The Cricketer dives into all six franchises ahead of the 2024 SA20 season
Captain: Keshav Maharaj
Coach: Lance Klusener
Headliners
In Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen, the Super Giants have two of the big-hitting stars of South African white-ball cricket. Last season, the pair contributed 271 and 363 runs, respectively, while striking above 150.
West Indies international Nicholas Pooran, who boasts a T20 career strike rate above 140, is the star overseas batter. However, his time with the Super Giants is likely to be cut short by his ILT20 contract with MI Emirates.
Reece Topley and Dwaine Pretorius lead the pace attack, with the former able to use his raw pace and height to bookend an innings and the latter boasting an array of variations. They shared 20 wickets last year.
One to watch
Durban Super Giants didn't know what to do with Matthew Breetzke last year, with the 25-year-old opening the batting before being tried at No.3 and No.6. It was in the latter position that he produced his best performance, smashing 46 runs off 21 balls against Pretoria Capitals. He doesn't have a reputation as a reliable finisher – he has just over 1,100 runs and a strike rate around 130 from 52 T20s – but if given a settled role in the side, he might be able to ease some of the run-scoring burden on de Kock and Klaasen.
Why they'll win the SA20
Well, they were hideously short of both batting options and in-form players last year and still only just missed out on qualifying for the knockout stages, so pretty much anything feels possible with this Super Giants side. Plus, in de Kock, Klaasen and Topley, they have three players who can pretty much single-handedly win matches on their day.
There have been some positive additions - Pooran (when available) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, for example, should provide some much-needed firepower in the top six, so it's hard to see them being bowled out for under 100, as happened twice last season - but a top four finish feels a more realistic ambition.
Why they won't win the SA20
Yes, they've strengthened their batting in places but they're still crying out for a genuine finisher or at least a reliable source of runs from lower down the order. They'll need Pooran and Rajapaksa to settle quickly, Mulder to rediscover some form, and Breetzke to produce more regularly, or they risk being over-reliant on de Kock and Klaasen once again. There's also the question of who opens the batting. They tried four different combinations last year with little success and no obvious candidate has been recruited in this area.
As for the bowling, given Naveen's precarious NOC status, Topley and Pretorius look short of quality pace support. Can they keep the England international fit?
All in all, it's a squad with pockets of brilliance but short on quality depth in a number of crucial areas.
Squad: Quinton de Kock, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Mayers, Naveen-ul-Haq, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Reece Topley, Jon-Jon Smuts, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Keemo Paul, Kyle Abbott (withdrawn, replaced by Tony de Zorzi), Heinrich Klaasen, Wiaan Mulder, Noor Ahmad, Matthew Breetzke, Junior Dala, Bryce Parsons, Jason Smith, Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, Richard Gleeson
Possible XI: Quinton de Kock, Kyle Mayers, Heinrich Klaasen, Nicholas Pooran, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wiaan Mulder, Matthew Breetzke, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Prenelan Subrayen, Reece Topley
Heinrich Klaasen impressed with the bat for Durban Super Giants last year (Sportzpics/SA20/CSA)
Captain: Faf du Plessis
Coach: Stephen Fleming
Headliners
Last season, only Jos Buttler scored more runs than Faf du Plessis, who scored 369 runs, including a century and two half-centuries, at a strike rate of 147.60. A powerful batter, he can be relied upon to bulldoze through bowling attacks in the powerplay.
Gerald Coetzee has enjoyed a breakout 12 months, debuting for South Africa in all formats in 2023 and challenging batters with his short balls. Last season, he took 17 wickets with an economy of 8.07, particularly impressing in the middle and death overs.
New to Joburg Super Kings for 2024 is England allrounder Moeen Ali, who brings with him over 300 T20 appearances and a wealth of leadership experience. He has scored over 6,000 runs at a strike rate around 140 and is comfortable batting throughout the top and middle order; with the ball, he has over 190 wickets and an economy under eight an over.
One to watch
Essex's Sam Cook is yet to make his mark on the franchise circuit and opportunities are far from guaranteed in this squad.
However, he has been a prolific wicket-taker in the T20 Blast, taking 48 wickets with an economy of 8.33 over the past three seasons – only Chris Wood and Naveen have taken more wickets with a better economy among pace bowlers. He's not the quickest but has a range of variations and is a potent wicket-taker in the powerplay.
