The Tshwane Spartans purchased former Proteas fast bowler Morne Morkel in the first round of Tuesday’s player draft for the 2019 Mzansi Super League.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen joined the Spartans, too. Klaasen recently became the first South African to score a century in the Global T20 Canada. He played for the Toronto Nationals.
The Spartans have retained quartet Theunis de Bruyn, Tony de Zorzi, Lungi Ngidi and Lutho Sipamla. England fast bowler Tom Curran is the Tshwane franchise’s new international marquee player. Former Proteas captain AB de Villiers has remained their local marquee player.
‘Tom has come from an environment in which England just won a World Cup, so that can only be good. He’s been in that side for a while. He’s been a performer at county level and for England,’ said Spartans head coach Mark Boucher.
‘I’m looking forward to great things from him over here. He brings a wealth of experience but he sounds like a nice team man as well.’
The Spartans finished in second-last position in last year’s six-team MSL, after four wins and six defeats.
Squad: AB de Villiers, Tom Curran (England), Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi (retained player), Heinrich Klaasen, Theunis de Bruyn (retained player), Roelof van der Merwe, Lutho Sipamla (retained player), Pite van Biljon, Tony de Zorzi (retained player), Waqar Salamkheil (Afghanistan), Dean Elgar, Wiaan Mulder, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Corbin Bosch.
Photo: Gallo Images
