CRICKET NEWS - Two of the top performers of the Garden Route Badgers, Kelly Smuts and Thomas Kaber, will not be available for the Oudtshoorn-based professional team next season.

The 35-year-old Smuts, who was a stalwart for the Badgers the last two seasons, announced his retirement from the game after 15 years of first-class cricket. 

This all-rounder, who hails from Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown), played in 124 first-class, 95 list A and 61 T20 matches. 

He is the younger brother of the Proteas and Dolphins all-rounder, Jon-Jon Smuts. 

His career highlight was when he scored a century and took 13 wickets in one match for Eastern Province against Boland in Paarl. The second innings’ seven fours included four wickets in four consecutive deliveries.

The departure of the match-winning wrist-spinner Kaber to the Warriors has also been confirmed. Kaber, who also played two seasons for the Badgers, received a division 1 offer and will move to St George’s Park as his new home ground.

This elevation to the top tier is a reward for Kaber’s potential, who also played for MI Cape Town in the SA20 league these last two years.

Keenan Vieira, who was on a high-performance contract for the last three seasons, has also confirmed his retirement from the game. He will pursue a career in coaching.

Albertus Kennedy, the Badgers’ CEO, has honoured these three players. “Kelly was a long-serving servant to cricket, and we respect his retirement and service to SWD Cricket, as well as Keenan,” he said. 

“We are grateful for an opportunity at the next level for Thomas, and although he will be missed, he deserves the call-up to the division 1.”

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’