Cape Town Blitz coach Ashwell Prince has highlighted the importance of Mzansi Super League teams building a distinct style of cricket rather than just strong squads with big-name individuals.
One of the noticeable traits at last week’s Player Draft held in Soweto was the obvious strategy of the six franchises to sign players with whom they are familiar.
The Tshwane Spartans and defending champions Jozi Stars were particularly strategic in this regard, with the 2018 winners signing more than 10 players that had played at the Wanderers at some point or the other in the past.
The Spartans too, went the same route and also signed a high number of players with vast SuperSport Park experience, while Prince said that he also tried to bring in players that were familiar to their surroundings at Newlands.
“We got some good continuity with players like (Mohammad) Nawaz and Asif Ali coming back again,” he explained. “There’s also Dale Steyn and (Anrich) Nortje.
CONTINUITY: Blitz's Dale Steyn. Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix.
“Then there’s obviously also some of the Cape Town boys who play their franchise cricket at the Cobras like David Bedingham, Vernon Philander, George Linde, so we got continuity from Blitz and we got some local players who the crowd and fans can associate with.
“I think it’s important to build that rapport and that connection with the fans, so we look forward to the season. Ultimately it all boils down to what you do on the field and not what you have on paper.
“So, I'm very happy with the squad. We’ve got quite a nice bowling attack, we’ve got some exciting batsmen, there’s quite a few spinners in there and we feel we can mix and match some good combinations, so overall I'm happy with the squad.”
Another exciting signature made by the Blitz was the acquisition of double-arm spinner, Gregory Mahlokoana.
Of the Northerns player, Prince added: “For me it’s about the skill the player brings and the responsibility that he’s been tasked with in the past. Bowling for the (Multiply) Titans at SuperSport Park, it’s a tough ground to bowl at, he bowls in the powerplay and his economy rate is quite good.
“It’s more the skill and also the responsibility the player has had to shoulder before, which indicates that he is up to the challenge. That was what drew us towards him.
The Blitz reached the final last season and will be looking to go one better this time around. Prince says that having big-name players was not always a winning formula.
All MSL games will be played over a five-week period starting on November 8 with the final scheduled to take place on December 16.
African News Agency