The main core of players that was part of the successes last summer, are part of the group, but have four formidable newcomers who will certainly add significant value to the team.
Adrian McLaren, who made his first-class debut back in 2000 for Griquas and continued to play franchise cricket for the Chevrolet Knights and Impi's in last year's MiWay T20 competition, will strengthen the SWD middle order with a wealth of experience. He played 87 first-class matches and scored 19 centuries.
The 27-year-old, Glen Addicot, a top-order batsman who represented the Dolphins and KwaZulu Natal Inland will also be instrumental in the batting line-up. His average is 39.93 in first-class cricket and is also a destructive batsman in the shorter format.
Luthando Mnyanda from Border, is an extremely promising opening batsman with the highest first-class score of 145 who was part of the Fort Hare Cricket Academy in Alice and will be keen to cement himself a Warriors contract whilst playing for the SWD.
With the SWD's main strike bowler, Gurshwin Rabie, who is likely to spend most of the season playing for the Eastern Cape franchise, SWD obtained the services of the former SA U/19 and Warriors fast bowler, Reece Williams. He is a respected fast bowler with a best bowling analysis of 7/60.
Contracted players in the group who were part of the SWD structure are Phabhama Fojela, Waldo Lategan, Brendon Louw, Ross McMillan and Pieter Stuurman, whilst local players Christo van Schalkwyk and Douglas Baartman are on special contracts. Players outside the contracted group who are part of the training squad include Justin Jordaan, Kobus Scholtz, Lyndon Volkwyn, Marcello Piedt, Rian Botha, Wessel Hartslief, Glenton Stuurman, Bronwill Goeda and Rhupino Plaatjies. With the exception of Piedt who represented the SA Schools team last year, all the players have provincial first-class experience.
Coach Garry Hampson who is extremely confident that this group of players has got the ability to be very successful, will also have the services of Gurshwin Rabie and Christiaan Jonker when not selected for the Warriors.
SWD CEO Albertus Kennedy said that the squad was put together with the intention of taking SWD cricket into the future and has the ability to win trophies.
"The consideration of local talent, multi-skilled players and a succession plan were also important focus elements when we put the squad together".
In his address at the announcement of the squad, SWD Cricket Board President Rudi Claassen expressed his excitement with the SWD flagship team and enthused about the importance of creating an environment that will produce a winning team.
Newly contracted SWD players for the 2012/13 season - with SWD President, Rudy Claassen (right) and Garry Hampson (centre) - are Reece Williams, Adrian McLaren and Luthando Mnyanda. Glen Addicot, who plays cricket in the UK, was absent.
SWD President Rudi Claassen (left) with players who represented the SWD team last season, who will again be making their presence felt next summer. They are Phaphama Fojela, Pieter Stuurman, Garry Hampson (coach), Ross McMillan, Waldo Lategan and Douglas Baartman.
