When Pro20 cricket came onto the scene all the pundits had their say about how it would affect cricket as we know it. We’ve heard it all, is ODI cricket dead? Will the format of ODI cricket change  and the absurd arguments about Test cricket fading away into obscurity. Did any of us consider the impact that Pro20 would have cricket administration and management within South African cricket?

Making it to the final of the domestic Pro20 competition secures the franchise a place in the Champions League T20 (CLT20), and the CLT20 is a lucrative place to be. Just playing in the CLT20 earns a franchise US$200 000, that’s more money than the total sum on offer for winning the Standard Bank Pro20, MTN 40 and SuperSport Series combined. In the 2010 edition of the CLT20 the Warriors made US$1,550,00 for being the losing finalist (US$1,300,00) and earned US$200 000 for allowing RCB the services of Jacques Kallis.

Those are massive figures for any South African domestic franchise, and it seems the pursuit of that money has got to the heads of local administrators.

Today it was announced that the board of the Eastern Titans has chosen not to renew the contract of Chris van Noordwyk, the Coach of the Titans, as a loyal Titans supporter I was shocked by the announcement. van Noordwyk was appointed in August 2009, that’s just 20 months as the head coach…. When you analyze how the Titans have performed in those 20 months you really do have to wonder why his contract was not renewed.

• MTN40 – 2009/10 – Titans finished top of the log, lost to the Dolphins in the semi-finals.
• Super Sport Series – 2009/10 – Titans finished second on the log.
• Standard Bank Pro20 2010 – Titans finished second on the log, lost to the Lions in the semi-finals.
• MTN40 – 2010/11 – Titans finished top of the log, lost to the Knights in a rain affected game.
• Super Sport Series – 2010/11 – Titans finished second on the log.
• Standard Bank Pro20 2011 – Titans finished second on the log, lost to the Cobras in the highest successful run chase in Pro20 history.

The performances speak for themselves, the Titans were contenders in every competition played under van Noordwyk’s leadership. Sure they didn’t win a trophy under his tenure but take a moment to consider the opposition. The Cape Cobras have been the leading four day team in South Africa for two years they didn’t lose a game in 2010/11 season and the Warriors are practically the Proteas team.

I have to wonder, if the Titans made it to the 2011 Standard Bank Pro20 final would van Noordwyk still have a job? I think he would. The Eastern Titans administrators have lost the plot, they have let the pursuit of money persuade their cricketing decisions…..

The innovation of Pro20 cricket and the associated money seems to be having a wider affect on not only the future format of the game, but on the careers of the very people that play and coach it.

It’s no secret that I have been critical of Albie Morkel’s performances of late, he went through a poor run of form with the bat and ball for the Proteas, and I wasn’t surprised when he was dropped by the national selectors ahead of the World Cup.

As we’ve all heard form is temporary, class is permanent… Having been dropped, Morkel has returned to his franchise and put in the hard work, the commitment a player shows after being dropped by the national team is a real show of character.

The hard work has paid off, as of the 9^th of March these were Morkel’s stats (after the second semi-final, which was the last for the Titans):

Morkel was the third highest runs scorer, the players above Morkel are Jacques Rudolph and Owais Shah. Morkel had amassed 214 runs from 6 innings; both Rudolph and Shah have played 7 innings.

Albie Morkel’s 214 runs came at an average of 214 thanks to five innings where he was not out. Add to that those runs were scored off the highest strike rate (178.33) in the competition to date. There are a few higher strike rates but the batsmen have scored less than 50 runs in the competition.

Morkel also tops the table for the most 6’s 1n the Pro20 with 19, 9 more than second placed Loots Bosman.

Those are some impressive stats from a player who has had a dismal run with the bat in ODI cricket.

Albie Morkel’s bowling statistics in the Pro20 are not as flattering as his batting statistics, he has however bowled well and has taken 5 wickets at an average of 18.60 conceding 6.26 runs per over, as I said not the best but decent in Pro20 cricket.

It’s great to see a player fighting back to find form, let’s hope Albie can continue his improvement with the ball and hopefully regain his place in the national side… As we’ve seen the national team is lacking the big hitter who can also put in some overs with the ball, the imminent retirement of Jacques Kallis makes Morkel’s return to the national team all the more important.

