Diamond Eagles

The Diamond Eagles has had a difficult season up to date. The transition coming from the Champions League where they made the Super eights to playing in the domestic first class competition seemed to be hard for the players. During the MTN 40 campaign they struggled to finish games and had the opportunity the close games on six occasions but failed to deliver. This resulted in them missing out on a semi final spot with one point. They have however taken a lot of courage and lessons from their experience in India during the Champions league.

Players like Ryan Bailey, Rilee Rossouw and Dean Elgar have all produced the goods on occasions. Reeza Hendricks played some significant knocks and Con De Lange has held things together both with bat and ball when needed. All of this remained fruitless as the Eagles struggled to put good batting and bowling performances together for victories.

Captain Boeta Dippenaar felt the frustration of the mixed bag of indifferent performances, and resigned as captain to focus on his game. On the bright side Ryan Mclaren made his ODI and Test debut and is included in the National Team to tour India in February. He would return to the side after his duties in India.

The Chevrolet Diamond Eagles has a proud record in Pro 20 cricket and will focus their full attention and efforts on this year’s campaign. The balance between experienced players like Morne van Wyk (who has taken over the captaincy), Boeta Dippenaar, Ryan Bailey and Johan van der Wath, and the exuberant stroke play of Adrian Mclaren and Rilee Rossouw could ignite their season. Add a bit of spin from off spinner Thandi Tshabalala and left armer Con De Lange to the pace attack of CJ De Villiers, Dillon Du Preez and Victor Mpitsang and you will find a balanced and geared side for this format. Batsmen Dean Elgar and Reeza Hendricks completes the batting options while all-rounder’s Shadley van Sckalkwyk, Alan Kruger and left armer Jeandre Coetzee, who bowled them to the final last season during the super over against the Warriors, giving them various bowling options.

This team will surely fly high and mighty in their quest to victory in this season Standard Bank Pro 20 series!