It’s time for the second edition of the local T20 franchise competition in the form of the Mzansi Super League which gets underway on Friday 8 November. Let’s have a look at the teams and try and pick an outright winner and top tournament batsman.
MZANSI SUPER LEAGUE TEAMS
JOZI STARS
The Quality: The defending champions have the universe Boss Chris Gayle in their lineup as arguably the marque signing of the entire tournament (he is only available for the first 6 games where after Shoaib Malik takes over from him). Dan Christian also returns to Johannesburg and the other established talents include Rassie van der Dussen, Kagiso Rabada and Simon Harmer.
Team Balance: Spin in the form of Harmer and Phangiso as well as pace with Rabada and Duanne Olivier. Jo’burg based Proteas Reeza, Van der Dussen and Bavuma will anchor the innings whilst Christian could offer some hitting later on.
Verdict: The champs have an impressive looking squad and should prove tough to de-thrown. The biggest problem for the Stars could be the loss of head coach Nkwe.
DURBAN HEAT
The Quality: Alex Hales is the big gun for hire at the top of the order for the Heat. Ravi Boparra has also been signed whilst David Miller remains a vital cog for the KZN based franchise.
Team Balance: After Hales there is also some fire power in the middle with Vilas, Miller and Phehlukwayo. Kyle Abbott returns to his old stomping ground to lead the attack and Shaun von Burgh has been given the spin gig alongside Kesh Maharaj at Kingsmead for the 2019 edition of the MSL.
Verdict: Miller at his best could see the Heat fire but for mind they just look short a quality player or two to be able to turn things around from a dismal 2018 effort.
NELSON MANDELBA BAY GIANTS
The Quality: Jason Roy is another bludgeoning international opening batsman lured to South African shores. Aussie Ben Dunk adds further international flavour in PE whilst the locals will be thrilled to have Imran Tahir and Chris Morris plying their trade in the windy city.
Team Balance: If the Giants opt for starting JJ Smuts alongside Roy they could have one of the most powerful opening pairs in the tournament. There are also some youngster (Marco Marias and Matthew Breetzske) mixed in with SA veterans in the form of Behardien and Heino Kuhn to steer the team to competitive totals. Beuran Hendricks and Junior Dala are both Protea quicks who will be looking to have a dominant competition.
Verdict: There might be a lack of a quality second spin option to the legend that is Tahir and lower order hitting power could be an area of concern unless Morris regularly finds his range with the long handle.
CAPE TOWN BLITZ
The Quality: You will find the biggest allotment of international stars gathering at the foot of Table Mountain. Wahab Riaz has been lured to Cape Town whilst the Blitz also flung the Rands at Englishman Liam Livingstone. Pakistani’s Asif Ali and Mohammad Nawaz are also back for another season. Dale Steyn and Quinton de Kock are other top stars in the squad.
Team Balance: Steyn, Philander, Nortje, Riaz and Magala means the men from Cape Town have plenty of Blitz to call on. The brand-new Protea George Linde will have a big task as the leading spinner in the line-up. De Kock and Janneman Malan will head things up for the Capetonians before its left to the internationals to pitch in during the middle overs.
Verdict: On the face of things Ashwell Prince appears to have a strong looking side with most of their bases covered. A lot will depend on how quickly the internationals can fit into the team and local conditions. De Kock will be vital at the top of the order.
PAARL ROCKS
The Quality: SA skipper Faf du Plessis leads out internationals James Vince as well as Isuru Udana. JP Duminy is also a veteran of short-format cricket.
Team Balance: Cameron Delport at his best can take the game away from any opponent at a rate of knots. Shamsi and Bjorn Fortuin should enjoy spinning opponents into confusion at a conducive Boland track.
Verdict: In terms of international stars the Rocks certainly haven’t been able to pick up the brightest diamonds out there compared to other teams in the competition. There also seems to be a lack of quick men with only Hardus Viljoen one who could really fire into teams away from the slower Boland Park. I don’t see the men from Paarl making the knockouts.
TSHWANE SPARTANS
The Quality: We could probably stop at one name – AB De Villiers! For the record Tom Curran and Morne Morkel are brought in from beyond the borders whilst young spinner, Waqar Salamkheil from Afghanistan might yet prove to be Mark Boucher’s wild card.
Team Balance: Teams traveling to Pretoria can expect to be playing plenty off the back foot at Super Sport Park with Morne Morkel, Ngidi, Sipamla, Curran, Wiaan Mulder and Corbin Bosch all raring to have a go. Spin comes in the form of Roelof van der Merwe and Salamkheil. Pite van Biljon will join De Villiers and Heinrich Klaasen in supplying middle order boundary clearing whilst Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Elgar and Theunis de Bruyn are steady local performers who will be tasked with setting the platform at the top.
Verdict: The Spartans certainly have a rich supply of quicks but their fate could potentially lie in how their spinners fare as they don’t have the strongest cover in this department on paper. They could also be short a fire cracker at the top of the order to get them some much needed early momentum. But should AB arrive in his very best form then this should hardly be a crippling issue for Boucher’s boys.
FINAL VERDICT
Both the Spartans and the Blitz could find their rhythm and be real runners but for mind there are a few question marks that need to be answered for these two during the tournament before I would consider getting involved. The Jozi Stars are rightly seen as the favourites and I wouldn’t put anyone off backing them but I think the Mandel Bay Giants are somewhat surprisingly offered at decent odds early doors and that’s where I’m heading with my money.
BETOLIMP BEST BETS for MSL 2019
To win the tournament – Mandela Bay Giants @ 6.00
Top batsman in the tournament - Quinton de Kock at 7.00
(Note, all odds quoted are subject to change)
Enjoy the cricket and happy punting!
