Blog – SACA | South African Cricketers' Association

Kyle Simmonds Crowned Overall Division 1 SACA MVP

The 2025/26 domestic cricket season concludes with Western Province all-rounder Kyle Simmonds named Division 1 Overall SACA MVP. Simmonds earned…

Liam Alder Named Overall SACA MVP for Domestic Division 2

Following the completion of all domestic fixtures, Liam Alder of the Garden Route Badgers finished at the top of the…

TWELVE YEARS OF RESEARCH-BASED PLAYER SERVICE

Over the past 12 years, the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) has cemented its dedication to evidence-based practice through a…

Du Preez Crowned Overall Domestic Women’s SACA MVP Winner

March 17, 2026April 30, 2026

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) has announced the winners of the Domestic Women’s SACA MVP awards for the 2025/26 domestic season. Former Proteas captain Mignon du Preez, seasoned all-rounder Nicolien Janse van Rensburg, and emerging talent Alexandra Candler claimed the top honours across the overall and format-specific rankings, marking a season of high-performance cricket in the domestic landscape.

Mignon du Preez finished the season at the summit of the overall SACA MVP rankings with 249,953 total MVP points. Representing the North-West Dragons, the veteran batter’s consistency across both the Pro50 and Pro20 formats secured her the title. Du Preez remains a dominant force in domestic cricket, with her season marked by high-impact half-centuries and a superior points-per-match average. In the Pro50 series, she accumulated 142 runs across four innings at an average of 35.50, including two half-centuries.

Her performance in the CSA Women’s Pro20 Series 2025/26 was particularly noteworthy, where she recorded the most fifties in the competition. A standout moment of her campaign was a 115-run partnership with Lizri de Villiers against the Garden Route Badgers in Oudtshoorn, which ranks as the second-highest partnership of the Pro20 season. Her ability to anchor innings while maintaining a high strike rate provided a significant points cushion over her competitors, reinforcing her status as one of the premier performers in the South African game.

For the second consecutive year, Nicolien Janse van Rensburg has secured the Pro50 Series SACA MVP title, accumulating 147,843 points. The Garden Route Badgers all-rounder was the most valuable player of the Pro50 series and finished as the leading wicket-taker in the competition with 16 wickets. Throughout her Women’s List A career, Janse van Rensburg has maintained a bowling average of 15.97 and a strike rate of 23.95. Her 2025/26 campaign was bolstered by disciplined seam bowling, highlighted by best bowling figures of 5 for 28. Her match-winning influence was evident in her ability to strike regularly while maintaining an economy rate of 4.00, solidifying her reputation as a consistent senior player.

The Pro20 Series T20 MVP title was awarded to Alexandra Candler, who finished the shortest format with 163,266 points. The 22-year-old Dolphins all-rounder enjoyed a breakthrough season, showcasing versatility with both bat and ball. Candler’s T20 campaign was characterised by aggressive batting and breakthroughs with her medium pace, but it was also defined by her ability to build match-winning stands. She was a key contributor in two of the highest partnerships in the CSA Women’s Pro20 Series during the 2025/26 season, demonstrating her value as a tactical middle-order anchor.

The SACA MVP uses an internationally recognised rankings system to measure key influencers in CSA’s domestic competitions. Administered by cricket statistician Andrew Samson, the algorithm provides an objective, data-driven analysis of player performance. Points are awarded based on batting metrics such as runs and strike rates, bowling performance including wickets and economy, and fielding contributions. Match impact bonus points are also awarded for team wins and Man of the Match performances. This system ensures that recognition is based purely on statistical impact and match-winning contributions.

SACA CEO, Andrew Breetzke, commented, “We congratulate Mignon, Nicolien, and Alexandra for winning the title of SACA MVP in their respective categories. It is a great achievement to be recognised as the most valuable player for the season. This season, players have challenged themselves and let their talent shine. We wish all players a restful off-season.

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Wolvaardt holds onto top spot in the Proteas Women SACA MVP overall Rankings

October 22, 2024March 17, 2026

Laura Wolvaardt’s outstanding performance at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup secured her the top position in the Proteas Women’s SACA MVP ranking.

Wolvaardt’s exceptional batting display throughout the tournament solidified her position as one of the world’s premier T20 batters. She scored 223 runs at an average of 44.60 and a strike rate of 113.19.

