Titans unveil 2016/17 squad
In their quest to maintain their dominance of domestic cricket, double champions the Unlimited Titans have bolstered their squad for the 2016/17 cricket season.
Youthful exuberance personified by two former South African u.19-stars Lungi Ngidi and Aiden Markram, four internationally decorated all-rounders, Albie Morkel, Quinton de Kock, Chris Morris and David Wiese, and the acquisition by The Unlimited Titans of three potential stalwarts, have given the Hennops River squad the explosive cricket qualities needed to continue their domestic dominance.
Malusi Siboto (28) was one of the leading bowlers in all formats for the VKB Knights in the 2015/2016 and a wily exponent of the change of pace, will join The Unlimited Titans. The medium-fast bowler captured 28 Sunfoil Series wickets, 19 Momentum One Day Cup scalps and boasted 14 Ram Slam T20 Challenge victims.
Jonathan Vandiar (26) has some experience in the Indian Premier League for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and averaged 65 in the Sunfoil Series last season for the Sunfoil Dolphins. He only had limited opportunities in the Momentum One Day Cup campaign but averaged 35.
The former South African u.19- and former South Africa A-player showed glimpses of his talent for the bizhub Highveld Lions, but is still a batsman under construction, as is his wicketkeeper-batsman colleague from the Dolphins, Daniel Sincuba.
“I would like to transform Jonathan’s cricket skills and talent into performances,” said Rob Walter, coach of The Unlimited Titans, who acknowledged that Vandiar yearned for greater consistency while at the Sunfoil Dolphins.
“Daniel is still at an early stage of his development, and I would like to generate the atmosphere for him to grow,” Walter explained.
“My aim would be to create a culture and environment in which the squad can excel and fulfil their individual potential,” he added.
Walter succeeded beyond his wildest dreams the past three seasons. The batting, which was their Achilles Heel in 2012/2013 and 2013/2014, blossomed the past two seasons as the Hennops River squad slammed 22 franchise-tons.
Since 2013/2014, they shared and won the Momentum One Day Cup series, clinched the Ram Slam T20 Challenge and were victorious in the Sunfoil Series under his astute management.
Sincuba learned his trade at Northwood College before representing the Dolphins.
Markram, the former South African u.19-captain who was at the helm when the team won the ICC u.19 World Cup, struck 702 runs for Northerns in the Sunfoil Three-day Cup last season, while Ngidi showed his class for The Unlimited Titans by capturing six wickets in miserly fashion in their triumphant run to the Ram Slam T20 Challenge spoils.
Heinrich Klaasen blossomed again for Northerns in the first-class competition, averaging 49.66 with the blade, although he is still to create a more substantial impression in franchise cricket.
Grant Thomson, a journeyman as all-rounder, was one of the Titans’ most outstanding players in the Momentum One Day Cup series and his promotion to the professional squad is fully deserved.
Walter knows he will have to cushion the blow caused by the departure of Theunis de Bruyn, Marchant de Lange and Mangaliso Mosehle.
But he has more than enough fire-power with the new ball, wily skills with the older nut and batting expertise to continue the title-hunt in 2016/2017.
The 18 members of the professional Titans-squad is: Qaasim Adams, Junior Dala, Henry Davids, Heinrich Klaasen, Heino Kuhn, Aiden Markram, Grant Mokoena, Albie Morkel, Chris Morris, David Wiese, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Malusi Siboto, Daniel Sincuba, Grant Thomson, Jonathan Vandiar, Shaun von Berg, Rowan Richards; Nationally contracted players: AB de Villiers , Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Farhaan Behardien, Morne Morkel and Quinton de Kock.