishman Eoin Morgan, the Rocks of Paarl will have Dwayne Bravo as resident DJ, Chris Gayle will enjoy the bright lights of Sandton, and Dawid Malan is heading to Newlands and its mountain, while Jason Roy will take his kamikaze batting to the windy city, for the Nelson Mandela Bay franchise.
As has become custom at player auctions in SA, Chris Morris became the million-rand man – ‘Tipo’ will play Mzansi fare in PE, alongside Imran Tahir and Roy. The Giants, then, will most certainly not go quietly into the night.
Up country, the Spartans have a liberal spread of Titans in their ranks, led by the rested AB de Villiers, revved up by the relentless Morgan, and ruled by the respected Mark Boucher. Across the Jukskei, Kagiso Rabada and the Jozi Stars will be the epitome of cool. The King of Cool himself, Gayle, will surely be good for at least a few crazy knocks, and then park off in the slips making difficult catches look easy.
The Cape Town Blitz is still dealing with the loss of poster-boy JP Duminy for the inaugural season but they have plenty of star power in the tank, with Quinton de Kock and Dawid Malan upfront, Samuel Badree flying in, Dale Steyn fit and firing, and smart cricketers like Farhaan Behardien, Malusi Siboto and Asif Ali in tow.
Faf du Plessis is the man in Paarl, and he has a potent middle-order to take advantage of the featherbed pitches that are the staple in wine country. Bravo, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Aiden Markram, Mangaliso Mosehle and the hired gun, Cameron Delport, provide plenty of striking intent.
The dark horses of the contest, however, may well be the Durban Heat. A hearty dollop of local flavour – Messrs Miller, Maharaj, Zondo, Van Wyk, Erwee, Abbott and, of course, Amla – will show Rashid around town, and then Big Vern Philander, Temba Bavuma, Albie Morkel, Marchant de Lange and Heinrich Klaasen bring plenty of international pedigree.
If the rain stays away, the Heat may well be too hot for a few teams.