The CricViz model comprehensively ranks player batting, bowling, and fielding performances on a single scale measured in runs, recognises and ranks players based on their performances in each game.

Marizanne Kapp’s performances at the World Cup earned her the top spot in the overall T20 rankings. Her all-round performances made her a standout performer throughout the tournament.

The SACA Most Valuable Player Rankings takes into account expected performance on every ball according to CricViz’s extensive database. The algorithm calculates batting, bowling, and fielding performances as well as match-defining contributions, and it considers the historic performances of the venue where each fixture is being played. Therefore, providing a more accurate reflection of the top performers in the game compared to traditional batting and bowling averages.

Proteas Women SACA MVP rankings as at 20 October 2024:

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Stubbs Concludes Ireland Tour Top of the Proteas Men SACA MVP

October 8, 2024March 17, 2026

The Proteas Men concluded their One Day International (ODI) and T20i series against Ireland in Dubai. There were a number of impressive individual performances, with Tristan Stubbs stealing the show and wrapping up the month-long tour to Dubai at the top of the Proteas Mens overall SACA MVP rankings.

Tristan Stubbs’ exceptional batting display throughout the ODI series propelled him to the top of the Overall MVP rankings on 201,512 points, surpassing Aiden Markram (161,38 points) who had previously held the number one position and Kagiso Rabada in third place on 108.131 points.

The 24-year-old batter has ascended to the top of the MVP rankings in all white-ball formats, solidifying his position as an exciting young talent. His consistent performances across T20Is and ODIs earned him an accumulated total of 158.724 points.

The SACA Most Valuable Player Rankings takes into account expected performance on every ball according to CricViz’s extensive database. The algorithm calculates batting, bowling, and fielding performances as well as match-defining contributions, and it considers the historic performances of the venue where each fixture is being played. Therefore, providing a more accurate reflection of the top performers in the game compared to traditional batting and bowling averages.

Proteas SACA MVP rankings as of 8 October 2024:

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2024/25 SACA MVP season kicks off

September 26, 2024March 17, 2026

The anticipation is building as the domestic cricket season kicks off the start of the 2024/25 domestic SACA MVP race with the Lions taking on the Titans in Johannesburg.

With a host of talented players vying for the coveted title, fans can expect a thrilling campaign filled with exciting matches and high-stakes performances.

“The SACA MVP rankings are a testament to consistent, high-quality performances throughout the season. They reflect each individual player’s ability to contribute to their team’s success in a variety of conditions.

“With fewer matches, each game takes on even greater significance for each team. It will be that much more important for players to perform at our best in every game. Consistency will be key to our success this season,” commented Khaya Zondo, SACA President.

The domestic SACA MVP is a unique algorithm developed by the SACA and is administered by Andrew Samson in order to identify the most effective performers in domestic cricket.

The formula is designed to recognize players who make a significant contribution to their team’s success throughout the season. Factors such as batting and bowling averages, strike rates, and overall impact on the game are all taken into consideration. The MVP is a combination of statistical performance to determine the most valuable player at the end of the season.

Supporters and media alike can immerse themselves in the MVP Rankings on the SACA website and can be viewed by team or format. Fans can also track the rankings after each round of matches to see how their favourite domestic players are performing and gain an objective reflection of the top-performing players after each round of matches.

“We are looking forward to another great season of cricket as the new season gets underway. We would like to wish all the players the best of luck and look forward to a season filled with exciting matches and unforgettable moments” concluded SACA CEO, Andrew Breetzke.

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Wolvaardt and Markram Top Proteas SACA MVP Overall Rankings

September 25, 2024March 17, 2026

Aiden Markram and Laura Wolvaardt finished at the top of the Proteas SACA MVP rankings following their impressive performances in recent series matches.

The SACA MVP rankings are based on a combination of match performances, individual contributions, and overall impact. Wolvaardt and Markram’s consistent excellence across all areas of the game has secured them the top spot.

Wolvaardt who was a key player in the WT20i series against Pakistan, wrapped up the series on 120,654 points. Her consistent contributions with the bat, combined with her excellent performances in the outfield, and strategic captaincy earned her the prestigious spot at the top of the overall ranking table for the women.

The Proteas Men had a challenging ODI series against Afghanistan. Aiden Makram’s performances moved him to the top of the Proteas Men overall MVP ranking, a mere 0.214 points ahead of Tristan Stubs.

