Cricket to return in South Africa in a never-seen-before format

Cricket South Africa has decided to play an exhibition match in an unique format with three teams playing together in a single match to raise funds for the Coronavirus relief measure.

The exhibition match, that would have three teams of eight players captained by KG Rabada, AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock, is scheduled to be played on June 27, at the Supersport park in Centurion.

The match is called 3TC( 3 Team Cricket) and would be player over a period of 36 overs in two halves with each team batting for 12 overs and the other two would bowl six overs each against them. The trophy the match is played for is called Solidarity Cup.

This is a never known before format where a match involves three teams at the same time. A unique set of rules have been fixed for the match.

Rules and regulations

– The match would be played between three teams of eight players each, over 36 overs in two halves, with a break in the middle.

– A team would bat for 12 overs, split between two 6-over periods. They would face one opponent in the first half and the other in the second.

– In the first half, they rotate from batting to bowling with the starting positions determined based on the draw. In the second half, they would bat based on the highest scores in the first half. If scores are tied, the first half order would be reversed.

– After the fall of the 7th wicket, the last batsman stands bat alone and score in even numbers of runs. If the 7th wicket falls in the first half, the team would forfeit the remaining part of that half and the last batsman resumes the innings in the second half.

– Each bowling team has one new ball for their full quota of overs which would used against both the opponent. A bowler can bowl a maximum of three overs. If an over is uncompleted due to the fall of the 7th wicket, it would be deemed to be completed with dot balls.

– The team with most runs would win Gold, followed by Silver and Bronze. If two teams tie with most runs, super overs would decide Gold; if all three teams tie, all get Gold; and, in a tie for second, Silver would be shared.

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Teams details:

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

Playing Conditions:

CSA’s chief medical officer, Dr Shuaib Manjra had said the match would be played in an empty stadium and all safety measures would be put in place.

“The players will get in three days before and be kept in a sanitised eco-system… In the stadium, everyone will wear masks and doors will be kept open along with other safety measures,” he said.