There are no Dolphins, Titans or Warriors in the Durban Heat team

THE DURBAN HEAT are ready, having spent the last week combining as a team, ahead of the inaugural Mzansi Super League.

“As soon as we got here, Albie Morkel (captain) got the guys together and told them that there are no Dolphins, no Titans, no Warriors … we are all one team now,” KZN Cricket chief executive Heinrich Strydom enthused.

The choice of Morkel as captain is an inspired one, given his international experience, as well as his pedigree on home soil.

He has won countless titles with the Titans, and he has led from the front with the new ball, and his late hitting with the bat.

One could even say that T20 cricket was invented with him in mind.

“It was an easy decision in that sense, but we have several leaders throughout the squad. Guys like Hashim Amla, David Miller, Khaya Zondo, Temba Bavuma, Morne van Wyk and Keshav Maharaj have captained around the world, and they will add a wealth of experience, too,” Strydom added.

After all the months and months of speculation, this Mzansi train is finally leaving the platform, and set to go on a month-long charge across South Africa.

“It is very exciting,” Strydom said. “We had a team dinner on Sunday, to welcome all the guys, and at that point it felt that we are starting something special.

“To see all the guys in one room, mingling as a team, is something very special, and we have spent a lot of time together, getting to know each other better.”

That element of this concept, the familiarity that is woven across domestic rivals, is a new phenomenon in South African cricket, but one that has done wonders for the game internationally.

There will be no shortage of competitiveness when the Durban Heat players run into regular Dolphins teammates wearing different jumpers over the next month.

That is the way it goes, and the reverse – that they will pull tight to their new buddies – will go a long way to breeding a new identity in Durban.

“That has been the message this week.

“We only have this week to establish a new culture, and then we have to go with it,” Strydom said.

“We are all playing for the Heat now, and we are all looking forward to Sunday.”

That opening game cannot come soon enough for the Durbanites, who have been put through their paces all week by Grant Morgan and the rest of the coaching staff.

They have also had practice matches, including two today, against scratch sides from the two KwaZulu-Natal amateur outfits.

They will wind down tomorrow and Saturday, before hopefully exploding into life on Sunday.

It wouldn’t be Durban if there were no concerns about the weather, and already there have been some nervous glances at the forecast.

“We can only prepare as best as we can, because we cannot control that,” Strydom sighed.

“If it is as hot as it has been so far this week, then we should have a fantastic day, because our pre-sales have been very encouraging.”

The Durban Heat’s unique selling point has been an explosion of colour, much like the Holi festival in India. They want their fans to come in and embrace the vivid colours off the field, as well as the explosive action on it. Thus, it would be cruel luck if Mother Nature rained on that parade.

The Durban Heat host the Cape Town Blitz on Sunday.