NEW DELHI: The inaugural version of SA20 kicks off from January 10 and former South Africa batsman AB De Villiers hopes that the league will give the kids a base and the muse to get publicity on the highest degree.
De Villiers, who performed within the Indian Premier League since its inception in 2008, mentioned that IPL modified his life and hoped the SA20 will do the identical for younger cricketers in South Africa.
The SA20 will function six newly-constructed groups with the opening native derby between MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals establishing an explosive begin to South African cricket’s new-kid-on-the-block. All groups are owned by IPL franchises.
De Villiers mentioned that the SA20 is simply the enhance the sport required in South Africa.
“I think the SA20 comes at a really good time for South African cricket. We have seen the amazing things that these leagues have done to cricket in particular nations,” De Villiers informed Cricket South Africa.
“To give our youngsters this base and the foundation to get exposure at the highest level against the best players in the world is what it’s all about.”
Among the kids that De Villiers shall be holding an in depth eye on is MI Cape Town’s younger batting sensation Dewald Brevis.
The 19-year-old has been a revelation since bursting on the scene throughout the ICC males’s Under-19 World Cup earlier this yr when he shattered Shikhar Dhawan’s match report for essentially the most runs.
He then carried his type into the IPL, Caribbean Premier League and most notably in Cricket SA’s T20 Challenge competitors when he blasted 162 off simply 57 balls.
De Villiers believes Brevis’ improvement shall be drastically aided by taking part in alongside England’s T20 World Cup winners resembling Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone in the identical means he learnt from grizzled veterans resembling Australian celebrity Glenn McGrath when he first joined the IPL in 2008.
“It was a huge occasion for me and a lot of the other players. The start of the IPL changed our lives. The people are really passionate about cricket. Not only with the home team but they support members in other teams as well,” De Villiers mentioned.
“The biggest thing that stands out for me are the people that I met. I think of Glenn McGrath and the time I spent with him. He was this hard guy and all of a sudden I am sitting with him in the changeroom and having a beer with him.”
De Villiers was additionally filled with reward for his former nationwide group captain Graeme Smith, who in his function as SA20 League commissioner, has ensured South Africa will even now have a league to rival the very best on this planet
“Graeme and I have come a long way together, and to have him right at the top of SA cricket right now, making a lot of good calls, and changing things,” he mentioned.
“The SA20 … I don’t think it would have been possible if it weren’t for him and all his connections and experience. I think we all owe Graeme a real thank you for bringing this big tournament to SA.”
(With inputs from PTI)
De Villiers, who performed within the Indian Premier League since its inception in 2008, mentioned that IPL modified his life and hoped the SA20 will do the identical for younger cricketers in South Africa.
The SA20 will function six newly-constructed groups with the opening native derby between MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals establishing an explosive begin to South African cricket’s new-kid-on-the-block. All groups are owned by IPL franchises.
De Villiers mentioned that the SA20 is simply the enhance the sport required in South Africa.
“I think the SA20 comes at a really good time for South African cricket. We have seen the amazing things that these leagues have done to cricket in particular nations,” De Villiers informed Cricket South Africa.
“To give our youngsters this base and the foundation to get exposure at the highest level against the best players in the world is what it’s all about.”
Among the kids that De Villiers shall be holding an in depth eye on is MI Cape Town’s younger batting sensation Dewald Brevis.
The 19-year-old has been a revelation since bursting on the scene throughout the ICC males’s Under-19 World Cup earlier this yr when he shattered Shikhar Dhawan’s match report for essentially the most runs.
He then carried his type into the IPL, Caribbean Premier League and most notably in Cricket SA’s T20 Challenge competitors when he blasted 162 off simply 57 balls.
De Villiers believes Brevis’ improvement shall be drastically aided by taking part in alongside England’s T20 World Cup winners resembling Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone in the identical means he learnt from grizzled veterans resembling Australian celebrity Glenn McGrath when he first joined the IPL in 2008.
“It was a huge occasion for me and a lot of the other players. The start of the IPL changed our lives. The people are really passionate about cricket. Not only with the home team but they support members in other teams as well,” De Villiers mentioned.
“The biggest thing that stands out for me are the people that I met. I think of Glenn McGrath and the time I spent with him. He was this hard guy and all of a sudden I am sitting with him in the changeroom and having a beer with him.”
De Villiers was additionally filled with reward for his former nationwide group captain Graeme Smith, who in his function as SA20 League commissioner, has ensured South Africa will even now have a league to rival the very best on this planet
“Graeme and I have come a long way together, and to have him right at the top of SA cricket right now, making a lot of good calls, and changing things,” he mentioned.
“The SA20 … I don’t think it would have been possible if it weren’t for him and all his connections and experience. I think we all owe Graeme a real thank you for bringing this big tournament to SA.”
(With inputs from PTI)