This article is about the South African cricket team. For the New Zealand team competing as the Knights in T20 cricket, see Northern Districts men's cricket team.
The Knights 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. Griqualand West and Free State were merged to initially form the Diamond Eagles, before rebranding in 2010-11 as the Knights.
Orange Free State (as the province was then called) competed in the Currie Cup until 1995-6, without much success. With their first season taking place in 1897-98, Orange Free State had to wait until 1992-93 to secure their first title win. Orange Free State subsequently secured a second title win the following year. From 1995, Orange Free State became Free State in reflection of the political changes that took place in the country during this time. Free State achieved one more title win in 1997-98, as well as continued success in one-day competitions.
Franchise Era
Following the 2004-05 domestic reforms, the provincial teams of Griqualand West and Free State were merged to form the Diamond Eagles franchise. The Eagles found success in the first complete franchise season, achieving a shared title win with the Dolphins (formerly Natal / KwaZulu-Natal). An outright, and most recent, 4-day first-class title came in 2007-08. The Eagles also claimed the one-day MTN Championship trophy in 2004-5, 2005-06 and most recently in 2010-11. Success was also quick in coming with the relatively new notion of T20 cricket, winning the Pro20 Series in both 2003-04 and 2005-06.
The franchise name was changed for the 2010-11 season across all three formats, with the Eagles becoming the Knights. Like many of the other franchises, sponsorship rights were granted for the beginning of the team name. Until 2021, the official name of the team was the VKB Knights before a new deal was signed, becoming the current ITEC Knights.
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 Free State could have returned during this time as the Knights are the only representative team from the province. The Free State Cricket Union however decided to maintain the brand recognition from the franchise era, with the new team continuing to be called the Knights.
Playing kit
During the Momentum one-day Cup, the Knights' play in dark blue shirts and trousers with gold accents; for the CSA T20 Challenge they wear dark blue shirts with gold accents and gold trousers with dark blue accents. Their current kit provider is TK Sports.
Squad
Players with international caps are listed in bold.
This list represents the Knights squad for the 2019/20 season and active amateurs players who have represented them in 2018/19 and 2019/20.
Champions League Twenty20
Qualification and first round
Diamond Eagles finished second in the 2009 Standard Bank Pro20 and became eligible to play in the 2009 Champions League Twenty20. The team was placed in Group B with New South Wales Blues and Sussex Sharks. The team lost their first match against the New South Wales Blues and were not able to make 100 runs and stayed on 91/9 but the second match went for a tied with Sussex Sharks in which the scores were tied at 119/7 (Sussex) and 119/4(Eagles). Eagles clinched the Super Over. In the Super Over Eagles scored 9/1 while Sussex were knocked of the first two balls by Cornelius de Villiers and the Man of the Match was awarded to Rilee Rossouw.
Second round
After some twists and turns Eagles made it to the next round where they were placed in League A with New South Wales Blues, Somerset Sabres and Trinidad and Tobago. They were counted as a loss to Blues as their previous result and a win against the Somerset Sabres but lost against the Trinidad side in a must-win match. CJ de Villiers again performed well in the game against Somerset CCC. They didn't qualify for the semis but earned 7th out of 12 teams.
Honours
SuperSport Series (1) - 2007–08 ; shared (1) - 2004–05
MTN Championship (2) - 2004–05, 2005–06, 2010–11
Pro20 Series (2) - 2003–04, 2005–06
References
South African Cricket Annual – various editions
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack – various editions
External sources
Knights website
March 08, 2023
knights, cricket, team, this, article, about, south, african, cricket, team, zealand, team, competing, knights, cricket, northern, districts, cricket, team, itec, knights, division, cricket, team, representing, province, free, state, south, african, domestic, . This article is about the South African cricket team For the New Zealand team competing as the Knights in T20 cricket see Northern Districts men s cricket team The ITEC Knights are a Division 1 cricket team representing the province of Free State in South African domestic competitions The Knights take part in the CSA 4 Day Series first class competition the Momentum One Day Cup and the Mzansi Super League T20 competition The team s home venue is the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein ITEC KnightsPersonnelCaptainPite van BiljonCoachAllan DonaldTeam informationColours Blue GoldFounded2003 20 years ago 2003 Home groundMangaung Oval Diamond OvalCapacity20 000Official websiteKnightsFirst classT20 Contents 1 History 1 1 Orange Free State Free State 1 2 Franchise Era 1 3 Return to Provincial Cricket 2 Playing kit 3 Squad 4 Champions League Twenty20 4 1 Qualification and first round 4 2 Second round 5 Honours 6 References 7 External sourcesHistory EditThe Knights 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 Griqualand West and Free State were merged to initially form the Diamond Eagles before rebranding in 2010 11 as the Knights Orange Free State Free State Edit Further information Free State cricket team Orange Free State as