“Yeah, I mean it’s crazy and I’m still shaking,” Stubbs told the host broadcaster. “It’s crazy! I played most of my cricket in St George’s [Park, which will be the home of Sunrisers Eastern Cape] and I really enjoy playing cricket there. Like Neil [McKenzie] said after the SA A tour [I’ve been travelling everywhere]. I really enjoyed the Hundred and played seven consecutive games. I do feel I have more experience and I have played more cricket in different situations. The Hundred comp helped my bowling more and look to keep evolving. I’m open to whatever the team needs [from me].”
Royals had jumped into the action first up on the day, picking up fast bowler Lungi Ngidi and left-arm wristspinner Tabraiz Shamsi who were the first two players to go under the hammer. Royals then reunited Shamsi with left-arm fingerspinner Bjorn Fortuin – the pair had worked well together for Paarl Rocks when they won the Mzansi Super League title in 2019.
Super Kings, who are used to building their side around spin in Chennai, went the other way in South Africa, packing their squad with high pace to suit the Wanderers pitch. They spent Rand 2.10 million on Alzarri Joseph who has been in terrific form in the ongoing CPL 2022 for St Lucia Kings. Lizaad Williams, George Garton and Lewis Gregory will join him in Super Kings’ attack along with pre-auction signings Gerald Coetzee and Romario Shepherd.
Neesham, Morgan, Odean Smith find takers in accelerated auction
New Zealand allrounder James Neesham, West Indies allrounder Odean Smith and former England captain Eoin Morgan, who all went unsold in the early exchanges, found takers at the final round of the auction. Neesham went to Capitals, Odean to MI and Morgan to Royals. Daryn Dupavillon, who can hit speeds upwards of 140kph and is presently with Trinbago Knight Riders at the CPL, earned a deal worth Rand 1.7 million with Capitals.
Squads
Durban Super Giants: Quinton de Kock, Prenelan Subrayen, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Reece Topley, Dwaine Pretorius, Heinrich Klaasen, Keemo Paul, Keshav Maharaj, Kyle Abbott, Junior Dala, Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Matthew Breetzke, Christiaan Jonker, Wiaan Mulder, Simon Harmer
Jo’burg Super Kings: Faf du Plessis, Gerald Coetzee, Maheesh Theekshana, Romario Shepherd, Harry Brook, Janneman Malan, Reeza Hendricks, Kyle Verreynne, George Garton, Alzarri Joseph, Leus du Plooy, Lewis Gregory, Lizaad Williams, Donavon Ferreira, Nandre Burger, Malusi Siboto, Caleb Seleka
MI Cape Town: Kagiso Rabada, Dewald Brevis, Rashid Khan, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Beuran Hendricks, Duan Jansen, Delano Potgieter, Grant Roelofsen, Wesley Marshall, Olly Stone, Waqar Salamkheil, Ziyaad Abharams, Odean Smith
Paarl Royals: David Miller, Corbin Bosch, Jos Buttler, Obed McCoy, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jason Roy, Dane Vilas, Bjorn Fortuin, Wihan Lubbe, Ferisco Adams, Imraan Manack, Evan Jones, Ramon Simmonds, Mitchell van Buuren, Eoin Morgan, Codi Yusuf
Pretoria Capitals: Anrich Nortje, Migael Pretorius, Rilee Rossouw, Phil Salt, Wayne Parnell, Josh Little, Shaun von Berg, Adil Rashid, Cameron Delport, Will Jacks, Theunis de Bruyn, Marco Marais, Phil Salt, Kusal Mendis, Daryn Dupavillon, Jimmy Neesham, Eathan Bosch, Shane Dadswell
Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Aiden Markram, Ottniel Baartman, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs, Sisanda Magala, Junaid Dawood, Mason Crane, JJ Smuts, Jordan Cox, Adam Rossington, Roelof van der Merwe, Marques Ackerman, James Fuller, Tom Abell, Aya Gqamane, Sarel Erwee, Brydon Carse
Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo