BATTING HEROES EXIT SWD CRICKET

30 April 2024

With the new contract period that opened for South African domestic cricket it was confirmed that three of the batting heroes of the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers during the past season have signed contracts with Division 1 teams.

The captain and prolific runs scorer of the past season, Jean du Plessis, will join the Warriors franchise that is based in Gqeberha. The 25-year old du Plessis who represented SWD since 2016 had an outstanding season with the bat across all formats and topped the batting averages in the four-day competition with 591 runs at an average of 73.97 with a highest score of 203. In the One Day Cup he hit two centuries at an average of 60.6.

Jean Du Plessis (vs Knigths)

Blayde Capell, who scored the most runs overall in the four day competition – 781 runs at an average of 71 (three centuries and four half centuries) has been contracted by the Paarl Rocks (Boland). The former Northwood High School product spent three seasons with the Badge

Blayde Capell (vs Rhinos)

Jhedli van Briesies, a local project of the Hub development program at D’Almeida, and scholar at Langenhoven Gymnasium was signed by the Titans and will move to SuperSport Park in Pretoria. He had an outstanding season in the four-day competition scoring 546 runs with two centuries and two half centuries at an average of 68.25.

Jhedli van Briesies 100

“We are obviously disappointed by their departure but their reward for higher honors is well deserved and exposure on a higher level will come along with new challenges and opportunities”, commented SWD Cricket Chief Executive Officer, Albertus Kennedy. “They were all great players and ambassadors for the Badgers and we wish them all the best for their future endeavors”, Kennedy concluded. He also confirmed that suitable replacements have been identified and the squad for the new season will be announced on 22 May.