SA20 Rookies Ready to Rock

A new initiative was introduced ahead of the second edition of the Betway SA20. The Rookies category was brought in to expose youngsters to a professional environment and give them the opportunity to learn from some experienced domestic and international cricketers.

The Rookie Draft contained a list of 80 South African players aged 22 or under who had not been contracted in the SA20 before. This included various players who have represented South Africa at the Under-19 level, players who have spent a couple of seasons at a domestic franchise and even some players who have stood out at school level.

As with any draft there had to be a certain order in which teams could select their preferred player. In this instance it was the reverse order in which they ended in season one of the Betway SA20. Therefore, MI Cape Town, who ended their campaign at the bottom of the table, had first pick while Sunrisers Eastern Cape had the last pick, as they were the Champions of the first edition.

Here’s a look at the choice of each team in the order they were selected.

MI CAPE TOWN - Connor Esterhuizen (22)

Esterhuizen, a destructive right-hand wicketkeeper batter, was born in Johannesburg and attended St. John’s College where he stood out at age group level. He went on to represent the Wits University First XI where he scored a truck load of runs which earned him a spot in the Lions Academy side. From there he received call-up to the Lions senior side where he made his debut against the Dolphins in a List A match at the Wanderers. Esterhuizen immediately impressed by top scoring for the Lions with a composed 52 of 58 balls in a tricky chase of 225 after coming in at no. 7 with the score on 117/5. He also took two catches behind the stumps as wicketkeeper to prove the all-round value he can bring to the side he represents.

While Esterhuizen has only played eight matches across formats for the Lions, he has shown plenty of promise and even represented the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the first edition of the International League T20. MI Cape Town will hope to see every bit of that promise and value if given the opportunity in the upcoming season.

DURBAN’S SUPER GIANTS - Bryce Parsons (22)

Parsons, a left-hand batting allrounder, was born in Benoni and attended King Edward VII, the same school that produced Graeme Smith, Neil McKenzie and Quinton de Kock. In 2019 he won two CSA awards, one for Khaya Majola Cricket Week Player of the Tournament and one for Under-19 Cricketer of the Year. Parsons went on to captain the SA Under-19 side in the 2020 Cricket World Cup on home soil, which also included the likes of Gerald Coetzee, Jonothan Bird, Achille Cloete and Tiaan van Vuuren. While his team didn’t perform as well as they would have hoped, he ended up as the third leading run scorer, maintaining an average of 44.16 and a strike rate of 106.42. He also took five wickets as a left-arm orthodox spinner while only conceding runs at an economy rate of 3.49.

After the Under-19 Cricket World Cup Parsons started his professional career in Gauteng, before moving to the coast to represent the Hollywoodbets Dolphins. While he had a slow start, the move to the Dolphins has seemed to do him the world of good as illustrated in his unbeaten 134 in the fourth innings to help successfully chase down a target of 273 set by Western Province. On a pitch that tends to favour spin, the Durban’s Super Giants might look to turn to Parsons at home to bolster their options.

PAARL ROYALS - Lhuan-dre Pretorius (17)

Pretorius, a left-hand opening wicketkeeper batter who can also provide handy off-spin, has terrorised bowling attacks at junior level for years. Pretorius applies his trade at St. Stithians, the same school that brought us the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Wiaan Mulder and Ryan Rickelton. He is also joined by long-term teammate Kwena Maphaka (17) who was picked up by the Paarl Royals as a pre-signed player ahead of the auction.

Pretorius is known for his ability to combine big hits with application at the crease. Pretorius represented the SA Under-19 side on their tour to Bangladesh in July this year where he top-scored a couple of times for the tourists, including a 66 that helped seal victory in a chase of 241. He also represented the SA Emerging side in Division Two during the CSA One-Day Cup where he made 261 runs in six innings at an average of 43.50 and a strike rate of 101.55, including three fifties. The last one was a 67-ball 76 in the final of the Division Two CSA One-Day Cup to help his side triumph over a Knights team who were unbeaten in the competition until that point.

Pretorius has been selected in the preliminary 18-man SA Under-19 squad who are set to take part in the 2024 Under-19 Cricket World Cup which starts on 13 January and will only be eligible for selection in the matchday XI for the Paarl Royals afterwards.