2011 Standard Bank Pro20 Cricket Schedule:

Having recently read Mickey Arthur’s book, Taking the Mickey, it’s become apparent to me that the national selectors don’t actually watch cricket, when you see them in the Presidents box on the first day of a Test series, they’re not there to watch the game, they’re there to socialize and consume the sponsors beverage. This is sad news for Roelof van der Merwe, because I really hope that someone has got word to the selectors that this boy is needed for our World Cup attempt in 2011.

The South African Cricket team has long been accused of being chokers, a label that I personally despise, but it is true that some players lose their cool under pressure. Herschelle Gibbs refers to this in his book, To the point, he’s of the opinion that the Protea’s approach to the game is far to conservative which leaves to much to be done at the end of an innings, rather than the team being chokers.

Let it be known that there is absolutely nothing conservative about Roelof van der Merwe. Roela has also recently reaffirmed his ability to perform under pressure in both the MTN40 semi-finals that the Titans recently played.

Having been set a total of 300 runs by the Lions in the first semi-final, the Titans soon found themselves 3 wickets down with just 93 runs on the board. Needing 10 runs per over, van der Merwe came to the wicket and smashed a career best 93 off 51 balls (5 x 4’s, 7 x 6’s, 182.35SR), now if that is not BMT, then I’ve never seen it.

In the second MTN40 semi-final at the Wanderers, it was again van der Merwe who this time bowled the Titans back into the match. The Titans set the tone scoring 287 in their innings, The Lions and more specifically Jonathan Vandiar blazed the Titan’s bowlers all over the place, the Titans were getting into real trouble with the Lions on 116 without loss, enter Roelf van der Merwe, two wickets in two balls, removing Vandiar and Cameron. Titans captain Rudolph took Roela off while he was on a hat-trick, but Roela returned later in the innings to remove a few more batsmen ending with figures of 41/5 from 8 overs. In his spell van der Merwe removed the four highest scoring Lions batsmen, and the other for a golden duck.

Going into the Final of the MTN40 on Friday evening, Roela finds himself joint second on the table for most wickets taken this season, one behind Ryan McLaren on the opposition team in the final, the Knights.

So if you have a line to the national selectors, please let them know Roelof van der Merwe can bat and bowl under pressure…. We need him, we really do.

The MTN40 is well under way, and as you’ve read on this blog I’m not a fan of the update to the MTN40 player substitution rules. Some of my readers have asked me to elaborate on the updates to the rules, so here they are:

The updated rule states: two substitutes are available, allowing teams to name 13-member squads. Unlike the last time substitutes were used, the starting eleven does not have to be named before the toss. Only the squad of 13 has to be named.

An additional change to the format is around the power plays, the MTN40 has dropped the additional power play which was a ridiculous addition in the first place, the bowlers got pasted last year. The updated rules now state that there will only be two Power plays; the first one is applied to the first ten overs, and the second, is a five-over power-play which can be taken any time before the 31st over on the request of the batting side.

The structure of the competition has also been changed, the six teams have been divided into two groups of three teams each. Each team will play the other two teams in its own group twice and play the three teams in the other group once. The semi-finals will be played on the best of three method.

Not sure these new rules are having their desired affect on the game. The attendance at the opening matches has been very poor, often the security staff out numbering the spectators. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the MTN40 needs to attract international cricket players to the competition if they want to pull the crowds.

MTN40 Domestic Cricket Points Table 2010 / 11:

Last updated 21th November 2010

MTN40 2010/11 Fixtures | MTN40 2010/11 Rules update

The fourth round of the SuperSport Series is the last in the first of three legs. The Titans have taken a solid lead in the series, while the Warriors now have almost no chance of making it as their match was again washed out.

Cobras vs Warriors

Yet again the weather played the most significant role in this SuperSport Series match in East London. The Cobras opening pair of Alistair Gray and Andrew Puttick both scored centuries to power the Cobras to 283/1 at the close of day 1. Gray was out caught behind from the second last ball of the day, departing for 126 which included 17 4’s.

Senior partner Puttick was on 151 at the close of day 1, he resumed his innings on day 2 managing to add 30 runs to his score before he was out lbw to Boje for 193, just seven short of his double century.

The rain then ended the chances of further play, the Warriors did not score a single point from this match, putting them in serious trouble of receiving the wooden spoon in the SuperSport Series 2010/11 as they languish in last position on the SuperSport Series log with 9.68 points.

Titans vs Knights

Coming off the back of two losses in a row, the Titans had to win their fourth game of the series. Batting first the Titans put up a decent total of 337, Behardien top scoring with 147 who was well supported by Henry Davids’ 81.

Once the Titans batsmen had done their thing it then became the Ethy Mbhalati show…. Again. Mbhalati took five wickets as the Knights we’re skittled out for just 113. The Titans then added 187/7 dec to set the Knights 411 for victory.

The Knights put up a great fight with all the batsmen contributing, eventually falling just 21 runs short. Ethy Mhbalati was the difference between the two sides as he took five second innings wickets, ending the match with a ten wicket haul.

Lions vs Dolphins

Imran Tahir and the weather stood between the Lions and victory, The Lions through Neil McKenzie (164) and Vaughn van Jaarsveld (126) posted 462 runs in their first innings – Imran Tahir took five wickets for the fourth time this season.

The Lions then bowled the inconsistent Dolphins out for 201 and forced the follow on. The second inning was a different story, this time the Dolphins put 406 runs on the board setting the Lions 145 for victory. And then the rain came.

The Joburg thunderstorm didn’t last long and gave the Lions enough time to haul the runs in… it did come close though as they lost 6 wickets in the chase.

SuperSport Series Log 2010/11 – 25 10 2010

To view a detailed view of player statistics in the SuperSport Series 2010 / 11 season go to the SuperSport Series Averages page.

MTN40 Fixtures 2010 / 11 Season

Oh what a terrible weekend it was for the people of the Jacaranda city, a very sad day indeed. Both the Bulls and the Titans went down to the Sharks and Dolphins respectively. The boys from Durban gave the Titans a real cricket lesson.

Dolphins vs Titans

One way traffic is all that can describe this match, and it all came from Imran Tahir. In the Titans first inning of 242, Jacques Rudolph was the only Titans’ batsman to reach 50. It was the bowling performance of the season for Imran Tahir, as he wrecked the Titans inning by taking 7 wickets – it’s rumoured that Paul Harris was spotted crying as his chances of playing another Test match slip further and further away as Tahir must now be a shoe- in for the Proteas Test team.

The Dolphins took a slender first inning lead of 42 runs,Ahmed Amla(77) and Loots Bosman(62) the main contributors – Ethy Mbhalati again taking 5 wickets this season. As he did in the first innings, Imran Tahir slaughters the Titans batting line up taking another 5 wickets, ending the match with figures of 12 for 159 – Tahir is now the leading wicket taker in the SuperSport Series on 23, 7 wickets form the second place Vernon Philander.

The Dolphins needed just 72 runs to complete a emphatic victory over the Titans who have now lost two on the trot. The Titans have however managed to remain second on the log due to the other games playing to draws.

Warriors vs Lions

What happens on P.E. stays in P.E. and not a whole lot happened as the Warriors and Lions played to  a draw. The first two days was a wash out, it rained for the first day or so and then a wet pitch prevented them from playing. The teams did however try to produce a result by an innings forfeiture and two declarations.

The only real highlight that I could take from this game was Ashwell Prince’s 134* – Prince is well and truly back in form, he’s scored 415 runs from 6 innings, including 3 centuries at an average of 83 – I’ve given Prince a lot of stick over the years, but it seems his move back down the order has worked.

Knights vs Cobras

Justin Ontong’s Century (102) and Richard Levi’s 64 helped the Cobras post a respectable 330. Another 5 for was had by Dillion de Preez, there really has been some quality bowling played this season.

Chasing 330 the Knights managed to post on 234 runs as Boeta Dippenaar top scored with 76, helped along by Ryan Mclaren’s 63, yet again one bowler did all the damage, this time Vernon Philander taking 6 for 61.

With a 96 run lead the Cobras put 255 for 7 on the board  when they declared setting the Knights 351 runs for victory, and yet again a bowler took five wicket, spin bowler Thandi Tshabalala getting 5 for 92.

The match eventually played to a draw with the Knights on 243 for 7.