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STELLENBOSCH. – The Coastal Conquerors have been presented with a favourable opportunity to bag another title at this year’s Cricket South Africa Cubs Week.

The side was also crowned champions back in 2022. The annual tournament takes place in Stellenbosch from 5 to 9 January.

Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).

The South African u19 side is already preparing for the ICC u19 World Cup, which will have a major impact on the Cubs Week. It will also provide the Cubs Week players with an ideal opportunity to showcase their readiness to step up into the national u19 set-up after the World Cup.

The Central Gladiators would’ve been the strong favourites to wear the crown, but six of their players – David Teeger (captain), Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Kwena Maphaka, Sipho Potsane, Richard Seletswane and Esosa Aihevba – will be in action during the World Cup.

Their absence meant Gladiators’ coach, Nqaba Matoti, had to pick a youthful squad for the tournament. He was able, however, to add the services of Jaydon Brooker, who missed the Khaya Majola Week in Makhanda at the end of last year.

Brooker was absent because he was in Kuala Lumpur, representing the South African u21 hockey side at the Junior World Cup. His experience will be vital and a big boost for the Gladiators in Stellenbosch.

The Gladiators’ main feeder side, the Central Gauteng Lions, were crowned the undisputed champions of the Khaya Majola Week in December, winning all five of their matches in emphatic fashion.

Both feeder teams for the Conquerors, KwaZulu-Natal, and KwaZulu-Natal Inland, made it to the semi-finals of the Khaya Majola Week. Unfortunately for them, they had to face one other for a place in the final.

Their two key players in Stellenbosch will be Hayden Bishop (feature photo, courtesy Justin Waldman Sports Photography) and Ntando Soni, who were in superb form in Makhanda with the bat and ball respectively.

Bishop was the leading run-scorer in the Platinum Section with 253 runs at an average of 63 runs per innings. Soni picked up a five-wicket haul for the SA Schools side in their clash against the SA Colts at St George’s Park in Gqeberha to put a cherry on top of a great week for the fast bowler.

He was also the best bowler in the Platinum Section, capturing 12 wickets at a cost of only 9.8 runs per victim.

The Cubs Week has, however, shown through the years that it is probably the toughest of all u19 competitions in South Africa. The Knights, these days known as the Western Legends, were rated sixth out of the six teams in 2019, but just five days later they lifted the trophy as the champions after winning all of their matches.

Talking about the Legends, their ranks include the two highest run-scorers from the recent Khaya Majola Week, Simon Liversage and Ludwich Schuld.

Liversage, who amassed 329 runs at an average of 66 runs per innings, was also named the All-rounder of the Week at the conclusion of the tournament. Schuld was on fire, too, scoring 310 runs at an average of 78 runs per innings.

The two left-handed batsmen could help the Legends to, again, produce a surprise or two during the Cubs Week.

The Fixtures

 Friday, 5 January 2024

Central Gladiators vs Western Legends (Coetzenberg Oval)
Southern Superstars vs Coastal Conquerors (Tassies Oval)
Northern Champions vs Eastern Warriors (Maties C)

Saturday, 6 January 2024

Northern Champions vs Coastal Conquerors (Coetzenburg Oval)
Central Gladiators vs Eastern Warriors (Tassies Oval)
Southern Superstars vs Western Legends (Maties C)

Sunday, 7 January 2024

Eastern Warriors vs Southern Superstars (Coetzenburg Oval)
Northern Champions vs Central Gladiators (Tassies Oval)
Coastal Conquerors vs Western Legends (Maties C)

Monday, 8 January 2024

Coastal Conquerors vs Eastern Warriors
Northern Champions vs Western Legends
Southern Superstars vs Central Gladiators

Tuesday, 9 January 2024

Northern Champions vs Southern Superstars
Central Gladiators vs Coastal Conquerors
Western Legends vs Eastern Warriors

 

 

Die Hoër Jongenskool Paarl se jaarlikse krieketfees sal vanjaar weer sorg dat daar amper nie ‘n kolfblad of krieketveld in die hele Boland vanaf 11 tot 14 Januarie beskikbaar sal wees nie.

