Warriors
Personnel
CaptainJJ Smuts
One Day captainJJ Smuts
CoachRobin Peterson
Team information
Colours  Electric green

  Dark green

  Black
Founded2003 (2003)
Home groundSt George's Park, Port Elizabeth; Buffalo Park, East London
Capacity19,000
Official websitewarriorscricket.co.za

First-class

T20

The Warriors are a Division 1 cricket team representing the Eastern Cape in South African domestic competitions. The Warriors take part in the CSA 4-Day Series first-class competition, the Momentum One-Day Cup and CSA T20 Challenge. The team's home venue is St George's Park in Port Elizabeth, as well as Buffalo Park in East London.

History

The Warriors were originally established as an entirely professional franchise team following reforms that were carried out to the South African domestic leagues in 2004–05. Traditionally, from 1893–94 to 2004–05, eleven provincial teams (with occasional additions) had competed in the Currie Cup. In 2004–05, the eleven provincial teams were rationalised into six new, entirely professional franchises, in all three formats. Eastern Province CC and Border CC were the former clubs that merged to form the Warriors.

Eastern Province CC and Border CC

Eastern Province and Border both competed in the provincial Currie Cup from the 1890s until the creation of franchise teams in 2004. For both clubs, success was largely elusive throughout this period. Eastern Province's peak came in the mid to late 1980s with the team winning the series title in 1988–89, sharing the cup in 1989–90, and then a final outright win the following season in 1991–92. Four one-day titles, such as the Standard Bank Cup and the Nissan Cup, were also won during this time.

Border was one of the weakest cricketing teams in South Africa during the provincial domestic era. Border hold the record for the lowest aggregate score by a first class side in a match. During a Currie Cup match against Natal at Jan Smuts Ground in 1959–60, Border scored only 34 runs in the match - 16 in the first innings and 18 in the second innings. Border failed to win any first-class or List-A titles during the provincial era.

Franchise Era

Following the 2004-05 domestic reforms, the provincial teams of Eastern Province and Border were merged to form the Warriors franchise. The Warriors were the most unsuccessful franchise between 2004–05 and 2020–21 in the 4-Day domestic series, failing to win a single title. The 2009–10 season was the most successful for the team, winning both the one-day title and the T20 cup. One more one-day title followed in 2017–18, however this was shared with the Dolphins.

Like many of the other franchises, sponsorship rights were granted for the beginning of the team name. Until 2015, the official name of the team was the Chevrolet Warriors.

Return to Provincial Cricket

In 2020, domestic cricket in South Africa was restructured once more and the six former franchise teams were dropped. In its place was a return to the more traditional two-division league format, with a total of fifteen professional teams competing. The previously semi-professional provincial cricket league has been absorbed, effectively forming the leagues second division. Promotion and relegation between the two divisions, not seen since the start of the franchise era in 2004, will return after 2023–24.

The former name of Eastern Province or even Eastern Cape could have returned during this time, however Eastern Province Cricket decided to maintain the brand recognition from the franchise era, with the new team continuing to be called the Warriors.

During the month of October each year, the side eschews their traditional black and electric green colours in favour of a bold pink playing kit to show their support of Breast Cancer Awareness as well as their fundraising efforts for Reach for Recovery.[1]

Players

Current squad

Players with international caps are listed in bold.

Name Nat Birth date Batting style Bowling style Notes
Opening Batsmen
Edward MooreSouth Africa17 March 1993Left-handedRight arm off break
Batsmen
Christiaan JonkerSouth Africa24 September 1986Right-handedRight arm medium-fast
Marco MaraisSouth Africa17 October 1993Right-handedRight arm medium-fast
Lesiba NgoepeSouth Africa14 April 1993Left-handedLeft arm orthodox
Yaseen VallieSouth Africa30 September 1989Right-handedRight arm off break
Wicket-keepers
Matthew BreetzkeSouth Africa3 November 1998Right-handedOpener
Gihahn CloeteSouth Africa4 October 1992Left-handedRight arm off breakOpener
Sinethemba QeshileSouth Africa10 February 1999Right-handed
Rudi SecondSouth Africa17 July 1989Right-handedRight arm Off break
All-rounders
Thomas KaberSouth Africa14 June 1992Right-handedLeft arm unorthodox
Onke NyakuSouth Africa26 September 1994Right-handedRight arm medium-fast
JJ SmutsSouth Africa21 August 1988Right-handedLeft arm orthodox
Spin Bowlers
Jade de KlerkSouth Africa24 February 1999Right-handedLeft-arm Orthodox
Seam Bowlers
Andrew BirchSouth Africa7 June 1985Right-handedRight arm fast-medium
Ayabulela GqamaneSouth Africa30 August 1989Right-handedRight arm fast-medium
Sithembile LangaSouth Africa9 February 1995Right-handedRight arm fast
Sisanda MagalaSouth Africa7 January 1991Right-handedRight arm fast-medium
Anrich NortjeSouth Africa16 November 1993Right-handedRight arm fast
Lutho SipamlaSouth Africa12 May 1998Right-handedRight arm fast
Glenton StuurmanSouth Africa10 August 1992Right-handedRight arm medium
Basheeru-Deen WaltersSouth Africa16 September 1986Right-handedRight arm medium-fast

The above list represents the Warriors squad for the 2019/20 season.

Honours

  • MTN Domestic One-Day Cup (1) 2009/2010
  • Standard Bank Pro20 (1) - 2009/2010
  • Momentum One Day Cup (1) Shared - 2017/2018

References

  • South African Cricket Annual – various editions
  • Wisden Cricketers' Almanack – various editions
  1. ↑ "Warriors Cricket on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022.
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