No damp squib here
A match between the two bottom teams from the inaugural tournament may seem like a soggy, damp squib on face value, but when the Durban Heat host the Tshwane Spartans at Kingsmead in Durban today it will be a meeting of two new-look teams of which much is expected in this year’s Mzansi Super League (MSL).
The Durban side have secured the services of World Cup winning coach Gary Kirsten (above) and have signed Proteas whiteball star Andile Phehlukwayo, last season’s winning captain Dane Vilas, experienced Englishman Ravi Bopara and some excellent bowlers.
The Spartans also have a stronger look this year with international stars like Morne Morkel, Roelof van der Merwe and Heinrich Klaasen coming back to Centurion and quality players from elsewhere like Pite van Biljon, Wiaan Mulder and Vaughn van Jaarsveld being added to the mix.
“If we want to be in a position to play for the trophy this year then we must make a very good start. Momentum plays a massive role in T20 tournaments. One of the things we looked at in selection was to have a lot more bowling options – we have Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi and Tom Curran next to Lutho Sipamla, who is a very exciting prospect.
“We obviously have to get used to conditions down in Durban and we’ll have to roll with the punches. But we believe we can select a team to win; we’ve got options, that’s the biggest thing,” Tshwane Spartans coach Mark Boucher said.
Kirsten was also confident that the Durban Heat will put up a better showing than last year, when they won just three games to finish last.
“Like any coach I want to win the tournament, that’s what I’m here for. What happened last year is history, we’ve put our squad together and we hope that we’ve put a team together that will go out there and get us into the playoffs. You can never predict the game, but we hope the experience that has been added will help us. If the right guys hit form for us and get us to win the big moments, it will help,” Kirsten said.
While Kirsten has one of the coolest heads in the game, the vastly-experienced Morkel said his influence cannot extend out on to the field once the game begins and the Spartans will be looking to disturb the equilibrium of their opponents, especially with aggressive bowling.