The SACA Most Valuable Player Rankings take into account expected performance on every ball according to CricViz’s extensive database. The algorithm calculates batting, bowling and fielding performances as well as match-defining contributions and considers the historic performances of the venue each fixture is being played at. Therefore, providing a more accurate reflection of the top performers in the game compared to traditional batting and bowling averages.

Proteas Women Overall MVP rankings

Proteas Men Overall MVP rankings

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SACA builds Women’s Personal Development through the HERFORM project

August 9, 2023March 17, 2026

South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) has recently joined as a partner on the European Commission co-funded project “HERFORM” focused on the personal and professional development of female athletes entering the high-performance environment.

The HERFORM project is led by Rugby Players Ireland (project proposal co-created by TWIN). SACA along with the Sports University of Cologne, is the research lead. Other project partners are the Spanish Futsal Association and the National Youth Association of Sweden.

The project kicked off with a research phase, currently underway, where female athletes around the world, from various sporting codes completed questionnaires on the variety of obstacles to high-level performance experienced as a female athlete. In September, the data collected will be analysed and focused discussion groups will take place on specific issues. This phase will provide the researchers with an insight and a better understanding of the barriers female athletes must overcome to experience an effective transition into the high-performance environment. The second and third phases respectively will focus on product design and dissemination of best practice.

“Player development is at the core of what we do as an organisation. It is crucial to ensure that the programmes we deliver to players are evidence-based. By having a strong research base, we are confident that we are providing our female players with support that is data-driven and that has been proven to be a benefit to players,” commented Ruan Schlebusch, Dual Career and Development Manager.

The outcomes of the HERFORM Project at the end of the three years will support the SACA Player Plus programme to deliver programmes that reflect female athletes’ needs and set them apart from their male counterparts. In addition, SACA members will have access to a digital training hub that reflect the recommendations that can be applied by the regional SACA Player Development Managers, as well as SACA support staff, working with professional female cricketers.

“This Womens Day, we celebrate the women who came before us who laid the foundation for a research project as important as the HERFORM to happen. Being a part of a project this big gives local players a chance to lend our voice to the global movement in womens sport and the opportunity to help develop a professional product that meets our needs as professional athletes. As a member of the SACA Players’ Executive, it is important for me, that female professional needs and issues are highlighted and addressed. SACA is an organisation run by players, for players and it is important to ensure service delivery to members is of the highest quality” commented Tumi Sekhukhune, SACA Players Executive Member.

“Since 2015, when South African female cricketers first signed professional contracts, the game has developed year on year. The 2023 ICC Womens T20 World Cup has captured the public’s interest in womens cricket and has raised the bar of professionalism in womens cricket. For these reasons, it is important for SACA to be ahead of the curve in the player development landscape” said Andrew Breetzke, SACA CEO

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Proteas Rumble to Victory

May 21, 2019March 17, 2026

South Africa has announced its ICC World Cup squad (team below). Naturally, some players are delighted others understandably disappointed. However, the focus now turns to this group of players who have been tasked with the national responsibility of bringing the World Cup trophy home for the first time.

South Africa’s history at World Cups is gut-wrenching and has always produced moments of the highest drama and occasions never to be forgotten. The most prominent ones must surely be the semi-finals of 1999 in England and 2015 in New Zealand. On both occasion we were so close, yet so far! I guess the most disappointing factor was always that South Africa had entered both competitions as firm contenders, if not outright favourites to win the World Cup. This time around, South Africa enters the 2019 ICC World Cup certainly not as firm favourites and, perhaps, not as settled as before in their build-up to the event.

This unchartered territory for South Africa is a positive for the team. They will have an opportunity to focus solely on their preparation without the external pressure of expectation. That is certainly my wish; after all, the South African public sets such high expectations for all their teams. Naturally, the public will, once again, be expecting South Africa to win the competition. In which case, we should not be surprised when the ‘chokers tag’ rears its ugly head as a tactical ploy by the opposition to impose themselves on the Proteas.

This will always be a mental hurdle for the Proteas team to overcome if they are to make history and win the tournament for the first time. In order to overcome the label, the team will have to rumble with vulnerability. This means, according to renowned Research Professor Brene Brown, “having the courage to show up fully when you can’t control the outcome.” It is about being vulnerable in their relationships as teammates on a daily basis which means sharing their excitement and fears openly together. In fact, we, the public, will also rumble with vulnerability, with and for the team.

