OVERSEAS
Jos Buttler
T20 stats - Innings: 314; Runs: 8 905; Average 34; Strike Rate: 145; Highest Score: 124
This name shouldn’t come as a surprise as the England limited-overs captain has set the world alight wherever he has batted in the white ball formats. Since making the switch to opening the batting for England in T20Is, his game has gone to a whole other level. As opener in international T20s he averages 49 at a strike rate of 152 with 15 fifties and three centuries.
Buttler led England to the 2022 T20 World Cup trophy and will bring a wealth of experience and pedigree to not only the Paarl Royals, but also the tournament as a whole. He is already part of the Royals franchise having played for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League for the past five years after being picked up in the 2018 auction.
The knowledge Buttler will be able to transfer to other players in the side will be invaluable and being a wicketkeeper as well, he will lend the type of balance other teams would be envious of. There is no doubt that he will look to continue with his stellar performances.
Obed McCoy
T20 stats - Innings: 71; Wickets: 104; Economy Rate: 8.44, Strike Rate: 13.8, BBI: 6/17
Obed McCoy might be a slightly less recognised name, but he is a rising bowling star for the West Indies, having made his T20I debut in March 2019. Like Buttler, he has already been integrated into the Royals franchise having also played for the Rajasthan side, as well as the Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League.
McCoy impressed in the five-match T20I series between the Proteas and West Indies in 2021 where he took nine wickets at an economy rate of 7.05 and a best of 4/22. He brings the advantage of being a left-hander and he has plenty of variations with the ball in hand. He is particularly deceptive with his back of the hand slower ball and can fire in yorkers at good pace.
McCoy should play a vital role in the success of the Paarl Royals in the SA20, particularly on what tends to be a slower pitch at their home ground, which will suit him perfectly. He will complement the experienced Lungi Ngidi and together they could cause some big headaches for batters around the country.
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David Miller (c)
T20 stats - Innings: 370; Runs: 8 953; Average 37; Strike Rate: 139; Highest Score: 120*
The Paarl Royals are one of two sides, with the other being the Joburg Super Kings, who have already announced their captain for the SA20. Having lead the Barbados Royals in the 2022 edition of the CPL, David Miller has now been tasked to do the same for the Paarl side.
Miller has had an incredible 2022 with the bat. For the Proteas, he has scored 361 runs at an average of 60 and a strike rate of 165. In the IPL he was one of the main reasons the Gujarat Titans managed to win the trophy in their inaugural season, scoring 481 runs at an average of 69 and a strike rate of 143.
This year Miller has shown real maturity and a clear approach in his innings and has improved his batting against spin immensely. Having captained the Proteas in their T20I series victory in England this year, Miller should be brimming with confidence and he will have the likes of Buttler and Eoin Morgan to lean on should he need any advice as the tournament progresses. Captaincy is in his arc, and he will leave it all out on the park.
Tabraiz Shamsi
T20 stats - Innings: 199; Wickets: 237; Economy Rate: 7.23, Strike Rate: 18.0, BBI: 5/24
For years Tabraiz Shamsi had to operate in the shadow of Imran Tahir at the Proteas, getting sporadic opportunities to show what he was capable of at that level. In 2021 he finally got a consistent run where he bowled in 22 of the 23 T20Is the Proteas played. That backing seemed to be exactly what he needed as he went on to take 36 wickets and became the no.1 ranked T20I bowler in the world.
Wrist spinners have become one of the hottest commodities for most T20 teams, which is no surprise seeing as they are genuine wicket-taking options while often conceding less than other types of bowlers as well. This combination is reflected in the ICC Rankings where wrist spinners make up five of the top seven spots in T20Is with Shamsi residing at No 6.
More than just the ability to pick up wickets and change games, Shamsi brings with him an entertainment factor. He knows how to bring energy and light-heartedness to a team and how to get a crowd to rally behind them, whether it be through magic, or his shoe.
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Evan Jones
T20 stats – Batting Strike Rate: 146; Bowling Strike Rate: 17.5, Economy Rate: 7.48
In a tournament stacked with familiar domestic names and international stars, Evan Jones might just be a surprise package if he gets his opportunity. Jones played for the Northern Cape Heat in 2021, where he impressed enough to get contracted by the Lions for the 2022/23 season.
Jones is an allrounder by trade and immediately repaid the faith that the Lions showed in him with back-to-back player-of-the-match performances in their pre-season warmup matches against the Lahore Qalandars in the Namibia Global T20 tournament, which they ended up winning. In one match Jones took 5/29 with the ball and in the other match he smashed 63* off 29 balls.
Jones has real power behind the shots he plays and has a style similar to that of Tim David. He wastes no time in going for big shots; just the type of batter you want to be walking in with only a few overs to go. He has proven himself more than useful with the ball as well and has more pace than most other allrounders in the country. Keep a close eye on this rising 26-year-old.