INTERNATIONAL STARS OF BETWAY SA20 | MOEEN ALI

England’s maverick all-rounder will return to the country he has many fond memories of. Moeen spent a large part of his youth playing in the Western Province club leagues down in Cape Town where he fell in love with the southern-most part of Africa.

The 36-year-old won’t be down there for Betway SA20, but instead up on the Highveld with the Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers – a season later than first mooted due to a double-booking.

The pace and bounce of the Bullring surface will be very much to the liking of the naturally attacking leg-spinner. Moeen is a valuable addition to the Super Kings batting unit too for the flexibility he offers captain Faf du Plessis - with him being comfortable both at the top and middle order. Certainly, there are few more aesthetically pleasing sights in world cricket than Moeen’s flowing blade striking the ball into the stands for six.

Equally, his contribution with the ball cannot be underestimated with Moeen often taking the new ball in the first over of the Powerplay with immediate results.

A vastly experienced cricketer, having been part of both England’s 50-over and T20 World Cup winning squads, while also having played for Indian Premier League giants Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings.

Moeen is also a true team man, often putting his personal ambitions to the side, which was most vividly displayed when he came out of Test retirement to answer his England captain Ben Stokes’ Ashes SOS message to him last year.

It was also no empty gesture when Moeen offered to bat at No 3 in the third Test to protect the younger Harry Brook, who was better suited to No 5.

Moeen is also an X-factor player that turns matches on its head with a moment of brilliance. He may just be the difference in the JSK going one step further to the final in SA20 Season 2.