AMEY KULKARNI looks at the stand-out players who enter the inaugural edition the SA20 under the radar, but who are looking to leave having made a big impression
Gerald Coetzee (Joburg Super Kings)
The 22-year-old South African fast bowler had an incredible CSA T20 Challenge, finishing as the highest wicket-taker for the Knights with 15 wickets in eight games and the third-highest best in the tournament overall.
Coetzee also impressed onlookers with his pace and aggression at Brisbane against Cricket Australia XI. The pacer registered a hat-trick in the drawn four-day tour game ahead of the first Test at The Gabba.
The Proteas bowling coach Charl Langeveldt is already impressed with the young pacer. "Seeing him bowling live with the aggression was exciting," he said. "He's another guy who can step up and bowl at pace."
Donovan Ferreira (Joburg Super Kings)
Ferreira is a promising wicketkeeper-batter who has impressed everyone with his phenomenal ball-striking. The 24-year-old batter has a strike rate of 153.56 in the 26 T20 games to earn himself a place in the Super Kings squad for the inaugural edition of the SA20.
The hard-hitting batter has also earned an IPL contract this year as the Rajasthan Royals, who rolled the dice during the recent mini-auction.
Josh Little ripping through England (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Josh Little (Pretoria Capitals)
The Irish left-arm seamer has grown in stature since his ODI debut against England in 2019. He took 4 for 45 and has the future world champions under pressure. Last month, he became the first Ireland cricketer to earn an IPL contract with the defending champions Gujarat Titans after having an impressive World Cup, which included a hat-trick against New Zealand.
Little was the second-highest wicket-taker in international T20s in 2022 with 39 wickets and this feels like the ideal opportunity to continue his development.
Wesley Marshall (MI Cape Town)
The 29-year-old opening batter has built a reputation for his aggressive batting style. He's amassed 1,152 runs in 47 T20s at a strike rate of 147.12 and he'll be an asset for Cape Town when his opportunity comes. He can give an explosive start and take any bowling attack under pressure in the power play.
He was also the highest run-scorer in the Sunfoil three-day cup back in 2017/18, as Marshall smashed 667 runs in just 10 matches.
Roelofsen hit form during the Royal London Cup while at Essex (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Grant Roelofsen (MI Cape Town)
The highest run scorer during the CSA T20 Challenge comes after Roelofsen impressed in the Royal London Cup in county cricket for Essex.
The 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batter hit 333 runs at an average of 47.57 and maintained a healthy strike rate of 132.66 in nine games.
Sadly, he couldn't take his team all the way as the Dolphins finished runner-up to Titans but the next few weeks represent an opportunity to make amends.
Tristan Stubbs (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
Stubbs is anything but an unknown quantity but after a setback at the T20 World Cup, the SA20 represents an ideal opportunity to cement his reputation. Classy performances in England during the T20s and The Hundred means world cricket's card is very much marked.
In his domestic T20 career, Stubbs has scored 838 runs at a strike rate of 155.76, leading to him being the most expensive player at the auction, at 9.2 million rand (£444,000).
Dewald Bravis at the Under-19 World Cup (ICC)
Jordan Hermann (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
The highest run-scorer for the Warriors in the T20 Challenge will be a part of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape group, having scored 186 runs and maintained a healthy average of 46.50.
The 21-year-old middle-order batter, a notoriously tough spot to bat, has had an incredible start to his career in all three formats. He averages 75, 49, and 46 in first class, List A and T20, respectively, but this will be the ultimate acid test.
Dewald Brewis (MI Cape Town)
The second-highest scorer of the CSA T20 challenge 2022/23, Brewis was marked out as one of the great emerging talents in South African cricket before he struck a record 506 runs during the Under-19 World Cup in 2022.
He arrives at the SA20 in good form after smashing 327 runs in nine games at a strike rate of 176.75.
Nicknamed 'Baby AB' it is no surprise he has caught the attention of the former Proteas captain. "I think there are a lot of young players that have come through in the last few years. I think of the very first up on my list, Dewald Brewis. Looking forward to watching him," he said.
AB de Villiers is a known admirer of Brevis (Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
Prenelan Subrayen (Durban Supergiants)
The spin-bowling allrounder had an incredible domestic season in 2022. He was the second-highest wicket-taker for the Dolphins and best spinner in the T20 Challenge while captaining his side to the final. He is also good for quick runs down the order, scoring at a strike rate of 169 down the order.
Caleb Seleka (Joburg Super Kings)
The 20-year-old legspinner has had an impressive start to his career. He was the highest wicket-taker for North West in the CSA T20 Challenge. He has been a part of the South African Under-19 team and is closing in on first-team recognition.
Playing for North West since the Under-13s, Seleka was able to showcase his skills despite North West having a terrible CSA T20 season, claiming nine wickets at an economy rate of 6.90.
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