Ken Borland

Like a porter forced to carry all the bags of an SA20 franchise at once, new Pretoria Capitals coach Jonathan Trott found the burden of the team’s poor recruitment at auction time too much to bear and the team bowed out of contention for the playoffs with a game to spare when they were well-beaten by 27 runs by MI Cape Town at Centurion on Friday night.

The result left Pretoria Capitals with just two wins from nine matches and ended their slim hopes of finishing in the top four. They close their campaign against the same MI Cape Town team on Sunday at Newlands, but even if they win with a bonus point, the best they can do is finish level on 19 points with Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Joburg Super Kings (providing they both lose their final matches). The Capitals only have three wins though, compared to the four of their rivals, and that is the first tie-breaker for teams finishing level on points.

Afghanistan national coach Trott was only appointed as the new Pretoria Capitals mentor at the end of July. By then the franchise only had three slots to fill in the auction, the vast majority of their squad having been retained or pre-signed, despite finishing fifth out of six teams in 2024. They will finish in the same position this year.

There is, however, a mega auction this year ahead of the 2026 SA20, and the South African-born former England player admitted that widespread change was probably necessary.

“I wasn’t here last season, but if you’re not in the top four out of six teams then they might be a few changes going forward. We need to get the right type of players in, guys with the right talent and character. Character, especially, is such a huge thing that comes out when you’re under pressure,” Trott told sportsboom.co.za

“A few things didn’t help us this season, we had injuries to key marquee players [Anrich Nortje, Daryn Dupavillon, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Wayne Parnell]. But in our first game, we should have knocked off the runs [210 v Durban Super Giants] and that would have given us nice momentum. We also had a couple of matches rained out.

“Our closing out was a problem, we just weren’t able to perform for the whole 20 overs, so we never had momentum with the bat. The batting had some moments and glimpses, but there were no massive partnerships apart from for the first wicket in our first game. And when we bowled first, we were in some really good positions but we couldn’t hold them. Some matches were going very well but we just couldn’t put 40 overs together,” Trott said.

Amidst all the gloom, two new faces – batsmen Will Smeed and rookie signing Keagan Lion-Cachet – made excellent contributions towards the back end of the campaign. Left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy, a tenacious character, was the leading wicket-taker for the Pretoria Capitals with 10, and conceded just 7.00 runs-per-over, while fast bowler Gideon Peters made a thrilling debut in the bonus point win over Joburg Super Kings in their previous game.

Will Jacks, who scored 515 runs in the first two seasons of the SA20, could not find the same superb output, scoring just a couple of half-centuries this campaign. His off-spin was very effective though and he remains a quality overseas signing.

Paceman Eathan Bosch, who had taken 21 wickets in the first two seasons, could only manage six in eight matches this time around.

Players with distinguished T20 records like Rilee Rossouw and Liam Livingstone were major disappointments. Captain Rossouw had a horror season, scoring only 32 runs in six innings, and by the last week of the tournament, he had been axed as skipper. Marquee signing Livingstone scored just 49 runs in three innings.

But Trott, who has enjoyed wonderful success with Afghanistan, seems up for the challenge of turning the Pretoria Capitals’ fortunes around. The franchise were runners-up under Graham Ford in the first season of the SA20.

“The first year as coach, you’re just trying to build relationships. We’ve had quite an influx of overseas players leaving, local players coming in and out; there’s been a huge turnover of players [20 this season alone]. But it’s a fun challenge, it’s part of being a coach and I’ve enjoyed it,” Trott said.

Schalk Brits brought puppy dog enthusiasm, older brother guidance and wizardly decision-making to the Springbok team when coach Rassie Erasmus lured him out of retirement to play in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and the former Saracens legend has great insight into the formative years of a South African team that has now won back-to-back World Cups and continues to set the pace in the global game.

Having retired from rugby in 2018 after more than 200 appearances and six major trophies for Saracens, Brits returned to the Springbok team later that year, three years after the last of his five previous Test caps. One of the most popular players produced by South Africa and with valuable wisdom gained from his many successful years in the northern hemisphere, Brits was tasked with leading the ‘dirt-trackers’ at the 2019 World Cup and ensuring the broader squad stayed unified.

It was a job he performed superbly, although Brits himself is humble about his role. But he is happy to pinpoint what the secret ingredient of the Springboks is, and why they continue to dominate international rugby six-and-a-half years after Erasmus took over the reins.

“I was only a very small speckle in the build-up to where the Springboks are now and it’s amazing the way Rassie has innovated and the number of players we now use,” Brits told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interview at the Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational at Sun City, where the 43-year-old was playing golf to help raise funds for the Players’ pre-primary school for farmworkers’ children on their estate outside Johannesburg.

“There’ve been amazing Springbok sides before, but these players are playing for something much bigger than themselves, they’re playing for hope. There are many ills in South Africa, but the Springboks can transform the country through their diversity. If they can make it work, being made up of people from all walks of life, then we can make our country beautiful.

