If there is one thing everyone can agree on about the SA20, it is that the tournament has reignited interest in and excitement for South African cricket.
If that sounds unimpressive, it is worth remembering that there was genuine concern when tickets went on sale in November. The Proteas had just bombed out of the T20 World Cup and it worried tournament organisers that the doomsday atmosphere would continue to suffocate the sport and shatter enthusiasm for the SA20.
That didn’t happen. Crowds have flooded back, social media has lit up and talk around the fire has been about what players can do: “Is he a potential Protea?”; “Why isn’t he in the Proteas team already?”
Aiden Markram said: “It’s been a breath of fresh air for supporters of cricket and, for players, it’s given a new energy to the sport.”
JP Duminy, who emerged in South African cricket’s pop star era around 2008, remarked: “It’s great to see fans back and bums on seats. It certainly takes me back to a few years ago.”
Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, who was head coach of the Joburg Super Kings team, concurred: “It’s great that crowds have come back.” .
Fleming is well placed to provide perspective on the tournament and its impact given he has been part of the wider Super Kings structure around the world and has coached the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
It is that tournament that the SA20 has used as a guide. Graeme Smith, the SA20 commissioner, has said the goal for the South African competition — the country’s third attempt at establishing a T20 franchise league — was to make it the next best after the IPL.
“You can’t compare it to the IPL. The IPL’s a beast,” Fleming remarked. “India, with the interest there and TV rights, it has grabbed the imagination of the Indian public and cemented itself as a world-class global tournament.
“What you can do is get a very successful domestic tournament and then supporters get behind it, sponsors get behind it and then you’re in good shape and that potentially is the case here.
“One thing I will urge is that there is real purpose with tournaments that are put in place. With this one the importance is obvious. South Africa gave up some One-Day International points, because they see this as a crucial part of moving forward, and that’s why I’m so pleased for them that it has been a success.”
Success is of course measured in different ways.
One was the public’s interest, and the other for Cricket South Africa (CSA) is finance. Then there is the impact it will have on the local game — how it is played, coached and even administered.
After its R200m loss last year, CSA was hoping simply to keep its head above water this year and allow the new tournament to gain a foothold. It’s done better than that and with the injection of sponsorship from Betway, will allow the organisation to turn a “decent profit” — enough for it to make what CEO Pholetsi Moseki described as “small distributions” to provincial affiliates, money which wasn’t budgeted for this year.
Wayne Parnell says the standard of cricket has been high, which will benefit local players when they go back to their provinces. “The level of cricket and the standard of competition is only going to be good for cricket in SA.
“All the guys who got picked in the first year, great for them — but I think there’s a lot of other guys, outside of these groups, who understand now what is required to get into this competition. There will be a lot of people sitting at home watching, who will want to be part of this.”
Duminy, who coached the Paarl Royals, said the difference in quality between the SA20 and local cricket struck him immediately. “This tournament has provided an opportunity that is a level up for players from domestic cricket.
“I saw it on the first day when we practised, the intensity was substantially higher compared to the first-class system. When you expose players to that, they can only get better and better when they head back to their first-class systems.”
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