JOBURG SUPER KINGS - Ronan Hermann (19)

Hermann, a right-hand top-order wicketkeeper batter, was born in Johannesburg and attended Hoërskool Noordheuwel. Hermann stood out from an early age, winning the Under-15 Gauteng Batter of the Year award in 2019 and was selected for the SA Under-17 side in the same year. Hermann was named the Player of the Tournament in the 2021 Khaya Majola Week where he scored a whopping 344 runs in four matches at a staggering average of 114, which included an unbeaten 152 that he scored against Boland on the opening day. Hermann was subsequently named in the SA Schools Team. Hermann was also a late call-up to the SA Under-19 World Cup side in 2022 after an injury to Joshua Stephenson.

Hermann was selected for the DP World Lions side in the final of the 2022 CSA One-Day Cup where he took three catches as wicketkeeper and made a quickfire 16 to set the tone in what was ultimately a successful chase for the victorious Lions. Hermann was also part of the SA Under-19 side who won the 2022 CSA T20 Knockout Trophy in Division 2, where he scored 125 runs in three innings at an average of 41.66 and a strike rate of 137.36. Recently Hermann proved his worth for the SA Emerging side in the Division Two CSA One-Day Cup where he made scores of 83 (82) and 120 (113).

With the Joburg Super Kings only having Donovan Ferreira as the other wicketkeeping option, the services of Hermann might be called upon and he looks primed to make an impression.

PRETORIA CAPITALS - Steve Stolk Junior (17)

Stolk, a right-hand top order batter who can bowl some fast-medium pacers, hails from Pretoria and attends Die Hoërskool Menlopark. It’s the same school that gifted us with the likes of Heinrich Klaasen, Theunis de Bruyn and Rassie van der Dussen. Speaking of Van der Dussen, he held the record for being the youngest player to get capped by the First XI of the school at the age of 13, which has since been equalled by Stolk. Between 2019 and 2023 Stolk scored 13 centuries that varied in nature depending on the need of the day. Stolk represented the Under-15 Cavalier Cats in the LPL, a Joburg based league, and scored 453 for them at a strike rate of 211. At Under-17 level in the LPL, he made 424 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 210, including a 70-ball 157 for the Bank All Stars. Right after the match he was asked to play for the Under-19 side of the Bank All Stars in the final. After making the 13-minute drive to Old Parks, he went on to make a match winning 78 off 37 balls to cap off a remarkable day.

Stolk made 322 runs in 6 matches in the North-South tournament in October at an average of 80 and a strike rate of 212. Based on these performances Stolk was asked to attend the SA Under-19 cricket trials where he made scores of 74(62) and 67 (38) to seal himself a spot in the 18-man preliminary SA Under-19 squad for the 2024 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. As is the case with Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Stolk will only be available for selection at the Pretoria Capitals once their World Cup campaign concludes.

SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE - Andile Simelane (20)

Simelane, a batting allrounder who bowls right-arm fast-medium, was born in Durban and attended Maritzburg College. Simelane showed promise from an early age and made the KwaZulu-Natal Inland team for the Khaya Majola Week in 2019 when he was still only 16 years old. He made a vital 45 against the Northern Cape side to help post a total that proved ultimately out of reach for them. After a tricky period in 2020 where schools couldn’t compete against each other in sport for quite a while, Simelane got back to work. He was selected for the SA Under-19 side who played some warmup matches against Division Two sides in November 2021. Simelane made an incredible unbeaten 95 off 74 balls against Eastern Storm, in partnership with Dewald Brevis (140* off 119), in a successful chase of 301 and was subsequently selected for the SA U-19 team who competed in the 2022 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Simelane has proved that is not only a clean striker of the ball and an asset with the ball, but also a dynamo in the field. He took some excellent catches in the abovementioned World Cup and effected crucial runouts. Soon after the tournament he was contracted by the Dolphins and made his debut for them in List A cricket. In the 2023 Division Two CSA One-Day Cup Simelane showed his powerful striking abilities when he made a remarkable 110 off only 72 balls for the SA Emerging side after coming in at no.7 with his side floundering at 94/5.

It was a timely reminder of his capabilities, only five days before the auction where he was ultimately picked up by the Sunrisers Eastern Cape who will welcome a young man who can contribute in all aspects of the game.