“Back in 2018, we had come off record losses against Ireland and the All Blacks and we were ranked seventh in the world. We would bitch and moan about a knock-on or a missed tackle, but Rassie said we had no right to moan because people in South Africa were being murdered or were starving. He told us we had to get off our arses and make the next tackle.

“Rassie said we could show South Africa that we could work together with our colour, religion or background being irrelevant, we could inspire the next Springbok from our community. We would probably lose a much higher percentage of those one-point games were it not for our ‘why’ being very well determined: It’s not about rugby for us, it’s about giving hope to 65 million people.

“Rassie said the best way to do that was not by posting stuff on social media but by going on the pitch and showing it there,” Brits said.

On the debate over whether the Springboks are currently the best team in the world, Brits said Erasmus’s focus has always been on the World Cup.

“Winning against Scotland, England and Wales on the recent tour is important, but for Rassie there’s a bigger plan. So he will keep rotating, which puts the players under pressure and gives the team depth.

“People don’t remember who the number one team is in the world every year, but everyone remembers who wins the World Cup. I would definitely rather win the World Cup. It must be terrible to be Ireland – they’ve been ranked number one but they could not even get a semi!” Brits said with his trademark broad grin.

The man who many discerning judges believe could have played in the backline thanks to his silky ball skills, was also impressed by the attacking verve shown by the Springboks in the United Kingdom last month.

“Against Scotland, it was a very open game and we were able to run the ball. England tried to match us with Marcus Smith and Wales have a new bunch of guys and they are rebuilding. So it was exciting to see the way we went unbeaten through an end-of-year tour for the first time since 2013,” Brits said.

Kathu (Northern Cape) – There were nearly 35 excited children from the Kuruman chapter of the South African Golf Development Board at the Sishen Golf Club driving range on Thursday, taking part in the Vodacom Origins of Golf development clinic and receiving coaching on the basics of the game from Sunshine Tour professionals, but one little guy stood out because he has been teeing it up around the country in junior golf with some success.

Delrico Agterdam is just 10 years old but he already plays off a seven and he is ranked the number two junior in the Northern Cape. For the last two years, he has received his provincial colours for the U13 team.

Considering how much younger he is than his fellow competitors, it is tantalising to think how good Agterdam will be once he fills out a bit.

Annemarie Rabie is the SAGDB coach for the Kuruman area and she was at Sishen Golf Club on Thursday. She says there is little else Agterdam is interested in other than golf.

“Delrico thinks about golf all the time. He eats and sleeps for the game and he really wants to become a professional golfer when he is big. He started playing when he was really small and he puts in a lot of work. The great thing about him is that I can give him a lesson today and tomorrow he will be practising that exact thing and remembering what I taught him,” Rabie says.

Agterdam’s father works at Kuruman Country Club and Rabie first saw him there, just playing around with a club and a ball. The talent was obvious.

Giving disadvantaged golfers the opportunity and exposure to express and fulfil that talent is what the Vodacom Origins of Golf development clinics are all about. But while Agterdam will be aiming to write his name in the annals of the game, the clinics also help engender a love for golf amongst all the other kids. Vodacom wants them to know that there is a place for them in this great game, whether that be as a player, fan, coach or administrator.

“These clinics are really excellent and it was so amazing to see how much the kids enjoyed it. They were like little sponges and they all had a million stories to tell on the 45km drive back to Kuruman. It’s just amazing what Vodacom do, if there weren’t these clinics then these kids would never have been coached by Sunshine Tour pros, or have met them or have played on a course like Sishen Golf Club.

“And when we got to Kuruman Country Club, Delrico climbed out of the car and said he wanted to go and play a few holes, he was so inspired!” Rabie laughed.

THE CHAOS

It all worked out fine in the end, but for 15 crazy minutes before lunch as South Africa lost four wickets for three runs, it seemed like the Proteas were headed for one of their most infamous narrow defeats just when a place in the World Test Championship final was in their grasp.

Having seemingly been in control of the first Test against Pakistan for most of the previous three days, South Africa had a moderate target of 148 to win. They had crashed to 19 for three on the third evening, but a wonderful partnership between Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma in the first hour of Sunday’s play had them well on course for victory.

Even when Markram was dismissed by a shooter from Mohammad Abbas for a determined 37, captain Bavuma was in such control that the situation, with 86 runs to get, seemed fine.

Bavuma and David Bedingham (14) added another 34 for the fifth wicket and South Africa approached lunch on 96 for four. But then the skipper needed treatment on his troublesome elbow, the pain perhaps encouraging him to try finish off the match quickly.

He tried going down the pitch to the nagging seam bowling of the admirable Abbas a couple of times, and then on his third foray, he tried to hit the tireless paceman back over his head but seemingly inside-edged the ball to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.

Umpire Alex Wharf gave him out almost as briskly as Bavuma walked, but then the television replays, and specifically ultra-edge, showed that there was no bat involved, but in fact the ball had hit Bavuma’s back pocket. It’s the second time in Boxing Day Tests at SuperSport Park that Bavuma has walked when he should have reviewed, having missed out on a potential century against Sri Lanka at Centurion in 2020.

