South Africa power-hitter Tristan Stubbs fetched the highest bid of Rand 9.2 million (USD 520,000 approx.) during the inaugural SA20 player auction in Cape Town. Sunrisers Eastern Cape won a fierce bidding war against MI Cape Town and Jo’burg Super Kings to snap up their homegrown hero.
Uncapped batter Donavon Ferreira, who plays for Titans, also created a big stir. Having listed his base price at Rand 175,000 (USD 10,000 approx.), the 24-year-old, who can also bowl and keep wicket, was eventually snapped up by Super Kings for Rand 5.5 million (USD 310,000 approx.) in the accelerated round of the auction. The winning bid came after some chaos, as Paarl Royals and Pretoria Capitals both tried to outbid Super Kings but were forced to pull out as they had not much left in their purse at that point and other spots still to fill – if they were allowed to keep bidding for Ferreira, they would have run out of the purse needed to fill their minimum quota of 17. Ferreira has played 19 T20s so far, boasting a strike rate of 148.26.
The Jansen brothers – Duan and Marco – were also in demand, with Marco joining Stubbs at Sunrisers for Rand 6.1 million (USD 344,000 approx.) and Marco going to MI for Rand 3.3 million (USD 186,000 approx.). Marco is already part of the Sunrisers franchise (Hyderabad) in the IPL while Duan was recently with the Mumbai Indians development squad that had toured the UK.
Kolpark-returnee Rilee Rossouw, who has played T20 cricket around the world, also hit paydirt, with Capitals forking out Rand 6.9 million (USD 389,000 approx.). Wayne Parnell, another Kolpak returnee, also triggered a bidding war, which was won by Capitals. They outbid Super Kings and got the left-arm seam-bowling allrounder for Rand 5.6 million (USD 316,000 approx).
However, there were no takers for South Africa’s T20I captain Temba Bavuma and Test captain Dean Elgar. India Under-19 World Cup winner Unmukt Chand went unsold as well.
The SA20 auction continued what has been a meteoric rise in T20 cricket for Stubbs. In the 2021-2022 CSA T20 challenge, Stubbs hit 293 runs in seven innings at an incredible strike rate of 183.12. In IPL 2022, Mumbai Indians signed him up as a replacement for the injured Tymal Mills when he was still an uncapped player.
Then, in his first outing with the bat in international cricket, Stubbs clattered a 28-ball 72 from No. 6 as South Africa threatened to hunt down 235 against England in the Bristol T20I. Stubbs then joined Manchester Originals for the Hundred where his part-time offspin was also matched up with left-hand batters. Stubbs can also keep wicket, if needed, and he is open to doing any job for Sunrisers in the SA20.
“Yeah, I mean it’s crazy and I’m still shaking,” Stubbs told the host broadcaster. “It’s crazy! I played most of my cricket in St George’s [Park, which will be the home of Sunrisers Eastern Cape] and I really enjoy playing cricket there. Like Neil [McKenzie] said after the SA A tour [I’ve been travelling everywhere]. I really enjoyed the Hundred and played seven consecutive games. I do feel I have more experience and I have played more cricket in different situations. The Hundred comp helped my bowling more and look to keep evolving. I’m open to whatever the team needs [from me].”
More to follow…
Source: ESPN Crickinfo