The official SA20 Team of the Season has been named.
The team is dominated by back-to back champions the Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Durban’s Super Giants, this year’s finalists.
It was selected with the assistance of cricket’s leading analytics specialists, CricViz, which uses a performance evaluation measure to assess the performance of players across a match and competition.
1. Ryan Rickelton (MI Cape Town)
Batting points: 172.52; Fielding points: 5.00; Total points: 181.52
Rickelton was the competition’s top run-scorer with 530 at an average of 58.88. The MI Cape Town opener struck five half-centuries, which included three scores in the 90s.
2. Jos Buttler (Paarl Royals, wicketkeeper)
Batting points: 126.79; Fielding points: 25.00; Total points: 158.79
Buttler enjoyed another solid SA20 season with 408 runs at an average of 40.80 to go with his 391 runs in 2023. The England opener rediscovered his game this past month and it showed in his performances.
3. Tom Abell (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
Batting points: 116.17; Fielding points: 9.00; Total points: 135.17
An unsung hero for the Sunrisers, Abell came to the fore with a Man of the Match performance in the final at Newlands. His 286 runs at an average of 47.66 was vital to the success of the Sunrisers.
4. Tristan Stubbs (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
Batting points: 87.32; Fielding points: 18.00; Total points: 114.32
Stubbs delivered on last season’s promise with innings of great maturity this season. He often walked to the crease at difficult times, and found a way to come on top. He finished as the Sunrisers’ leading run-scorer with 301 at 60.20. He also grew into the wicketkeeping role as the competition progressed.
5. Heinrich Klaasen (Durban’s Super Giants)
Batting points: 190.46; Fielding points: 23.00; Total points: 224.46
The undoubted star of the season, Klaasen was deservedly named as the SA20 Player of the season for his phenomenal batting efforts, which included the fastest fifty of the competition. His 447 runs at an average of 40.63 does not do justice to the impact he had.
6. Wiaan Mulder (Durban’s Super Giants)
Batting points: 92.82; Bowling points: 11.40; Fielding points: 14.00; Total points: 126.23
After floating around the DSG batting lineup initially, Mulder found his sweet spot in the middle-order. He played some crafty innings, often pulling DSG out of a pickle. He managed 297 runs at an average of 37.12.
7. Marco Jansen (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
Batting points: 39.60; Bowling points: 91.37, Fielding points: 16.00; Total points: 156.97
The lanky all-rounder grew in stature this season with both bat and ball. His international experience certainly came to the fore, particularly in the final when he claimed 5-30. He finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 20 scalps.
8. Keshav Maharaj (Durban’s Super Giants, captain)
Batting points: 9.54 ; Bowling points: 79.25, Fielding points: 8.0; Total points: 112.79
The DSG captain led from the front, with his superb bowling spells putting the opposition under immense pressure. He was the leading spinner in the competition with 15 wickets at an economy of just 7.30.
9. Noor Ahmed (Durban’s Super Giants)
Bowling points: 75.52; Fielding points: 2.0; Total points: 81.52
The Afghanistan mystery spinner only spent a short time at DSG, but had a major impact. His unavailability for the playoffs due to international duty had a significant influence on the Super Giants’ fate. He claimed 12 wickets in just six matches, including a five-for.
10. Dan Worrall (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
Batting points; 0.01, Bowling points: 83.16, Fielding points: 8.0 ; Total points: 101.17
The English/Australian seam bowler led the attack with aplomb. He was miserly upfront and picked up wickets to set the tone for the Sunrisers. He claimed 17 in all.
11. Ottniel Baartman (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
Batting points; 0.12; Bowling points: 119.15; Fielding points: 5.0; Total points: 133.27
The Oudtshoorn Express put his name up in lights this season and should now be a frontrunner for a Proteas T20I call-up. He was excellent throughout, particularly during the middle-overs and at the death. He formed part of a formidable Sunrisers pace trio and collected 18 wickets in the process.
12th man: Matthew Breetzke (Durban’s Super Giants)
Batting points; 108.11, Fielding points: 17.0 ; Total points: 135.11
Arguably the most improved player this season, Breetzke has taken his game to a new level with a string of exceptional performances at the top of the order for DSG. He finished third on the overall run-scorers list with 416 runs.
Photo: Ron Gaunt/Sportzpics