Die HJS Krieketfees het vanjaar 28 skole se eerstespanne wat ‘n totaal van 54 wedstryde oor vier dae sal speel. Boonop is daar nog 24 o.15-krieketspanne wat ook oor vier dae in ‘n totaal van 48 wedstryde sake teen mekaar sal uitspook. Dit maak dié fees ongetwyfeld die grootste van sy soort in Suid-Afrika.

Al die wedstryde kan regstreeks op SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.co.za) gekyk word.

Wedstryde sal vanaf Worcester, Paarl, Stellenbosch, Somerset-Wes, Durbanville, Wellington en tot in Brackenfell gespeel word.

Van die land se voorste krieketskole is hier in aksie met die Hoërskool Waterkloof, St John’s College, Marais Viljoen, Garsfontein, Helpmekaar, Noord-Kaap, Paul Roos Gimnasium en Westville Boys’ High wat onder andere aan die fees deelneem.

Die gasheer, Paarl Boishaai, het ook natuurlik ‘n trotse rekord op die krieketveld en sal op die eerste dag teen Outeniqua van George kragte meet. Boishaai sal in sy ander drie wedstryde teen onderskeidelik Garsfontein, Noordheuwel en St John’s College te staan kom. Die tuisspan sal ongetwyfeld goed in die laaste drie wedstryde getoets word.

Die eerste dag se wedstryde sal in die tydkrieket-formaat beslis word.

Die tweede en derde dae se wedstryde sal oor 50 boulbeurte beslis word, terwyl spanne kan ooreenkom om die laaste dag se wedstryde tot ‘n Twintig/20-wedstryd te verkort. Dit hang natuurlik van die spanne van die noorde se reisplanne af asook die feit dat die binnelandse skole reeds volgende week oopmaak. 

Een van die hoogtepunte vir spanne is gewoonlik om op Welbedacht net buite Wellington se veld te speel. Dit is die krieketveld op Schalk Burger Sr. se plaas. Garsfontein kom op die eerste dag hier teen Westville Boys’ High te staan.

Waterkloof kry ook ‘n kans om hul staal op die veld te wys wanneer hy op die tweede dag teen Outeniqua hier te staan kom. Dit is wel die Klofies se naasbestes wat op die fees in aksie sal wees.

Die bepalings is – o.19: 

Dag 1 | 11 Januarie 2024 | Tydkrieket

Hoër Jongenskool Paarl vs Outeniqua (Brugstraat)
Paarl Gimnasium vs Marais Viljoen (Paarl Gimnasium)
Paul Roos Gimnasium vs St John’s College (Paul Roos Oval)
Hoërskool Bellville vs Noordheuwel (Bellville)
Stellenberg vs Montana (Stellenberg)
Parel Vallei vs Cornwall Hill College (Parel Vallei)
Brackenfell vs JTG Cricket Association (Brackenfell)
Curro Durbanville vs Northcliff (Curro Durbanville)
Hoërskool Durbanville vs Waterkloof (Durbanville)
Somerset College vs Helpmekaar Kollege (Somerset College)
HTS Drostdy vs Hoërskool Centurion (HTS Drostdy)
Boland Landbou vs Noord-Kaap (Boland Landbou)
Garsfontein vs Westville Boys’ High (Welbedacht, Wellington)
Hans Moore vs Diamantveld (Paul Roos B-veld)

Dag 2 | 12 Januarie 2024 | 50 Boulbeurte

Hoër Jongenskool Paarl vs Garsfontein (Brugstraat)
Paarl Gimnasium vs Noordheuwel (Paarl Gimnasium)
Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Marais Viljoen (Paul Roos Oval)
Hoërskool Bellville vs Northcliff (Belville)
Stellenberg vs Helpmekaar Kollege (Stellenberg)
Parel Vallei vs Noord-Kaap (Parel Vallei)
Brackenfell vs Montana (Brackenfell)
Curro Durbanville vs Centurion (Curro Durbanville)
Hoërskool Durbanville vs Cornwall Hill College (Durbanville)
Somerset College vs St John’s College (Somerset College)
HTS Drostdy vs JTG Cricket Association (HTS Drostdy)
Boland Landbou vs Diamantveld (Boland Landbou)
Hans Moore vs Westville Boys’ High (Paul Roos B-veld)
Outeniqua vs Waterkloof (Welbedacht, Wellington)

