Steyn: There is excitement in the air
DALE STEYN v AB de Villiers. Now that would have been a marketer’s dream for the Mzansi Super League opener at Newlands tonight. A gladiatorial contest for the ages.
But despite Steyn leaving his Proteas teammates to take care of tomorrow’s T20 international on Australia’s Gold Coast, he will not line-up for the Cape Town Blitz. Instead, his MSL debut will have to wait until Sunday when the Blitz face-off against the Durban Heat.
That does not mean Steyn will not be an interested spectator this evening when De Villiers rides into town with his Tshwane Spartans though. Just like the rest of South Africa, the superstar fast bowler will be locked into the action when the first ball is delivered on the stroke of 7pm.
“It is going to be fantastic. Six strong teams. Players playing against each other that normally play with each other. It is great to be part of something new. Whenever there is something new, there is excitement in the air,” Steyn said. “There are a lot of youngsters coming through and they have some big careers ahead of them. It is going to be a big occasion for some youngster.”
The Blitz will be hoping that “youngster” is fast bowler Anrich Nortje. In the same mould as Steyn when the “Phalaborwa Express” burst on to the scene, Nortje only to wants to charge in and unleash thunderbolts. With Blitz coach Ashwell Prince a long-time admirer, Nortje was always going to be high on the Blitz shopping list when the MSL player draft took place.
And the former SA Schools graduate has already shown in the couple of warm-up games this week exactly what has Prince so excited. He ran in with great purpose and troubled all the Paarl Rocks batsmen with his express pace, striking a couple flush on the helmet and in the chest. It may be T20 cricket, but there is never a substitute for pure pace and the prized scalp of De Villiers would be a perfect present for Nortje to celebrate his 25th birthday.
Not that De Villiers is going to be handing out any freebies at Newlands. Despite retiring from international cricket during the winter, “Mr 360” still possesses all the skill to destroy any bowling attack. He was in fine form during the Spartans’ warm-ups, where he lit up with Wanderers with 93 from just 31 balls.
More accomplished bowlers than Nortje have endured sleepless nights ahead of fronting up to De Villiers, especially when he is as motivated as he is right now.
“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,” De Villiers 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. There are some world-class players from around the world in this tournament and I am really excited for it all to start.”