the province was then called competed in the Currie Cup until 1995 6 without much success With their first season taking place in 1897 98 Orange Free State had to wait until 1992 93 to secure their first title win Orange Free State subsequently secured a second title win the following year From 1995 Orange Free State became Free State in reflection of the political changes that took place in the country during this time Free State achieved one more title win in 1997 98 as well as continued success in one day competitions Franchise Era Edit Following the 2004 05 domestic reforms the provincial teams of Griqualand West and Free State were merged to form the Diamond Eagles franchise The Eagles found success in the first complete franchise season achieving a shared title win with the Dolphins formerly Natal KwaZulu Natal An outright and most recent 4 day first class title came in 2007 08 The Eagles also claimed the one day MTN Championship trophy in 2004 5 2005 06 and most recently in 2010 11 Success was also quick in coming with the relatively new notion of T20 cricket winning the Pro20 Series in both 2003 04 and 2005 06 The franchise name was changed for the 2010 11 season across all three formats with the Eagles becoming the Knights Like many of the other franchises sponsorship rights were granted for the beginning of the team name Until 2021 the official name of the team was the VKB Knights before a new deal was signed becoming the current ITEC Knights Return to Provincial Cricket Edit 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 Free State could have returned during this time as the Knights are the only representative team from the province The Free State Cricket Union however decided to maintain the brand recognition from the franchise era with the new team continuing to be called the Knights Playing kit EditDuring the Momentum one day Cup the Knights play in dark blue shirts and trousers with gold accents for the CSA T20 Challenge they wear dark blue shirts with gold accents and gold trousers with dark blue accents Their current kit provider is TK Sports Squad EditPlayers with international caps are listed in bold Name Nat Birth date Batting style Bowling style NotesOpening BatsmenGrant Mokoena 1987 08 02 2 August 1987 age 35 Right handed Left arm fast mediumRaynard van Tonder 1998 09 26 26 September 1998 age 24 Right handedBatsmenLuthando Mnyanda 1989 10 22 22 October 1989 age 33 Right handed Right arm offbreakKeegan Petersen 1993 08 08 8 August 1993 age 29 Right handed Right arm Legbreak Occasional wicket keeperObus Pienaar 1989 12 12 12 December 1989 age 33 Right handed Left arm mediumPite van Biljon 1986 04 15 15 April 1986 age 36 Right handed Right arm medium CaptainWicket KeepersClyde Fortuin 1995 08 18 18 August 1995 age 27 Right handedAndries Gous 1993 11 24 24 November 1993 age 29 Right handedWandile Makwetu 1999 01 07 7 January 1999 age 24 Right handedAll roundersGerald Coetzee 2000 10 02 2 October 2000 age 22 Right handed Right arm fastPatrick Kruger 1995 02 03 3 February 1995 age 28 Right handed Right arm mediumJacques Snyman 1994 05 10 10 May 1994 age 28 Right handed Right arm offbreakAubrey Swanepoel 1989 06 18 18 June 1989 age 33 Right handed Right arm offbreakRomano Terblanche 1986 06 10 10 June 1986 age 36 Left handed Left arm fast mediumShaun von Berg 1986 09 16 16 September 1986 age 36 Right handed Right arm legbreakSpin BowlersLuvuyo Adam 1992 12 16 16 December 1992 age 30 Left handed Left arm orthodoxTshepo Ntuli 1995 11 15 15 November 1995 age 27 Right handed Right arm off breakSeam BowlersOttniel Baartman 1993 03 18 18 March 1993 age 29 Right handed Right arm medium fastMbulelo Budaza 1993 09 06 6 September 1993 age 29 Right handed Left arm fastCorne Dry 1993 02 04 4 February 1993 age 30 Right handed Right arm medium fastMarco Jansen 2000 05 01 1 May 2000 age 22 Right handed Left arm fastThandolwethu Mnyaka 1993 01 15 15 January 1993 age 30 Right handed Right arm medium fastThis list represents the Knights squad for the 2019 20 season and active amateurs players who have represented them in 2018 19 and 2019 20 Champions League Twenty20 EditQualification and first round Edit Diamond Eagles finished second in the 2009 Standard Bank Pro20 and became eligible to play in the 2009 Champions League Twenty20 The team was placed in Group B with New South Wales Blues and Sussex Sharks The team lost their first match against the New South Wales Blues and were not able to make 100 runs and stayed on 91 9 but the second match went for a tied with Sussex Sharks in which the scores were tied at 119 7 Sussex and 119 4 Eagles Eagles clinched the Super Over In the Super Over Eagles scored 9 1 while Sussex were knocked of the first two balls by Cornelius de Villiers and the Man of the Match was awarded to Rilee Rossouw Second round Edit After some twists and turns Eagles made it to the next round where they were placed in League A with New South Wales Blues Somerset Sabres and Trinidad and Tobago They were counted as a loss to Blues as their previous result and a win against the Somerset Sabres but lost against the Trinidad side in a must win match CJ de Villiers again performed well in the game against Somerset CCC They didn t qualify for the semis but earned 7th out of 12 teams Honours EditSuperSport Series 1 2007 08 shared 1 2004 05 MTN Championship 2 2004 05 2005 06 2010 11 Pro20 Series 2 2003 04 2005 06References EditSouth African Cricket Annual various editions Wisden Cricketers Almanack various editionsExternal sources EditKnights website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Knights cricket team amp oldid 1088642090, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