Dag 3 | 13 Januarie 2024 | 50 Boulbeurte

Hoër Jongenskool Paarl vs Noordheuwel (Brugstraat)
Paarl Gimnasium vs Cornwall Hill College (Paarl Gimnasium)
Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Westville Boys’ High (Paul Roos Oval)
Hoërskool Bellville vs Outeniqua (Bellville)
Stellenberg  vs St John’s College (Stellenberg)
Parel Vallei vs Waterkloof (Parel Vallei)
Brackenfell vs Noord-Kaap (Brackenfell)
Curro Durbanville vs Marais Viljoen (Curro Durbanville)
Hoërskool Durbanville vs Hans Moore (Durbanville)
Somerset College vs Garsfontein (Somerset College)
HTS Drostdy vs Montana (HTS Drostdy)
Boland Landbou vs Helpmekaar Kollege (Boland Landbou)
Northcliff vs JTG Cricket Association (Paul Roos B-veld)

Dag 4 | 14 Januarie 2024 | 50 Boulbeurte/T20

Hoër Jongenskool Paarl vs St John’s College (Brugstraat)
Paarl Gimnasium vs Garsfontein (Paarl Gimnasium)
Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Hans Moore (Paul Roos Oval)
Hoërskool Bellville vs Diamantveld (Bellville)
Stellenberg vs Noordheuwel (Stellenberg)
Parel Vallei vs Outeniqua (Parel Vallei)
Brackenfell vs Centurion (Brackenfell)
Curro Durbanville vs Cornwall Hill College (Curro Durbanville)
Hoërskool Durbanville vs Helpmekaar Kollege (Durbanville)
Somerset College vs Westville Boys’ High (Somerset College)
HTS Drostdy vs Waterkloof (HTS Drostdy)
Boland Landbou vs Montana (Boland Landbou)
Noord-Kaap vs Northcliff (Paul Roos B-veld)

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Die Hoërskool Fichardtpark vier vanjaar sy 40ste bestaansjaar en dié feesvieringe skop volgende week in Bloemfontein af met die Kovsies Smash-krieketfees. Die toernooi beskik boonop oor die moontlikheid om ‘n jaarlikse instelling te word.

Dié toernooi kan ‘n belangrike rol vertolk om te verseker dat die spel groei in minder tradisionele krieketskole. In totaal sal 16 skole aan die T20-toernooi vanaf 7 tot 11 Januarie in die Rosestad sake uitspook.

Boonop is daar sprake dat die nasionale T20-reeks deur Krieket Suid-Afrika weer in die nabye toekoms geloots sal word. Vir die groei van die spel is toernooie soos hierdie uiters belangrik.

Sedert hertoelating in 1991 het daar minder as ‘n handvol kolwers die Proteas verteenwoordig wat nie hul skoolloopbane aan tradisionele krieketskole voltooi het nie.

Die uittredende Dean Elgar wat die Proteas in sy laaste toets van sy loopbaan teen Indië in Kaapstad aanvoer is een só kolwer. Elgar is ‘n produk van St Dominic’s College in Welkom.

Nog ‘n Protea-kolwer sedert 1991 wie se roete nie vanuit ‘n tradisionele krieketskool was nie, is Jimmy Cook (Hyde Park).

Die organiseerders het ook ‘n belangrike uitnodiging aan die Hoërskool Despatch gestuur. En nie omdat die Springbok-afrigter, Rassie Erasmus, daar op skool was nie, maar die skool se skoolhoof, Colin Bartle, is die voorsitter van die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolekrieket-vereniging.

Die gasheer sal teen Overvaal van Vereeniging in sy eerste kragmeting van die toernooi te staan kom. HTS Middelburg en Goudveld-Hoërskool van Welkom is ook saam met Fichies in Groep A geloot.

Jim Fouché sal meeste van sy kragmetings op sy tuisveld, Joe Malherbe-veld, speel en is saam met Hoërskool Middelburg, Voortrekker van Bethlehem en Wesvalia van Klerksdorp geloot. Hierdie is waarskynlik die moeilikste groep van die toernooi.

Groepe: 

Groep A: Fichardtpark, HTS Middelburg, Goudveld-Hoërskool, Overvaal.
Groep B: Jim Fouché, Hoërskool Middelburg, Voortrekker (Bethlehem), Wesvalia.
Groep C: Sentraal, Oos-Moot, Hoërskool Sasolburg, Despatch.
Groep D: Hoërskool Pietersburg, Kalahari (Kuruman), Witteberg, Hoërskool Trio.

Bepalings: 

Dag 1 | 8 Januarie 2024 | 10:00 

Hoërskool Sasolburg vs Oos-Moot (Fichardtpark)
Sentraal vs Despatch (Bobbies)
Kalahari vs Trio (Kovsies I)
Witteberg vs Hoërskool Pietersburg (Kovsies II)
HTS Middelburg vs Goudveld-Hoërskool (Kovsies III)
Fichardtpark vs Overvaal (Kovsies IV)
Jim Fouché vs Wesvalia (Joe Malherbe)
Voortrekker vs Hoërskool Middelburg (Kovsies Oval)

Dag 1 | 8 Januarie 2024 | 15:00 

Hoërskool Sasolburg vs Despatch (Fichardtpark)
Sentraal vs Oos-Moot (Bobbies)
Witteberg vs Kalahari (Kovsies I)
Hoërskool Pietersburg vs Hoërskool Trio (Kovsies II)
Goudveld-Hoërskool vs Overvaal (Kovsies III)
Fichardtpark vs HTS Middelburg (Kovsies IV)
Jim Fouché vs Hoërskool Middelburg (Joe Malherbe)
Voortrekker vs Wesvalia (Kovsies Oval)

Dag 2 | 9 Januarie 2024 | 10:00 

Fichardtpark vs Goudveld-Hoërskool (Fichardtpark)
Overvaal vs HTS Middelburg (Bobbies)
Jim Fouché vs Voortrekker (Kovsies I)
Wesvalia vs Hoërskool Middelburg (Kovsies II)
Witteberg vs Hoërskool Trio (Kovsies III)
Hoërskool Pietersburg vs Kalahari (Kovsies IV)
Sentraal vs Hoërskool Sasolburg (Joe Malherbe)
Despatch vs Oos-Moot (Kovsies Oval)

 

 

The struggling South Africa u19 side currently taking part in a Tri-Series involving Afghanistan and India, suffered another blow after a strong Indian batting line-up comfortably chased down the 240 set by the South Africans at the Alan Dawson Oval at Old Eds in Johannesburg.

This comes just two days after they tasted a 47-run defeat against Afghanistan.

Lhuan-dré Pretorius, however, has probably been the only one who’s lived up to expectations, notching up his second half-century after scoring 51 on Sunday.

Pretorius led from the front again as he and Steve Stolk combined for a blistering 93-run partnership before Stolk had to depart in the tenth over for 46 runs coming off just 27 balls.

Pretorius moved along nicely before the continuous pressure from the Indian bowlers led to his downfall as he was trapped in front by Saumy Pandey for 67 runs from 61 deliveries.

After his departure, the young South African’s batting woes against spin continued as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Nqobani Mokoena was the only other SA batsman to pass the 20-run mark, contributing a vital 28 not out from 36 balls.

In the bowling department, the young South African bowlers were found wanting, struggling to produce a much-needed breakthrough early on. It seemed to only be Mqobani Mokoena, who had answers for the Indian-batting lineups’ questions, claiming the best South African figures of 2/58 on the day.

