South Africa power-hitter Tristan Stubbs fetched the highest bid of Rand 9.2 million (USD 520,000 approx.) at the inaugural SA20 player auction in Cape Town on Monday. Sunrisers Eastern Cape won a fierce bidding war against MI Cape Town and Johannesburg Super Kings to snap up their homegrown star-in-the-making.
Uncapped 24-year-old batter Donavon Ferreira, who plays for Titans in the South African domestic circuit, created a big stir. Having listed his base price at Rand 175,000 (USD 10,000 approx.), Ferreira, who also bowls a bit and keeps wicket, was eventually snapped up by Super Kings for Rand 5.5 million (USD 310,000 approx.) in the accelerated round of the auction. The winning bid came after some chaos, as Paarl Royals and Pretoria Capitals both tried to outbid Super Kings but were forced to pull out as they didn't have much left in their purse at that point and had other spots still to fill - if they were allowed to keep bidding, they would have run out of the money needed to fill their quota of 17 players. Ferreira has played 19 T20s so far, and boasts a strike rate of 148.26 and an average of 54.85.
The name is Donavon Ferriera!pic.twitter.com/1y6s8GtdQu
— Joburg Super Kings (@JSKSA20) September 19, 2022
The Jansen brothers - Duan and Marco - were also in demand, with Marco joining Stubbs at Sunrisers for Rand 6.1 million (USD 344,000 approx.) and Duan going to MI for Rand 3.3 million (USD 186,000 approx.). Marco is already part of the Sunrisers franchise in the IPL, while Duan was recently with the Mumbai Indians development squad that toured the UK.
Kolpak-returnee Rilee Rossouw, who has played T20 cricket around the world, also hit paydirt, with Capitals forking out Rand 6.9 million (USD 389,000 approx.) for him. Wayne Parnell, another Kolpak returnee, also triggered a bidding war, which was won by Capitals too. They outbid Super Kings and got the left-arm seam-bowling allrounder for Rand 5.6 million (USD 316,000 approx).
However, there were no takers for South Africa's T20I captain Temba Bavuma and Test captain Dean Elgar.
The SA20 auction continued what has been a meteoric rise in T20 cricket for Stubbs. In the 2021-2022 CSA T20 challenge, Stubbs hit 293 runs in seven innings at an incredible strike rate of 183.12. In IPL 2022, Mumbai Indians signed him up as a replacement for the injured Tymal Mills when he was still an uncapped player. He batted just four balls across two innings, though, managing just two runs.
But then, in his first outing with the bat in international cricket, Stubbs clubbed a 28-ball 72 from No. 6 as South Africa threatened to hunt down 235 against England in the Bristol T20I. Following that, he joined Manchester Originals for the Hundred, where his part-time offspin was also matched up with left-hand batters. Stubbs can also keep wicket, if needed, and he is open to doing any job for Sunrisers in the SA20.
"Yeah, I mean it's crazy and I'm still shaking," Stubbs told the host broadcaster. "It's crazy! I played most of my cricket in St George's [Park, which will be the home of Sunrisers Eastern Cape] and I really enjoy playing cricket there. Like Neil [McKenzie, the former South Africa batter] said after the SA A tour [I've been travelling everywhere]. I really enjoyed the Hundred and played seven consecutive games. I do feel I have more experience and I have played more cricket in different situations. The Hundred comp helped my bowling more and look to keep evolving. I'm open to whatever the team needs [from me]. There is nothing better than playing in front of a full crowd, and hopefully we can put on a spectacle for everyone and the crowds will pull in. Very cool to be playing with 'Plank'...I mean [Marco] Jansen."
Shamsi reunites with Fortuin at Royals
Royals had jumped into the action first up on the day, picking up fast bowler Lungi Ngidi and left-arm wristspinner Tabraiz Shamsi, who were the first two players to go under the hammer. Royals then reunited Shamsi with left-arm fingerspinner Bjorn Fortuin - the pair had worked well together for Paarl Rocks when they won the Mzansi Super League title in 2019.
MI brought back left-arm seamer Beuran Henricks, who has been part of their IPL franchise. They also recruited left-arm fingerspin-bowling allrounder George Linde and 20-year-old Afghanistan left-arm wristspinner Waqar Salamkheil to back up Rashid Khan.
Super Kings pack their side with pace
Super Kings, who are used to building their side around spin in Chennai, went the other way in South Africa, packing their squad with high pace to suit the Wanderers pitch. They spent Rand 2.10 million on Alzarri Joseph, who has been in terrific form in the ongoing CPL for St Lucia Kings. Lizaad Williams, George Garton and Lewis Gregory will join him in Super Kings' attack, along with pre-auction signings Gerald Coetzee and Romario Shepherd.
Neesham, Morgan, Odean Smith find takers in accelerated auction
New Zealand allrounder James Neesham, West Indies allrounder Odean Smith and former England captain Eoin Morgan, who all went unsold in the early exchanges, found takers at the final round of the auction. Neesham went to Capitals, Smith to MI, and Morgan to Royals. Daryn Dupavillon, who can hit speeds upwards of 140kph and is presently with Trinbago Knight Riders at the CPL, earned a deal worth Rand 1.7 million with Capitals.
Squads
Durban Super Giants: Quinton de Kock, Prenelan Subrayen, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Reece Topley, Dwaine Pretorius, Heinrich Klaasen, Keemo Paul, Keshav Maharaj, Kyle Abbott, Junior Dala, Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Matthew Breetzke, Christiaan Jonker, Wiaan Mulder, Simon Harmer
Jo'burg Super Kings: Faf du Plessis, Gerald Coetzee, Maheesh Theekshana, Romario Shepherd, Harry Brook, Janneman Malan, Reeza Hendricks, Kyle Verreynne, George Garton, Alzarri Joseph, Leus du Plooy, Lewis Gregory, Lizaad Williams, Donavon Ferreira, Nandre Burger, Malusi Siboto, Caleb Seleka
MI Cape Town: Kagiso Rabada, Dewald Brevis, Rashid Khan, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Beuran Hendricks, Duan Jansen, Delano Potgieter, Grant Roelofsen, Wesley Marshall, Olly Stone, Waqar Salamkheil, Ziyaad Abharams, Odean Smith
Paarl Royals: David Miller, Corbin Bosch, Jos Buttler, Obed McCoy, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jason Roy, Dane Vilas, Bjorn Fortuin, Wihan Lubbe, Ferisco Adams, Imraan Manack, Evan Jones, Ramon Simmonds, Mitchell van Buuren, Eoin Morgan, Codi Yusuf
Pretoria Capitals: Anrich Nortje, Migael Pretorius, Rilee Rossouw, Phil Salt, Wayne Parnell, Josh Little, Shaun von Berg, Adil Rashid, Cameron Delport, Will Jacks, Theunis de Bruyn, Marco Marais, Kusal Mendis, Daryn Dupavillon, Jimmy Neesham, Eathan Bosch, Shane Dadswell
Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Aiden Markram, Ottniel Baartman, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs, Sisanda Magala, Junaid Dawood, Mason Crane, JJ Smuts, Jordan Cox, Adam Rossington, Roelof van der Merwe, Marques Ackerman, James Fuller, Tom Abell, Aya Gqamane, Sarel Erwee, Brydon Carse