The relationship between the captain and coach is instrumental in determining a team’s success in a tournament as fast and furious as the SA20. Quick-thinking but calm. Adaptable but loyal and reassuring. An ability to share responsibilities without ever risking undermining each other. Neil Manthorp takes a closer look at the leadership teams of the six franchises ahead of the third edition of the SA20.
Joburg Super Kings have one of the most fabled leadership duos in the history of domestic T20 cricket in former New Zealand captain, Stephen Fleming, and former Proteas captain, Faf du Plessis. Coach Fleming played for the Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008 before stepping straight into the role of coach the following year and remaining there ever since.
Look who we’ve got for you! 🤩
— Joburg Super Kings (@JSKSA20) January 5, 2025
Gaffer and his squad all in for Season 3! 🏏💥#WhistleForJoburg#ToJoburgWeBelong#SA20 pic.twitter.com/vy9Lp8uJEv
Fleming has coached CSK to a remarkable five IPL titles, two of which included Du Plessis as a critical ingredient of the team’s success, including a player-of-the-match performance in 2021 final when he delivered a 59-ball 86 to lay the platform for a total of 192 against KKR. Du Plessis, meanwhile, has transferred his midas touch to leagues around the world and won last year’s Caribbean Premier League title as captain of the ST Lucia Kings.
Paarl just got GOATED 🐐 pic.twitter.com/RgqfKyWXnd
— Paarl Royals (@paarlroyals) January 4, 2025
Paarl Royals have opted for a coach with a mountain of domestic and international experience – although not as a head coach. Former Zimbabwean, Trevor Penney, took up coaching as soon as his illustrious county career playing for Bob Woolmer’s Warwickshire came to an end.
A long-time association with ‘super coach’ Tom Moody began at Western Australia in 2007 and extended to the IPL where Penney has worked with the King’s XI Punjab, Deccan Chargers, and KKR. Moody also took him to Sri Lanka when he was head coach while Penney has also had international stints with the West Indies, USA and the Netherlands. He has also spent time as an assistant with the St Lucia Zouks and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots before taking charge of the Barbados Royals in 2022.
Captain David Miller has a similarly lengthy CV having recently joined an exclusive group of just six players to have played over 500 T20 matches, both international and domestic. Together they should make a formidable team – provided they ‘click.’
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝! 🫡
— Pretoria Capitals (@PretoriaCapsSA) January 2, 2025
Let’s gear up for an epic @SA20_League season with our Head Coach, @Trotty ! 💙#RoarSaamMore pic.twitter.com/KlvR8ue0vr
Pretoria Capitals mentor, Jonathan Trott, is one of the hottest coaching properties in the world and has already been earmarked as a future England coach. Born and raised in Cape Town and a former player, Trott carved out a glittering playing career for his adopted homeland, and his success with the Afghanistan national team has been little short of astonishing, including a semifinal place in the last T20 World Cup.
Wayne Parnell’s experience is vast, from the IPL to the PSL, CPL, The Blast, The Hundred the Bangladesh Premier League and the Bangladesh Premier League – not to mention Canada. The 35-year-old allrounder has played 300 T20 matches around the world and has earned increasing respect as a man who happily leaves personal ego and ambition in the change room in favour of his teammates and a winning team.
Cricket's favourite smile, now in Durban 😄🤩 pic.twitter.com/EBeZ03aSQs
— Durban's Super Giants (@DurbansSG) January 4, 2025
Lance Klusener has spread his coaching wings further than most in pursuit of knowledge and experience, even to the extent of leading a state team in Indian domestic cricket. It was with the Dolphins that he cut his coaching teeth, however, and this will be his third season with the Durban Super Giants with whom his relationship continues as an assistant coach with the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL. Apart from various consultancy appointments with the Proteas he also served as Zimbabwe’s batting coach.
Keshav Maharaj is a canny appointment as DSG’s captain. An intimate knowledge of conditions at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead is an obvious asset but it is also the spinner’s often under-rated skills as a T20 bowler and his popular ‘man managing’ ability that made him the obvious appointment in his home city.
𝙆aptein is 𝐑eady for Season 3! ✨
— MI Cape Town (@MICapeTown) December 20, 2024
Full Story Here ➡️https://t.co/kjHU94R7m4#OneFamily #MICapeTown pic.twitter.com/MOvOVHrWgq
Mumbai Indians Cape Town have been the tournament’s biggest under-achievers having finished bottom of the log in both of the first two seasons. It is a poor reflection on the ability of coach Robin Peterson, who has more than proven his worth in domestic cricket with the Warriors. The inclusion of Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga and Hashim Amla on the coaching staff will spread the workload and, hopefully, spread a little winning gold dust.
Sports teams often function more successfully when there is a strong bond between the players and the city or town they are representing. It is one reason why local captains are preferred. But it is not always relevant and MICT have moved in the opposite direction by reappointing inspirational, genius Afghan legspinner, Rashid Khan, as team captain. It will be up to Peterson to take care of off-field matters, including squad unity, while Rashid concentrates on winning games on the field.
We showed Adi the video on what Fire means to SEC and this is how he reacted 🧡 pic.twitter.com/XLy3kgWseK
— Sunrisers Eastern Cape (@SunrisersEC) January 2, 2025
And finally, the double defending champions. Sunrisers Eastern Cape have the ‘dream team’ in Adi Birrell and Aiden Markram. Birrell is as technically astute as anyone in the game, but his unique strength lies in the strength of his personality and ability to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and unity. Nobody who watched the first two seasons can doubt that SEC played more ‘as a team’ than any other.
Markram is the perfect ‘fit’ for Birrell, commanding respect not just for his deeds as a player and a captain but for his conduct as a person and ambassador. Astute signings and careful squad management and player rotation have contributed to their duo of titles and they will, once again, be a tough team to better.