Warriors (cricket team)

This article is about the South African first-class cricket team. For the Australian first-class cricket team based in Western Australia, see Western Warriors. For the IPL team, see Pune Warriors.

Warriors

Personnel
Captain	JJ Smuts
One Day captain	JJ Smuts
Coach	Robin Peterson
Team information
Colours	Electric green   Dark green   Black
Founded	2003 (2003)
Home ground	St George's Park, Port Elizabeth; Buffalo Park, East London
Capacity	19,000
Official website	warriorscricket.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

Further information: Eastern Province (cricket team) and Border (cricket team)

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.

Players

Current squad

Players with international caps are listed in bold.

Name	Nat	Birth date	Batting style	Bowling style	Notes
Opening Batsmen
Edward Moore		(1993-03-17) 17 March 1993	Left-handed	Right arm off break
Batsmen
Christiaan Jonker		(1986-09-24) 24 September 1986	Right-handed	Right arm medium-fast
Marco Marais		(1993-10-17) 17 October 1993	Right-handed	Right arm medium-fast
Lesiba Ngoepe		(1993-04-14) 14 April 1993	Left-handed	Left arm orthodox
Yaseen Vallie		(1989-09-30) 30 September 1989	Right-handed	Right arm off break
Wicket-keepers
Matthew Breetzke		(1998-11-03) 3 November 1998	Right-handed		Opener
Gihahn Cloete		(1992-10-04) 4 October 1992	Left-handed	Right arm off break	Opener
Sinethemba Qeshile		(1999-02-10) 10 February 1999	Right-handed
Rudi Second		(1989-07-17) 17 July 1989	Right-handed	Right arm Off break
All-rounders
Thomas Kaber		(1992-06-14) 14 June 1992	Right-handed	Left arm unorthodox
Onke Nyaku		(1994-09-26) 26 September 1994	Right-handed	Right arm medium-fast
JJ Smuts		(1988-08-21) 21 August 1988	Right-handed	Left arm orthodox
Spin Bowlers
Jade de Klerk		(1999-02-24) 24 February 1999	Right-handed	Left-arm Orthodox
Seam Bowlers
Andrew Birch		(1985-06-07) 7 June 1985	Right-handed	Right arm fast-medium
Ayabulela Gqamane		(1989-08-30) 30 August 1989	Right-handed	Right arm fast-medium
Sithembile Langa		(1995-02-09) 9 February 1995	Right-handed	Right arm fast
Sisanda Magala		(1991-01-07) 7 January 1991	Right-handed	Right arm fast-medium
Anrich Nortje		(1993-11-16) 16 November 1993	Right-handed	Right arm fast
Lutho Sipamla		(1998-05-12) 12 May 1998	Right-handed	Right arm fast
Glenton Stuurman		(1992-08-10) 10 August 1992	Right-handed	Right arm medium
Basheeru-Deen Walters		(1986-09-16) 16 September 1986	Right-handed	Right 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