Why they'll win the SA20
Joburg Super Kings have a more balanced squad than last season, which should reduce their reliance on du Plessis and Coetzee.
Moeen and Wayne Madsen provide more options for the top six while David Wiese is a lower order threat. If they can get the best out of Reeza Hendricks, who smashed 96 runs off 54 balls in the semi-final but was otherwise quite pedestrian with his scoring last year, and get another 250 runs out of Leus du Plooy, they'll be well set with the bat.
Moeen, Wiese and Imran Tahir, meanwhile, bring a wealth of experience, and more importantly wickets, to the bowling attack.
Why they won't win the SA20
The Super Kings are lacking quality depth and despite being less reliant on the likes of du Plessis and Coetzee thanks to some smart recruitment, you would be concerned if either player suffered an injury.
Squad: Faf du Plessis, Gerald Coetzee, Moeen Ali, David Wiese, Sam Cook, Zahir Khan, Leus du Plooy, Reeza Hendricks, Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger, Donovan Ferreira, Aaron Phangiso, Sibonelo Makhanya, Kyle Simmonds, Wayne Madsen, Romario Shepherd, Dayyaan Galiem, Ronan Herrmann, Imran Tahir
Possible XI: Faf du Plessis, Leus du Plooy, Reeza Hendricks, Wayne Madsen, Moeen Ali, Donovan Ferreira, David Wiese, Gerald Coetzee, Imran Tahir, Lizaad Williams, Aaron Phangiso
Joburg Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis (Sportzpics/SA20/CSA)
Captain: Kieron Pollard
Coach: Robin Peterson
Headliners
Veteran West Indian Kieron Pollard has been brought in at short notice to replace the injured Rashid Khan. The pair are very different but while MI Cape Town lose the Afghanistan international's spin wizardry, their batting gains some much-needed firepower. Pollard has scored over 12,000 T20 runs at a strike rate of 150.
Rassie van der Dussen is MI Cape Town's anchor, boasting an average of just under 36 across his T20 career. His strike rate (around 130) isn't bad at all but his primary strengths are composure and timing.
Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone headline a sizable English contingent. The former is, at his best, a disciplined left-arm pace bowler and fast-scoring batter, with the talent to bat in the top four as a pinch hitter (a role he fulfils for Surrey) or the middle order. Livingstone, meanwhile, has earned a reputation for hitting monstrous sixes and can bowl both offies and leggies.
Kagiso Rabada is the standout quick. The South Africa international, a genuine pace threat whose experience MI can turn to in the powerplay and at the death, took a team-leading 11 wickets in 2023.
One to watch
Dewald Brevis scored the second-most runs for MI Cape Town last season but was striking below 120. However, the 20-year-old, who made his T20I debut last August, is increasingly in demand on the franchise circuit and boasts a career strike rate above 140 in the format. In 2022, he smashed a 35-ball century in the CSA T20 Challenge – the question is whether he can replicate that form in MI blue.
Why they'll win the SA20
MI Cape Town have a squad laden with match winners, from the likes of Rabada and van der Dussen to overseas names like Curran, Livingstone, and Pollard. On paper, it's a formidable roster.
Why they won't win the SA20
As evidenced last season, when MI Cape Town won just three matches and finished bottom of the table, having all the big names doesn't guarantee success.
There are question marks hanging over a lot of their stars. Given his injury history, there have to be concerns about Olly Stone, Curran's form has been up and down since the 2022 T20 World Cup, producing a number of very expensive spells with the ball, while Livingstone hasn't been particularly inspiring with the bat over the past 12 months.
Last season, they struggled to settle on a lineup (particularly at the top of the order), lacked explosivity and a reliable source of runs with the bat (van der Dussen and Brevis were the only players to score at least 200 runs), and none of their bowlers were especially prolific. None of thee problems appear to have been solved.
