All you need to know about MI Cape Town ahead of the 2024 edition of the SA20, including predictions, players to watch, strengths, weaknesses and other factors worth understanding about the team that finished in last position in 2023.
Position last season
MI Cape Town ended the 2023 edition of the SA20 at the bottom of the six-team points table. They won two of their first three matches before collecting four successive defeats at the end of the campaign. In total, MI Cape Town won three and lost seven matches to finish with 13 points. This was a full six points shy of Durban’s Super Giants in fifth place.
Notable squad additions
MI Cape Town acquired trio Chris Benjamin, Thomas Kaber and Nealan van Heerden during September 2023’s player auction. They also signed batter Connor Esterhuizen, who participated in the International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates rather than the SA20 last season.
Benjamin was born in South Africa before relocating to the United Kingdom, where he has made a name for himself in The Hundred and T20 Blast.
Kaber is one of the best left-arm wrist spinners in South Africa and has enjoyed recent success after moving from Border to South Western Districts. Fast bowler van Heerden is from the Warriors.
Before the player auction, MI Cape Town also signed England batter Tom Banton, who has enjoyed recent success for Team Abu Dhabi in the Abu Dhabi T10.
England fast bowler Jofra Archer was MI Cape Town’s wildcard pick. Archer’s season has been limited by injury. It will be interesting to see if he is fit enough to participate in this tournament. Fellow England fast bowler Olly Stone is also with MI Cape Town.
MI Cape Town
— Junaid Khan (@JunaidKhanation) September 27, 2023
☆ Chris Benjamin ✈️ - Perfect WK Back Up For Tom Banton .
☆ Nealan Van Heerden 🇿🇦 - Back Up Local Pacer
☆ Thomas Kaber 🇿🇦 - Back Up Local Bowling All-Rounder . He is an Chinaman Bowler .
☆ Conner Esterhuizen 🇿🇦 (Rookie Pick) - Local Back Up Keeper Batter . pic.twitter.com/gxQjdYMgJ9
Players to watch
Batter Dewald Brevis was MI Cape Town’s leading run-scorer last season with 200 in 10 innings. He has since debuted for the Proteas and gained more experience elsewhere. The Mumbai franchise have invested heavily in Brevis, who has also represented them in the Indian Premier League.
Proteas star Rassie van der Dussen was the second-highest run-scorer for MI Cape Town in 2023. He will go into this tournament on the back of a prolific 2023 Cricket World Cup, during which he struck two centuries and two half-tons.
Proteas pace ace Kagiso Rabada took the most wickets for MI Cape Town in the inaugural edition of the SA20. His 11 wickets came at an average of 21. MI Cape Town have wisely retained the services of Rabada, who many international batters reckon is the best fast bowler in world cricket lately.
The arrival of Benjamin to MI Cape Town’s squad is an intriguing addition. He is a calculated hitter and veritable white-ball specialist who can play as a specialist batter or wicketkeeper-batter. Fellow wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton is also in MI Cape Town’s squad.
Spin will be important in the SA20. MI Cape Town have the prolific Rashid Khan in their squad. He is arguably the best leg-spinning all-rounder in world cricket. Khan captained MI Cape Town last season and will be eager to improve – by a significant margin – on their last-place finish this time.
T-50 days until DB does DB things at Newlands ⏳💙
— MI Cape Town (@MICapeTown) November 27, 2023
To not miss it, book your tickets now: https://t.co/unWTlL6P2C#OneFamily #MICapeTown #SA20 pic.twitter.com/H8E9vhwze8
Strengths
MI Cape Town have two outstanding local all-rounders in George Linde and Delano Potgieter. Linde bowls spin and Potgieter seam. They complement each other well with the ball and can both be destructive with the bat – individually or collectively.
The Cape Town franchise has a formidable coaching staff. Former Proteas spinner Robin Peterson has been appointed head coach. He led MI New York to the maiden Major League Cricket title in the United States of America earlier this year. Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga has joined the MI Cape Town coaching staff, too. They have retained batting coach Hashim Amla.
Weaknesses
MI Cape Town’s decision to release Australian Tim David and South African Wesley Marshall could yield significant change in their batting dynamics. Whether this is positive or negative remains in the balance. They have also discarded Afghanistan spinner Waqar Salamkheil.
After finishing the 2023 SA in last position and disappointing plenty of expectation, the pressure to perform well is even bigger for MI Cape Town this time. They are one team in a global MI franchise – and need to match the success of Mumbai Indians and MI New York.
Prediction
MI Cape Town have shifted their on- and off-field resources cleverly between the first and second season. Their homeground, Newlands in Cape Town, has also been handed the final for the 2024 SA20. The squad looks better balanced than last season. MI Cape Town should go all the way to a maiden title this season.
Highest wicket-taker
Odean Smith took nine wickets in seven matches for MI Cape Town in 2023. The big West Indian is back with the team this season. As a relatively prominent bowling all-rounder, Smith could be in for a big campaign with ball and bat.
Highest run-scorer
Brevis will likely play every match for MI Cape Town this season, barring injury, and have the opportunity to score quickly and freely at the top of the order. The opening powerplays could be especially fruitful for the hard-hitting right-hander.
