UJ has a plan for the Varsity Cricket T20

JOBURG – The Twenty20 format has been known to be difficult, but the University of Johannesburg will be taking it one step at a time.

January 26, 2018

Roxy de Villiers 1 minute read

University of Johannesburg batsman Delano Potgieter gets ready for a ball. Photo: Mario van der Waal/Saspa

For the upcoming Varsity Cricket tournament in Potchefstroom, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) will be paying attention to detail, keeping calm and using rules to their advantage.

The annual Twenty20 competition starts on 29 January and UJ will be taking on seven other sides on the pitch, including last year’s winners with a home ground advantage – North-West University.

T20s are known as cricket’s most gruelling formats which UJ coach Dumisa Makalima acknowledged regarding preparation.

“Because the game moves at such a fast pace, it is not easy to plan everything down to the last detail.”

He explained that any of the eight teams participating have the ability to take the top spot, but the side that pays the most attention to detail is likely to make it to the end.

In addition to detail, he said the key to success in T20-type tournaments is to stay calm under pressure and win the little battles throughout the 40 overs.

UJ stands a good chance of winning the little battles as they recently took on a T20 in Johannesburg in which they did well. He added they did a lot of simulation of what they might face in Potchefstroom.

In addition to T20s being a difficult format, the tournament will be taken to a new level with the Power Play Plus rule.

The rule gives a team double the number of runs they score during an over of their choosing, and the batting side gets a chance to select the bowler they would like to face. It’s not all good for the batting team, as they lose five runs for every wicket they lose during their chosen over.

The UJ coach said the Power Play Rule could be a game-changer, and that the team that uses the rule at the right moment can go very far in the tournament.

UJ will be taking on Nelson Mandela University during their opening game and the team will be: