Big-hitting middle-order batsman Pite van Biljon came back to haunt the Jozi Stars over the past weekend. Van Biljon was picked up by the Tshwane Spartans for Mzansi Super League 2.0 after plying his trade for the Jozi Stars in the 2018 edition of the South African T20 tournament and used his first game against his former side to demonstrate his true ability.
What did he do?
Van Biljon dominated the Jozi Stars bowling attack with a muscular 45 off 29 deliveries, and, in doing so, helped to construct a vital 63-run partnership with AB de Villiers for the fifth wicket at the Wanderers on Sunday 24 November.
Why was he let go by the Jozi Stars?
In the first edition of the Mzansi Super League last year, Van Biljon could only muster 98 runs in 11 matches at an average 24.50 for the Jozi Stars. And his only knock of note was a 13-ball 42 not out against the Spartans and this lack of runs is a possible reason as to why the Jozi Stars did not retain him.
South African Cricket sources reveal that Van Biljon, the Knights captain, was not retained by the Jozi Stars because the management did not want too many players with captaincy experience in the team to avoid disagreements about in-game decisions. And, since the management were eager to bring Temba Bavuma into the squad as the team’s captain, having Van Biljon, and other players with captaincy experience like Chris Gayle, Simon Harmer and Aaron Phangiso, would make the brain-trust too big to handle.
South African cricket sources also reveal that Spartans coach Mark Boucher sees something of his very own former cricketing self in the aggressive way that Van Biljon plays the game, and was eager to have Van Biljon in the squad alongside other big-hitters like De Villiers and Heinrich Klaasen.
*Statistics supplied by ESPNcricinfo.
South African Cricket 