The Indian openers started on a positive note, capitalizing on the South Africans erring in their line and lengths early on. Ardash Singh put in a masterclass as he was the main fiddle upfront scoring 66 runs from 70 deliveries before Juan James finally got the needed breakthrough and Ntando Zuma finished it off with a wonderful stumping.

On the other side, Singh’s opening partner, Arnish Kulkarni, struggled against some decent swing bowling from South Africa’s spearhead, Kwena Mapakha, but battled on to eventually end up top-scoring for the visitors with a well-constructed 91 from 106 balls.

The wicketkeeper, Aravelly Rao also chipped in with a valuable contribution of 60 runs not out, staying to the end to round off a commanding seven-wicket victory for the Indians.

Summarised Scorecards:

South Africa 240 (Lhuan-dre Pretorius 67, Steve Stolk 46, Nqobani Mokoena 28*; Aradhya Shukla 4/43/ Saumy Pandey 3/49, Arshin Kulkarni 2/53); India 244/3 (Kulkarni 91, Ardash Singh 66, Aravelly Rao 60*; Mokoena 2/58). India won by seven wickets. 

South Africa vs Afghanistan | 31 December 2023

Afghanistan 176 (Rahimullah Zurmari 47, Jamshid Zadran 33, Hassan Eisakhil 31; Martin Khumalo 4/42, Kwena Maphaka 3/44); South Africa 129 (Lhuan-dré Pretorius 51, Steve Stolk 25; Arab Gul Momad 4/13, AM Ghazanfar 4/36). Afghanistan won by 47 runs. 

 

The Northern Champions have included a number of players with proven attacking match-winning abilities in their line-up for the Cubs Week, which starts in Stellenbosch on 5 January.

After the Titans finished third and Easterns‘ strong performance as one of the smaller unions at the 2023 Khaya Majola Week, the make-up of the Northern Champions marks them as a team that could make some noise in the Winelands.

Titans’ and Affies’ batsman Jorich van Schalkwyk piled on the runs during 2023 and added some big wickets with his off-spin bowling. His consistency and excellence in Makhanda were rewarded with his inclusion in the SA Schools team.

Alongside Van Schalkwyk, the destructive top-order batsman, Marcus Bakker, also cracked the nod from the selectors. He’s consistently among the runs and is recognised as one of the most dangerous shorter-form batsmen in South African schoolboy cricket.

His unbeaten innings of 169 from only 66 balls for Waterkloof against Paarl Boys’ High at the Westvaal North-South T20 tournament was one of the most memorable knocks of the 2023 season.

In the bowling department, Bakker’s schoolmate, fast bowler Tristan Luus, will challenge the opposition batsmen, especially with the new ball. At the same time, the Easterns’ paceman, Juan Steyn, will be steaming in from the other side, giving the team from up north the quickest opening pair at the week.

Adding to an already intimidating bowling attack will be the guile of Parth Patel. His spell of 7/15 for Easterns against Northern Cape was the best yet recorded at the Khaya Majola Week and helped him secure a spot in the SA Schools team.

The team:

Divan de Villiers (Titans, Affies), Mohammad Aslam (Titans, Garsfontein), Marcus Bakker (Titans, Waterkloof), Tristan Luus (Titans, Waterkloof), Lungile Mabuza (Titans, Atteridgeville Hub), Dumisani Motshwene (Titans, Garsfontein), Parth Patel (Easterns, St Benedict’s College), Lethabo Phahlamohlaka (Titans, Cornwall Hill College), Juan Steyn (Easterns, Marais Viljoen), William Tshoke (Titans, Mamelodi Hub), Jorich van Schalkwyk (Titans, Affies), Lukas van Rensburg (Titans, Affies).

The Western Legends‘ squad for the 2024 Cubs Week has brought together players from four provinces to produce an interesting and solid looking line-up.

With three smaller unions combining to make up the Legends outfit for the event, which will be played from 5 to 9 January in Stellenbosch, it will be interesting to see how the best from the Free State, Northern Cape, and North West fare in their bid for Cubs Week glory. They’ve also drafted in one player from outside of those regions.

