AB de Villiers to captain Eagles in Solidarity Cup

Have you ever heard about a team competing against two opponents in a single game? The game of cricket is set to take another revolutionary form on June 27. 

Cricket marks its comeback in an interesting way after a three-month hiatus triggered by the pandemic. On Wednesday, Cricket South Africa (CSA) unveiled the never-experienced '3TC' format in association with 3TeamCricket, involving three teams - Kingfishers, Kites, and Eagles. 

@Momentum_za Proteas Women's batsman Mignon du Preez will coach KG's Kingfishers.

She joins Geoffrey Toyana (AB's Eagles) and Wandile Gwavu (Quinny's Kites).#3TCricket #SolidarityCup pic.twitter.com/vnFlP4FTM1

— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) June 17, 2020

From AB de Villiers to Faf du Plessis, Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock and Chris Morris, all the prolific Proteas players will be vying for glory in the Solidarity Cup. The one-off exhibition game is scheduled to take place at SuperSport Park Stadium, Centurion, on 27 June.

The president of Cricket South Africa [CSA], Graeme Smith, stated that the new format will induce excitement and hope among cricket aficionados in such testing times.

“It’s been quite some time since the South African public and fans of cricket worldwide have been able to consume the game we all love. I know that the players are itching to get back into action as well, which is why we as CSA are so excited about the Solidarity Cup. It’s a thrilling new format and a match that is working towards a greater good. We are proud to partner with 3TeamCricket on this project.”

The funds generated during the exhibition match will go to the cricketing fraternity that has been affected by the pandemic.

The skipper of Eagles, AB de Villiers, admits that it is a ground-breaking move initiated by CSA and RAIN to develop a format that has never been witnessed before.

“It’s a great idea and credit must go to Cricket South Africa and RAIN for working to develop this new and innovative style of cricket. There are very few team sports in the world where you get to play more than one opponent in a single fixture, this is going to be a game-changer. We have some very talented cricketers involved who are really excited to return to play with a bang,” AB de Villiers was quoted as saying during a virtual launch of the league. 

General Rules 

• Three teams, consisting of eight players each, will go head-to-head in a 36-over game. 
• Each team bats for 12 overs, split between two intervals of six overs apiece from each of the other two teams. 
• The game is played over 36 overs in two halves of 18 overs with a half-time break.
• In the first half, teams rotate from batting to bowling to the dugout with the starting positions determined by a draw.
• Each bowling team uses only one new ball to complete its full quota of 12 overs. 
• A bowler can only bowl a maximum of three overs. An uncompleted over due to the fall of the 7th wicket is considered to be completed with dot balls.
• In the second half, teams bat in order of the highest scores in the first half and if scores are tied, the first half order is reversed. 
• After the fall of the 7th wicket, the last batsman standing can only score in even numbers of runs. If the 7th wicket falls in the first half, the team forfeits the remaining balls in that half and the last batter resumes the innings in the second half. 
• On the basis of the runs, the teams will be commended with gold, silver and bronze medals. If two teams are tied on the same runs, Super Over will decide the final result.

Teams

KG’s Kingfishers - Kagiso Rabada (c), Faf du Plessis, Chris Morris, Tabraiz Shamsi, Reeza Hendricks, Janneman Malan, Heinrich Klaasen, Glenton Stuurman

Quinny’s Kites - Quinton de Kock (c), David Miller, Temba Bavuma, Anrich Nortje, Dwayne Pretorius, Beuran Hendricks, JJ Smuts, Lutho Sipamla

AB's Eagles - AB de Villiers (c), Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Andile, Phehlukwayo, Rassie van der Dussen, Junior Dala, Kyle Verreynne, Sisanda Magala