Squad: Kagiso Rabada, Dewald Brevis, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Rashid Khan (withdrawn, replaced by Kieron Pollard), Tom Banton, Rassie van der Dussen, Delano Potgieter, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Beuran Hendricks, Duan Jansen, Olly Stone, Grant Roelofsen, Chris Benjamin, Nealan van Heerden, Thomas Kaber, Connor Esterhuizen, Jofra Archer (withdrawn, replaced by Nuwan Thushara)
Possible XI: Dewald Brevis, Grant Roelofsen, Rassie van der Dussen, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Kieron Pollard, George Linde, Delano Potgieter, Duan Jansen, Olly Stone, Kagiso Rabada
Dewald Brevis is one to watch at MI Cape Town (Sportzpics/SA20/CSA)
Captain: David Miller
Coach: JP Duminy
Headliners
The Royals have a pair of England internationals at the top of the order in Jos Buttler and Jason Roy. Buttler was the leading run-scorer in last year's SA20, scoring 391 runs, including four half-centuries, and boasts an average of 34.41 and strike rate above 140 across his T20 career. Roy, meanwhile, has scored over 8,500 T20 runs while striking above 140. Two thirds of his runs have come via boundaries.
Captain Miller is a similarly explosive option and a huge presence in the death overs, striking above 180 and scoring over 400 boundaries during this period. He showed flashes of his best last season but often found himself coming in to bat inside 10 overs as other players struggled for form.
Lungi Ngidi is blessed with raw pace and capable of bowling in both the powerplay and at the death. Last year, he took 11 wickets with an economy of 7.16.
One to watch
South African-born Hampshire bowler John Turner had a highly successful debut campaign in the T20 Blast, taking 21 wickets with an economy of 6.67 in 11 outings and proving particularly prolific in the powerplay and middle phase. He was in line to make his England debut at the back end of 2023 before injury intervened. His pace and ability to bowl a tight line are his major weapons.
Why they'll win the SA20
The bowling attack outperformed the batters last season. Evan Jones, Ngidi, and spinners Tabraiz Shamsi and Bjorn Fortuin shared 46 wickets and the Royals restricted their opponents to under 160 five times out of seven when bowling first. They've strengthened in this area, with Obed McCoy, who withdrew from last year’s competition, and Turner offering additional pace depth.
If the bowlers can replicate last year's form and their underperforming batting lineup can click, they'll be tricky to beat – after all, they snuck into the semi-finals last year without much assistance from the batters.
Why they won't win the SA20
Given some of the names at their disposal, it feels bizarre to criticise Paarl Royals' batting. However, it was a problem last season, with Buttler the only player to reliably perform – Jason Roy and Dane Vilas, for example, were quite absent with the bat last season while meaningful contributions from Miller were few and far between.
Having not made any standout additions to their top six – there is limited quality depth - you suspect Buttler will once again have to do the heavy lifting.
Squad: David Miller, Jos Buttler, Obed McCoy, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Jason Roy, Andile Phelukwayo, Dane Vilas, Bjorn Fortuin, Mitchell van Buuren, Wihan Lubbe, Codi Yusuf, Evan Jones, Fabian Allen, Ferisco Adams, John Turner, Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Lorcan Tucker
Possible XI: Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Wihan Lubbe, David Miller, Dane Vilas, Fabian Allen, Evan Jones, Bjorn Fortuin, John Turner, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi
Jos Buttler was the leading run-scorer last season (Sportzpics/SA20/CSA)
Captain: Wayne Parnell
Coach: Graham Ford
Headliners
He wasn't at his best last year but Rilee Rossouw is an explosive top-order batter, averaging 30.74 and striking above 140 across his T20 career. In the final four overs, his strike rate climbs to nearly 180.
Spinner Adil Rashid brings vast experience and and an array of variations to the bowling attack. Last season, the leggie picked up 14 wickets.
Phil Salt and Will Jacks, meanwhile, are two explosive top-order batters. Salt heads into the tournament riding the wave of scoring back-to-back T20I centuries for England against West Indies while Jacks was in electric form in 2023, scoring 270 runs at a strike rate above 200 in seven outings for the Capitals.
One to watch
Eathan Bosch was a key cog in the bowling attack last season, striking 15 times while maintaining an economy of 8.02. The 25-year-old is only 37 games into his T20 career and has a job on his hands this year in light of Nortje's injury withdrawal
Why they’ll win the SA20
Pretoria Capitals have an intimidating top order, with Salt, Jacks, Rossouw, Theunis de Bruyn and Ireland's Paul Stirling among the players at their disposal - expect fast starts in the powerplay and a few nervous bowling attacks. They also have a solid core of bowlers in Parnell, Jimmy Neesham, Rashid and Bosch.
All in all, there's a lot to like about this Capitals squad and a top-four finish should be very achievable.
Why they won’t win the SA20
This squad is a little light on middle order batting and there'll be a lot of pressure on Neesham to repeat, and preferably better, last season's run haul. If teams can break through the top four, they might expose a chink in Pretoria Capitals' armour.
Of greater concern, however, is the late withdrawal of Nortje due to injury. The pacer picked up 20 wickets with an economy of 6.18 last season, proving especially prolific in the middle overs, and without him, they are missing a bit of x-factor quality.
Squad: Migael Pretorius, Anrich Nortje (withdrawn, replaced by Hardus Viljoen), Jimmy Neesham, Rilee Rossouw, Colin Ingram, Senuran Muthusamy, Wayne Parnell, Theunis de Bruyn, Adil Rashid, Will Jacks, Eathan Bosch, Shane Dadswell, Corbin Bosch, Daryn Dupavillon, Kyle Verreynne, Matthew Boast, Paul Stirling, Phil Salt, Steve Stolk (withdrawn, replaced by Tiaan van Vuuren)
Possible XI: Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Theunis de Bruyn, Rilee Rossouw, Colin Ingram, Wayne Parnell, Jimmy Neesham, Eathan Bosch, Migael Pretorius, Adil Rashid, Daryn Dupavillon
Eathan Bosch will have to step up in Anrich Nortje's absence (Sportzpics/SA20/CSA)
Captain: Aiden Markram
Coach: Adrian Birrell
Headliners
Aiden Markram was player of the tournament at the 2023 event, scoring 366 runs – the third-most in the competition – and taking 11 wickets. A dynamic allrounder, he is the player Sunrisers turn to when they need a game-changing contribution.
Spinner Roelof van Merwe, is a bundle of energy and intensity in the middle overs. Last year, he took 20 wickets in 10 matches and maintained an economy under a run-a-ball (5.61).
Dawid Malan is new to Sunrisers for 2024. The England international has scored over 8,500 runs in over 300 T20 appearances and though he's sometimes slow to get started, he's a reliable anchor with the ability to accelerate through the gears as he gets in.
South Africa's Marco Jansen, meanwhile, is a tall quick and a handy source of lower-order runs – he flashed 177 runs at a strike rate of 150 last season.
One to watch
Batter Jordan Hermann heads into the tournament with only 14 T20 appearances to his name. However, eight of those came for Sunrisers during last year's run to the title. His 184 runs came at the relatively sedate strike rate of 112.88 but he showed flashes of his potential while floating around the top order, with notable knocks of 59 (44) against Durban Super Giants 48 (36) in the semi-final against Joburg Super Kings.
Why they'll win the SA20
Sunrisers have quality and depth in all areas. In addition to star South African trio Jansen, Stubbs and Markram, they've kept hold of bowlers van der Merwe and Magala (who share 34 wickets in 2023), have added Malan to shore up a batting lineup which struggled at times last year, and have plenty of options with the rest of their overseas contingent – more runs with Abell, all-round options with Dawson (spin) and Overton (pace) etc.
They were surprise champions last year – they finished in the top four on net run rate and qualified for the final courtesy of a fantastic century from Markram – but should produce a spirited title defence having recruited well.
Why they won't win the SA20
Sometimes squad depth can be a double-edged sword. Birrell has many options at his fingertips, but the challenge is finding his best XI. How much does he want to tinker with last season's winning team? Which overseas stars can he afford to leave carrying drinks? There's the potential for some teething problems, which could be costly with only 10 group matches.
There's also the question of what happens if van der Merwe isn't at his prolific best? There isn't an obvious candidate to step up and fill his shoes in the middle overs.
Squad: Aiden Markram, Ottniel Bartman, Dawid Malan, Liam Dawson, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs, Sisanda Magala, Brydon Carse, Temba Bavuma, Sarel Erwee, Jordan Hermann, Aya Gqamane, Adam Rossington, Tom Abell, Craig Overton, Caleb Seleka, Beyers Swanepoel, Andile Simelane, Simon Harmer
Possible XI: Adam Rossington, Temba Bavuma, Dawid Malan, Jordan Hermann, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Brydon Carse, Roelof van der Merwe, Sisanda Magala, Ottniel Bartman
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