AB primed to blast the Blitz

HIGH-NOON has finally arrived, or in this case, the strange starting time of 7pm.

The Mzansi

Super League has lift-off. There were many who believed they would never see this day. Not quite as substantial as April 27, 1994, but in cricket terms in this country it certainly is a rebirth.

A T20 league worthy of competing with all the others around the world. For some of the players it is “five years to late”, while many still believe it is being rushed. Regardless, the first match between the Cape Town Blitz and Tshwane Spartans is ready to get underway. Even the SABC trucks are in place and the cables have been laid ready to take “the gentleman’s game” into the homes of the masses.

All of this will mean not a jot if the players on show – all decked out in brightly coloured new outfits – don’t exhibit the sort of skills that have made leagues such as the Indian Premier League, the Big Bash, the Caribbean Premier League and others such a hit with audiences.

How the MSL will be crying out for a breakout performance that New Zealand maverick Brendon McCullum produced in the IPL opener for the Kolkata Knight Riders when he smashed 158 in Bangalore all those years ago.

And the Spartans have just the man to do it. AB de Villiers may have retired from international cricket but he remains the “bums-on-seats” cricketer that T20 leagues build their empires on.

De Villiers is certainly up for the task and ready to entertain the Newlands faithful once more.

“I love playing at Newlands and we start off playing against a Cape Town team. It’s the old foes: North v South. I have really good memories playing at Newlands and hopefully that won’t stop now,” he said.

“I have taken the mindset of just enjoying my game. I am hitting the ball almost better than ever. I am just looking forward to having some fun.”