If you’re a batsman and don’t have the guns to smash it over the boundary on a regular basis, then you miss out on cashing in your cricket lottery ticket. They say cricket is batsman’s game and T20 cricket puts a tick to that statement.
From the Big Bash to the lucrative IPL and now adding our own Global league into the fold that starts on November 3, players will look forward to adding more zeros in their bank balances. The likes of Kevin Pietersen has been making a living by just playing T20 tournaments around the world after being booted out of the England national team.
West Indies star performers have also been playing T20 around the world, with the national team suffering because they weren’t eligible for selection as they were not playing in their domestic league. That has now changed.
21 year old all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo must have been shocked to hear that he will have an additional R1.3 million on his bank account, but that does not even put him amongst the highest earners in the tournament. Round 1 players that top the earners list who go for R1.755 million are Chris Morris, Dale Steyn, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Dane Paterson, Colin Ingram and JJ Smuts, with international and SA marquee players fees not disclosed.
When Hashim Amla started his international career, he was known as just a test player for his slow batting rate and finding it hard to clear the ropes, the mighty Hash has had to change his game in order to get his lottery ticket, and judging by his 104 runs off 60 deliveries, a knock which had eight fours and five sixes, his second ton at the IPL, he has gotten out of his shell and cashing in.
Players have had to take life changing decisions in order to sustain their lives for life after cricket, Kyle Abbott decided to turn his back on his country because bills still need to get paid after cricket and with so many T20 leagues around the world, you don’t need to worry about your bank balance.
Besides the financial gain for the players, the SA Global league will provide a much needed exposure for players in the country and growth in the game.
The Global league will be a way for players to raise their hands and show that they can compete with the best in the world, especially now that there’s a new sheriff in town that goes by the name Ottis Gibson, there will be a number of locals that’ll want to impress.