The beauty of businesses, as opposed to 'benevolent' orgs like sports administrations and NPOs, is that there is one pure, unifying motive: profit. It's the great equaliser. For this reason alone, I think the SA20 will be immensely successful. I, for one, am taking my whole family to the stadium. I've never been to a franchise game before (unless you count Deccan Chargers vs Kings XI Punjab at The Wanderers in 2009), only international matches, so this will be my first time at Newlands to watch anyone other than the Proteas. Who knows, maybe I'll start a good habit, get onto a functioning mailing list, get notified of other local games and get back into live cricket again?
You have sledge-hammered the nail on its head. I do hope you enjoy the experience at Newlands - I think the MI Cape Town bowling attack might be one of the strongest ever assembled by a domestic Franchise team. Although I think Jofra Archer might only be available for the first two games. I have to beleive that CSA will, finally, get its act together. The prevailing attitude is that they are 'in it' for themselves rater than the followers. One day, someone with authority will see the problem and influence change...
Let us hope that this tournament does help keep CSA breathing. I am not sure that the crowds will be back in large numbers - there are numerous other entertainment options available not to mention an abundance or excess even, of T20 cricket. Even Australia struggled to fill stadiums for the recent ICC T20 Men's World Cup and that was with countries competing against each other.
One positive is at least the teams / squads for the tournament are all selected on merit and not on a quota system.
I was sad to discover that Wihan Lubbe was left out of the Warriors for their 4-day match against the Northwest Dragons, all due to the Glenton Stuurman injury last week. Context, Lubbe had a good game last weekend for the Warriors with bat and ball, but because Marco Jansen replaced Stuurman, the quota system meant that there was no place for Lubbe.
Seriously, no wonder I could count the rest of the spectators on one hand at a sunny St Georges Park this afternoon. People want to watch strength vs strength cricket with teams all selected on merit. Surely the colour or creed of the player should not be the chief criteria for team selection at this level but purely talent and ability when selecting the playing XI.
Kevin, the single most important principle of elite sport is the pursuit of excellence - and the belief and confidence that it will be recognised and rewarded once achieved. When that isn't the case, no tournament or 'system' will operate at optimal capacity. Artificial intervention in selection is a uniquely South African issue, and its motives are honourable and well-intentioned. Opportunities need to be created for the majority of the sporting population which was denied them for too long. The price to pay, not always but quite often, is that players are constantly looking over both shoulders and distracted by their reality. Very few national or domestic teams have operated at 100% capacity in the last two decades as a result. I am NOT saying they are weakened by the inclusion of black players. That is NOT the reality. The reality is that all players labour with the reality that their talent, form and ability is NOT all that matters when it comes to their selection.
Good points you raise Neil. Players never have the comfort or luxury of feeling settled in a side in South Africa all through the age ranks and levels.
The beauty of businesses, as opposed to 'benevolent' orgs like sports administrations and NPOs, is that there is one pure, unifying motive: profit. It's the great equaliser. For this reason alone, I think the SA20 will be immensely successful. I, for one, am taking my whole family to the stadium. I've never been to a franchise game before (unless you count Deccan Chargers vs Kings XI Punjab at The Wanderers in 2009), only international matches, so this will be my first time at Newlands to watch anyone other than the Proteas. Who knows, maybe I'll start a good habit, get onto a functioning mailing list, get notified of other local games and get back into live cricket again?
Dear Alex,
You have sledge-hammered the nail on its head. I do hope you enjoy the experience at Newlands - I think the MI Cape Town bowling attack might be one of the strongest ever assembled by a domestic Franchise team. Although I think Jofra Archer might only be available for the first two games. I have to beleive that CSA will, finally, get its act together. The prevailing attitude is that they are 'in it' for themselves rater than the followers. One day, someone with authority will see the problem and influence change...
Let us hope that this tournament does help keep CSA breathing. I am not sure that the crowds will be back in large numbers - there are numerous other entertainment options available not to mention an abundance or excess even, of T20 cricket. Even Australia struggled to fill stadiums for the recent ICC T20 Men's World Cup and that was with countries competing against each other.
One positive is at least the teams / squads for the tournament are all selected on merit and not on a quota system.
I was sad to discover that Wihan Lubbe was left out of the Warriors for their 4-day match against the Northwest Dragons, all due to the Glenton Stuurman injury last week. Context, Lubbe had a good game last weekend for the Warriors with bat and ball, but because Marco Jansen replaced Stuurman, the quota system meant that there was no place for Lubbe.
Seriously, no wonder I could count the rest of the spectators on one hand at a sunny St Georges Park this afternoon. People want to watch strength vs strength cricket with teams all selected on merit. Surely the colour or creed of the player should not be the chief criteria for team selection at this level but purely talent and ability when selecting the playing XI.
Kevin, the single most important principle of elite sport is the pursuit of excellence - and the belief and confidence that it will be recognised and rewarded once achieved. When that isn't the case, no tournament or 'system' will operate at optimal capacity. Artificial intervention in selection is a uniquely South African issue, and its motives are honourable and well-intentioned. Opportunities need to be created for the majority of the sporting population which was denied them for too long. The price to pay, not always but quite often, is that players are constantly looking over both shoulders and distracted by their reality. Very few national or domestic teams have operated at 100% capacity in the last two decades as a result. I am NOT saying they are weakened by the inclusion of black players. That is NOT the reality. The reality is that all players labour with the reality that their talent, form and ability is NOT all that matters when it comes to their selection.
Good points you raise Neil. Players never have the comfort or luxury of feeling settled in a side in South Africa all through the age ranks and levels.