CRICKET NEWS - With the new contract period that opened for South African domestic cricket it was confirmed that three of the past season's batting heroes of the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers have signed contracts with Division 1 teams.
The captain and prolific run scorer of the past season, Jean du Plessis, will join the Warriors franchise in Gqeberha.
The 25-year old du Plessis, who represented SWD since 2016, had an outstanding season with the bat across all formats of the game and topped the batting averages in the four-day competition with 591 runs at an average of 73.97 and a highest score of 203.
In the One Day Cup he hit two centuries at an average of 60.6.
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 Badgers.
Jhedli van Briesies, a local project of the Hub development program at D'Almeida and former scholar of 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 including two centuries and two half centuries at an average of 68.25.
"We are obviously disappointed by their departure but their reward for higher honours 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 endeavours," Kennedy added.
He also confirmed that suitable replacements have been identified and the squad for the new season will be announced on 22 May.
Jhedli van Briesies of South Western Districts Cricket during the CSA One Day Cup, Division 2 match between Mpumalanga Rhinos and South Western Districts at Uplands College. Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images
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