The CSA T20 Challenge is the ultimate afterthought in the current domestic structure in South Africa but this season’s tournament could still be a big one for certain players.
The timing of the event means that it folds into the schedule just ahead of the Indian Premier League, which means teams can expect quite a few absent stars.
Still because of a gap in the international schedule several Proteas hopefuls will be on display in the tournament.
After a stellar run in the SA20, there will be a lot of attention focused on the ongoing form of Ryan Rickleton in particular.
Rickleton hasn’t yet established himself in the Proteas setup but the weight of runs he amassed in the SA20 suggests he has to be in the thinking for the T20 World Cup.
He will be back on his familiar patch turning out for the Lions at the Wanderers, which should give his average a little bit of a boost.
There will also be significant focus shone in the direction of Matthew Breetzke, who starred for Durban’s Super Giants in the SA20 but will be back with the Warriors in the Eastern Cape.
Breetzke wrapped up his First Class season with a demonstration of form at the Pietermaritzburg Oval, scoring 188 in the Warriors’ final four-day match of the season.
There doesn’t seem to be any question that Breetzke will be a Proteas star in the future it is just a matter of when he gets his next chance to prove that his time truly is now.
For someone like Wian Mulder, the CSA T20 Challenge could be pivotal.
After Mulder’s good showing in the SA20 and the Proteas’ issues with the all-rounder slot in the T20 side, a good tournament will surely put him in line to face the West Indies in the Proteas’ next T20I assignment.
While Tristan Stubbs has probably done enough to ensure he will travel to the West Indies, he also cannot afford to falter too much in the T20 Challenge.
Stubbs has shown himself to have a penchant for the spectacular, igniting hopes that he could develop alongside Heinrich Klaasen in a potent Proteas middle order.
More fireworks could also be expected of Dewald Brevis before he departs for his IPL stretch.
Donovan Ferreira will also have a chance to get going in the Lions camp before he leaves to join up with the Rajasthan Royals for the IPL.
While the overall direction of the CSA T20 Challenge really doesn’t matter too much, the individual player performances will be worth analysing.