The Legends’ batting is led by the robust hard-hitting of North West and SA Schools’ opening batsman Ludwich Schuld. The Khaya Majola Week’s leading run scorer, Simon Liversage, who made the SA Colts team, will also lead the charge out in the middle.

Liversage was a standout for Northern Cape in Makhanda and shone with a remarkable 159 out of a total of 257 for 8 on the last day of the tournament, to see his side to a big 111-run win over the Garden Route Badgers.

Free State and Grey College dangerman, Juan Viljoen, adds further substance to the batting line-up.

The Legends also appear to be well-equipped in the bowling department. Spearheading their attack will be the fiery Free State paceman, Johnathan Muller. Supporting Muller, and most likely to take the new ball alongside him, will be North West’s impressive Olefa Padi, who earned his call-up after a consistent 2023 campaign.

Northern Cape all-rounder Malan Lubbe also cracked the nod from the selectors after a solid Khaya Majola Week.

The Legends’ selectors also looked beyond the boundaries of the three provinces for further seam bowling support and included Dayalan Boyce, who helped KwaZulu-Natal win the national under-16 week. He’s the youngest player in the side.

The team

Jonathan Muller (Free State, Grey College), Ludwich Schuld (North West, Potchefstroom Volkskool), Juan Viljoen (Free State, Grey College), Sicelo Matayi (Free State, Grey College), Darion Rabie (Free State, Grey College), Simon Liversage (Northern Cape, Diamantveld), Malan Lubbe (Northern Cape, Kalahari), Thuto Matjoi (North West, Tsedimoseto Secondary), Muhammed Bulbulia (North West, Fields College), Dakalo Leketa (Free State, St Andrew’s), Caiden Seleka (North West, Potchefstroom Gimnasium), Dayalan Boyce (KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Boys’ High), Olefa Padi (North West, Potchefstroom Volkskool).

The Eastern Warriors squad for the Cubs Week, which will be hosted in Stellenbosch from 5 to 9 January, is almost equally divided between players from Border and Eastern Province, with the former producing just one more selection than its neighbour in the 13-player squad.

Border and Selborne College’s Ben van der Merwe and Tre’ Gilbert will be at the forefront of the side’s batting challenge.

Gilbert has enjoyed a successful couple of years, which included a recent call-up to the Eastern Cape Iinyati’s senior Colts side, and heads into the week with a heap of experience of going up against South Africa’s most talented young players.

Van der Merwe, too, enjoyed a successful 2023 campaign for the East London school, which earned him his call-up. He will, however, be seeking to use the opportunity to get back into form after a somewhat disappointing Khaya Majola Week.

Eastern Province all-rounder, Jean Upman, also cracked the nod from the selectors after a wonderfully consistent 2023. He performed well with both bat and ball to lead Grey High to numerous victories throughout the year, and he was also a standout for an Eastern Province outfit that failed to fire at this year’s Khaya Majola Week.

The Eastern Province spin twins, Esa Gangat and Hamza Khan, both received a thumbs up from the selectors. Given the typical pitch conditions in Stellenbosch, they will likely have prominent roles to play for the Iinyati.

The team

Ben van der Merwe (Border, Selborne College), Sibusiso Mxube (Eastern Province, St Andrew’s College), Jean Upman (Eastern Province, Grey High School), Tre’ Gilbert (Border, Selborne College), Esa Gangat (Eastern Province, Pearson), Amahle Masiko (Border, Mdantsane Hub), Jacques van der Merwe (Border, Selborne College), Hamza Khan (Eastern Province, Westering), Lithemba Noyomi (Border, Hudson Park), Hlumelo Ntlala (Border, Dale College), Ryan Denston (Border, Queen’s College), Randy Syce (Eastern Province, Woodridge College), Luphelo Mdyesha (Eastern Province, Graeme College).

The Coastal Conquerers have put together a well-balanced and strong squad for the 2024 Cubs Week. The event, which brings together the cream of South Africa’s young cricket talent, takes place in Stellenbosch from 5 to 9 January.

The Conquerers, the defending champions, will be regarded as one of the favourites after strong performances from both the KwaZulu-Natal and KZN Inland sides at the Khaya Majola Week in 2023.

