MI CAPE TOWN – THE HOME OF WICKETKEEPERS

With all six Betway SA20 teams set for Season 2 of the League, the quirks of their squads are becoming evident. No more so than down at MI Cape Town where Newlands seems to be the home of wicketkeepers.

Of their 19-man squad (finally completed on 7 January when Sri Lankan Nuwan Thushara was named as a Wildcard replacement for Jofra Archer), five players could don the gloves during the 2024 campaign.

Ironically, MICT were one of only two teams in Season 1 to use one ‘wickie’, alongside neighbours Paarl Royals. That man was Grant Roelofsen, who claimed the second-most dismissals, 10, during the inaugural season – joint with Royals’ Jos Buttler. Roelofsen also showed his all-round worth by scoring the team’s third most runs in Season 1 – 198 – including two fifties.

Roelofsen took the gloves ahead of Ryan Rickelton (a Proteas contractee it mustn’t be forgotten), who put his safe hands on show too while claiming seven outfield catches, the most for MICT and joint-third most in the League. The hard-hitting left-hander also contributed 146 runs during his seven appearances.

As it happens, Roelofsen and Rickelton go way back. Both 27, the former may play his domestic cricket for Durban-based Dolphins, but he – like ‘Ricks’ – is a born-and-bred Johannesburg boytjie. The pair played for rival schools, King Edward VII (Roelofsen) and St Stithians College (Rickelton) before teaming up at the University of Johannesburg as they tried to break through at the Lions. Roelofsen then headed down to the coast in 2017, while Rickelton stayed on and established himself on the Highveld.

Will Roelofsen make way for Ryan Rickelton, Tom Banton, Chris Benjamin or MI Cape Town's rookie, Connor Esterhuizen?

The pair are being joined this season in the MICT ‘keeping ranks by pre-signing Tom Banton (25), auction recruit Chris Benjamin (24) and their rookie, Connor Esterhuizen (22).

While Banton and Benjamin arrive as English players, they actually have heavy South African links: Banton’s father is from Fish Hoek not far from Newlands while Johannesburg-born Benjamin only moved to the UK after matriculating from St Andrew’s College in Makhanda (previously Grahamstown). Esterhuizen, meanwhile, is also from Johannesburg and attended another well-known boys’ school there in St John’s College. Signed to a rookie contract at the Lions too, he is busy learning his trade us an understudy to Rickelton and will undoubtedly pick up further tips in a stacked wicketkeeping department at MI Cape Town.