May 28, 2008, 13:45
Highveld Lions batsman Neil McKenzie, Chevrolet Warriors all rounder Robin Peterson and Nashua Titans all rounder Albie Morkel, have been rewarded with national contracts.
This was announced today by Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola, who said the contracts will take effect on June 1 and will run through to April 30, next year. This will bring the number of nationally contracted players to 18. “Although the Proteas have recently completed their most successful season yet, there is still room for improvement,” commented Majola.
In assessing the situation at the end of the 2007-08 season with national coach Mickey Arthur and convener of selectors Joubert Strydom, it was agreed that some gaps needed to be filled to meet the challenges of this coming season, which includes competing against England and Australia, plus the ICC Champions Trophy.
All three players have represented the Proteas with distinction this season in either the test or limited overs format of the game.
McKenzie, coming into the team in the second half of the season for tests against the West Indies, Bangladesh and India, finished top of the batting averages (621 runs at 77.62) with two big centuries, 226 against Bangladesh and 155 not out against India. He also featured in the world record first wicket partnership of 415 with Graeme Smith.
Robin Peterson played in the Test series against Bangladesh and took his first five wicket haul at this level and six wickets in the second test overall. He also returned outstanding figures of 7/24 for the Chevrolet Warriors in the MTN Domestic Championship semi-final against the Gestetner Diamond Eagles.
Morkel's record earns him a contract
Albie Morkel established himself as first choice in both the ODI and Standard Bank pro20 side. He played in 16 of the 23 matches in the former format, scoring 151 runs at an average of 25.16 with an impressive strike rate of 93.20. With the ball he took 19 wickets at 30.73 with an economy rate of 5.07. This included career best figures of 97 with the bat, against Zimbabwe and 4/29 with the ball, against Bangladesh.
His record earned him a contract with the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League and he has been a stand-out player in getting them through to the semi-finals.
His improving value to the Proteas is illustrated by his batting strike rate of 154.34 (213 runs at an average of 35.50) and his bowling economy rate of 8.61 (11 wickets at 28.18) in this competition. –Sapa
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