KwaZulu-Natal and Glenwood paceman, Nthando Soni, will spearhead their attack. Soni was the second-leading wicket-taker at the Khaya Majola Week, with 12 to his name, just behind SA u19 representative Esosa Aihevba. Then, playing for SA Schools, he blew through the SA Colts side, capturing 5/20, to see his team to a convincing victory in the annual fixture.

Another big name, Ross Boast, also cracked the nod from the selectors after delivering the goods in Makhanda. Boast is a talented all-rounder, capable of transforming the course of a match with either bat or ball, and will most certainly be one to watch out for.

KwaZulu-Natal’s leading run scorer at this year’s Khaya Majola Week, Hayden Bishop, also made SA Schools and is a fine asset at the top of the order. The highly rated St Charles’ quick, Thabiso Ndlela, was named in the SA Colts team and adds further steel to the Conquerors’ bowling attack.

Left-arm spinner Roxton Payne, after a very successful u16 week, which KZN won, has also been included and will aim to cement his place among the best youngsters in South African cricket. He’s joined by another of the successful KZN u16 team, left-handed batsman, Semal Pillay.

The team

Thabiso Ndlela (KZN Inland, St Charles College), Ross Boast (KZN Inland, Hilton College), Blake Simpson (KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Boys’ High), Murray Baker (KZN Inland, Michaelhouse), Ross Coetzee (KwaZulu-Natal, Kearsney College), Mfanafuthi Shange (KwaZulu-Natal, Northwood), Shahzaad Perumal (KwaZulu-Natal, Clifton College), Bandile Mbatha (KwaZulu-Natal, Glenwood), Ntando Soni (KwaZulu-Natal, Glenwood), Semal Pillay (KwaZulu-Natal, Durban High School), Roxton Payne (KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Boys’ High), Bayanda Majola (KwaZulu-Natal, Durban High School).

The Southern Superstars have named their squad for the forthcoming Cubs Week, which will take place from 5 to 9 January in the winelands of Stellenbosch.

With seven Western Province players in their line-up, the Superstars will be a force to be reckoned with during the tournament.

Raeeq Daniels, one of the best fast bowlers during the Khaya Majola Week of 2023, will spearhead the attack for the side from the south. Alongside him will be fellow Western Province quicks’ Fayyaad Williams and Mbulelo Dube.

Sibulele Sibunzana also booked himself a spot in the Superstars’ squad and will be aiming to spin a web around his opposition with his impressive left-arm orthodox bowling.

In the batting department, Benjamin Hansen, who was named SA Schools’ captain after an outstanding Khaya Majola Week, will set the tone at the top of the order for the Superstars. Joining him up front is the opening pair from Boland’s Khaya Majola side, Josh Jordaan and Johan Wege.

Enathi Kitshini earned a call-up after impressing the selectors with a couple of well-put-together knocks at the week. At the same time, fellow Badgers’ player and all-rounder, Charl-Francois Marais, also cracked the nod.

Western Province batsmen, Siyabonga Venge and Kashief Joseph, and right-arm orthodox spin bowler, Callum Apollis were also rewarded for their consistent performances, and they complete the Southern Superstars’ squad.

The team:

Josh Jordaan (Boland, Paul Roos Gimnasium), Mbulelo Dube (Western Province, Gugulethu Hub), Sibulele Sibanzana (Western Province, Khayelitsha Hub), Siyabonga Venge (Western Province, Stonefountain High), Fayyaad Davids (Western Province, SACS), Charl Francois Marais (Garden Route Badgers, Outeniqua), Kashief Joseph (Western Province, Bishops), Callum Apollis (Boland, Paul Roos Gimnasium), Enathi Kitshini (Garden Route Badgers, Thembalethu High), Paul James (Western Province, Wynberg Boys’ High), Raeeq Daniels (Western Province, Rondebosch Boys’ High), Benjamin Hansen (Western Province, Wynberg Boys’ High), Johan Wege (Boland, Paarl Boys’ High).