Russell Domingo expecting local PE boys to do 'big things' for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20

Sunrisers Eastern Cape assistant coach Russell Domingo believes a strong core of local talent acquired at the recent Betway SA20 auction will help the team reclaim the title in Season 4.

The St George’s Park-based team are the most successful side in the competition’s history, having won the first two championships before being dethroned by MI Cape Town in last season’s final. 

The Sunrisers have, however, lost two players that were central to their success in former captain Aiden Markram (Durban’s Super Giants) and seamer Ottniel Baartman (Paarl Royals), which has prompted questions about their ability to remain competitive this coming season.

However, they were once again savvy auction operations operators by bringing in the experienced Quinton de Kock to replace Markram whilst also managing to re-sign Jordan Hermann to further bolster the top order.

But they have also managed to lure a host of homegrown talent back to the Eastern Cape with former Grey High School boys Matthew Breetzke and Lutho Sipamla joining their fellow alumnus Tristan Stubbs. 

They also completed the coup of Uitenhage Express Anrich Nortje to fill the void left by Baartman.

“The Sunrisers always prided themselves in trying to get quite a lot of local players. So, great that we've got Matthew Breetzke back, Lutho Sapumla back, and Tristan Stubbs will probably captain. 

“I mean, they (Breetzke and Stubbs) both batted at Lord's last week, were in a big partnership. So, it's really cool to have these Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) boys together.”

Breetzke has been in splendid form for the Proteas ODI team recently, where he broke a world record for five consecutive scores in excess of 50 in his first five matches. 

Domingo, who hails from Gqeberha and having previously coached the local provincial team, the Warriors, has long believed in Breetzke’s potential and is excited to see that the 26-year-old is finally doing his talent justice.

“He's always been a phenomenal talent. I think he's got the record at Grey High School for the most first-team hundreds. I think he broke Graeme Pollock's record,” Domingo said.

“So, his schoolboy pedigree has always been undoubted. Maybe, to be honest, it has taken him a little bit longer than he thought to sort of make the impact that he's wanted. But he's made it now.”

Equally, Domingo is expecting big things from Nortje with the fast bowler making a comeback from injury.

“Another local boy. Great to have that sort of pace,” Domingo said.

“I mean, Anrich will have a lot to prove. He hasn't played for a while. He's coming back from a whole host of injuries.

“But he's still got the ambition to play for South Africa. So, when you've got a player who's got that sort of skill and ambition and work ethic that he's got, we're expecting some big things from him.”

Full Sunrisers Eastern Cape Squad: Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Jonny Bairstow, AM Ghazanfar, Adam Milne, Quinton de Kock, Matthew Breetzke, Anrich Nortje, Senuran Muthusamy, Patrick Kruger, Lutho Sipamla, Mitchell van Buuren, Jordan Hermann, Beyers Swanepoel, James Coles, Chris Wood, Lewis Gregory, CJ King, JP King.