Bavuma’s 40 was a great knock though, however unfortunately it ended. Not only did he lead from the front in testing circumstances for his team, but he showed just how technically strong he is, and his judgement was superb. Abbas took six for 54 in 19.3 overs and inflicted as probing an examination of technique as one can find.

All hell broke loose after Bavuma’s dismissal.

Kyle Verreynne’s own technical frailties saw him chop on off Naseem Shah in the next over, and Abbas then had Bedingham and Corbin Bosch caught behind off successive deliveries in his next over, both batsmen out to mediocre strokes well outside the off-stump.

The situation had gone from Game On to Pakistan being rampant and strong favourites to win with the Proteas reeling on 99 for eight, still 49 runs away from victory.

THE HEROES

After stumps on the third day and before play started on the fourth morning, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada had both spoken about how disciplined but positive batting would see South Africa home. They were both confident the Proteas would reach their target.

In the thrilling finale’, it was Rabada and Jansen who had to secure victory. They first of all steadied the ship, taking South Africa to 116 for eight at lunch. They then knocked off the remaining 32 runs required with an ease which made one wonder what all the fuss was about.

Rabada has always had some fine strokes in his arsenal, but normally doesn’t stick around long enough to have a massive influence on the game with the bat. But inspired by coach Shukri Conrad’s lunchtime chat about fully backing whatever decision they made in terms of how to play, Rabada played an innings that will be remembered for many, many years. The left-hander stroked 31 not out off just 26 balls, attacking as if the deteriorating pitch was a flat road, and collecting five fours.

In the penultimate over, he launched Aamer Jamal back over his head for four and then eased him through the covers with all the grace and skill of Brian Lara. That left four runs to win, and Jansen sliced Abbas away through backward point to seal the nailbiting victory.

Jansen finished on 16 not out, his calm, more measured approach dovetailing brilliantly with Rabada. It was also his highest score in his seven Test innings this year, but a return to batting form was always on the cards for an all-rounder whose mental strength is one of his greatest assets.

WHAT THEY SAID

Captain Temba Bavuma said he could not summon all the words to accurately describe his emotions. He was visibly emotional in the post-match interviews for television, and was still moved when he addressed the general media.

“It’s a bit surreal and I’m not sure I’m able to put all my emotions into words. You should see the changeroom now, with all the families in there, it shows why we do what we do. We do it for the coaches and our families.

“To see KG bat like that … he was probably not at his best with the ball, but he saw an opportunity to do something with the bat for the team. I just feel joy for him because we know his talent with the bat. You never know which KG is going to come out and bat: The more correct one or the one that batted today. But we give him freedom and I couldn’t care how he got the runs.

“I just heard now that I didn’t hit the ball I got out to. I was absorbed in the moment and thinking about the shot I played. But it’s not the first time so people shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve been battling with my elbow and maybe the painkillers wore off? But I won’t use that as an excuse.

“I was still in the toilet sulking when KG joined Marco and I only came out when there were 15 runs to get. KG sat next to me at the lunch break, but I didn’t know what to say to him. But the confidence and belief was there in the team. I then heard Kyle Verreynne’s positive shouting and decided to show my head … I was taken aback by the emotion I felt at the end.”

Coach Shukri Conrad said he was blown away by the character of his team.

“Myself, Marco and KG share a vice [smoking] and when we were in our little corner in the back during the lunch break, I just told them that whatever decision they take about how they are going to go about their business, if we get close then I don’t want them to start fiddling about. They must keep doing what they set out to do, go balls to the wall.

“There were so many emotions. When we arrived this morning I thought we needed a big partnership between our two senior batsmen [Markram & Bavuma]. At morning drinks I thought we were doing okay, but then Aiden got out and we lost all those wickets on 99.

“So I thought we were pretty much gone, but then Marco and KG were able to build a partnership. At lunch we needed 32 runs and I thought ‘okay, that’s just eight fours’. The mind plays all these tricks on you in those situations.

“But they showed unbelievable composure, Marco brought the intensity and KG gave us visions of Brian Charles [Lara]. You can’t script that finish. Today was massive because I want a side that does not know when they are beaten.

“The biggest thing is they are a unit, they play for each other and leave their egos at the door. They will try find a way whatever the obstacle, rather than delve too deep into what they did wrong. And there’s a little bit of luck involved too.”

Kagiso Rabada has always been a top-class striker of the ball, but he readily admitted this was his finest hour with the bat in Test cricket.

“It’s without a doubt my best Test innings and one I will remember for the rest of my life. It’s all just a blur. All I was looking at was how many runs were needed, who was bowling and what were they trying to do?

“I said to Marco that I was going to look to be positive and he just said ‘wicked’ straight away. He had his own game-plan, playing one ball at a time on its merits. I was bit more unorthodox. But I wanted to keep to my processes and stay positive. There are always two voices in your head, one saying you can’t do it and the other one overpowering that.

“What happened today is something we want to keep in our DNA, we scrapped our way through, we just found a way to win. A lot of times I feel, when looking at the Proteas’ history in these vital matches, that we have tried to be perfect. But you don’t have to be, it’s all about finding a way to win.”