One of our greatest assets going into this World Cup is that South Africa has a courageous leader in Faf du Plessis. He lives the values of #Proteafire and is never silent about the hard things. He is the kind of leader who is willing to step up, put himself ‘out there’ and be courageous. Brene Brown argues that “the greatest barrier to courageous leadership is not fear – it is how we respond to our fear.” Together with his leadership group, Du Plessis embodies a collective sense of calm and determination to cultivate a culture in which brave work, tough conversations, and whole-hearts are expected. Moreover, he is tactically shrewd and strategically on par with the best in the world.

This environment will unleash, Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock, Andile Phehlukwayo and the rest of the group because they will feel safe, seen, heard, and respected. This team has a wonderful mixture of youth and experience which, I believe, will provide a competitive advantage during the tournament. The Proteas is an iconic brand around the world and we know the team will be exemplary compatriots in England.

On behalf of the players SACA, and myself as the President of the Association, I want to take this opportunity to wish the Proteas well in their quest for gold, may they rumble to World Cup victory.

World Cup Squad: Faf du Plessis (C); Quinton de Kock (Wk); Hashim Amla; Aiden Markram; Rassie van der Dussen; David Miller; JP Duminy; Dwaine Pretorius; Dale Steyn; Kagiso Rabada; Lungi Ngidi; Chris Morris; Andile Phehlukwayo; Imran Tahir; Tabraiz Shamsi

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Proteas Rumble to Victory

May 21, 2019March 17, 2026

South Africa has announced its ICC World Cup squad (team below). Naturally, some players are delighted others understandably disappointed. However, the focus now turns to this group of players who have been tasked with the national responsibility of bringing the World Cup trophy home for the first time.
South Africa’s history at World Cups is gut-wrenching and has always produced moments of the highest drama and occasions never to be forgotten. The most prominent ones must surely be the semi-finals of 1999 in England and 2015 in New Zealand. On both occasion we were so close, yet so far! I guess the most disappointing factor was always that South Africa had entered both competitions as firm contenders, if not outright favourites to win the World Cup. This time around, South Africa enters the 2019 ICC World Cup certainly not as firm favourites and, perhaps, not as settled as before in their build-up to the event.
This unchartered territory for South Africa is a positive for the team. They will have an opportunity to focus solely on their preparation without the external pressure of expectation. That is certainly my wish; after all, the South African public sets such high expectations for all their teams. Naturally, the public will, once again, be expecting South Africa to win the competition. In which case, we should not be surprised when the ‘chokers tag’ rears its ugly head as a tactical ploy by the opposition to impose themselves on the Proteas.
This will always be a mental hurdle for the Proteas team to overcome if they are to make history and win the tournament for the first time. In order to overcome the label, the team will have to rumble with vulnerability. This means, according to renowned Research Professor Brene Brown, “having the courage to show up fully when you can’t control the outcome.” It is about being vulnerable in their relationships as teammates on a daily basis which means sharing their excitement and fears openly together. In fact, we, the public, will also rumble with vulnerability, with and for the team.
One of our greatest assets going into this World Cup is that South Africa has a courageous leader in Faf du Plessis. He lives the values of #Proteafire and is never silent about the hard things. He is the kind of leader who is willing to step up, put himself ‘out there’ and be courageous. Brene Brown argues that “the greatest barrier to courageous leadership is not fear – it is how we respond to our fear.” Together with his leadership group, Du Plessis embodies a collective sense of calm and determination to cultivate a culture in which brave work, tough conversations, and whole-hearts are expected. Moreover, he is tactically shrewd and strategically on par with the best in the world.
This environment will unleash, Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock, Andile Phehlukwayo and the rest of the group because they will feel safe, seen, heard, and respected. This team has a wonderful mixture of youth and experience which, I believe, will provide a competitive advantage during the tournament. The Proteas is an iconic brand around the world and we know the team will be exemplary compatriots in England.
On behalf of the players SACA, and myself as the President of the Association, I want to take this opportunity to wish the Proteas well in their quest for gold, may they rumble to World Cup victory.

World Cup Squad: Faf du Plessis (C); Quinton de Kock (Wk); Hashim Amla; Aiden Markram; Rassie van der Dussen; David Miller; JP Duminy; Dwaine Pretorius; Dale Steyn; Kagiso Rabada; Lungi Ngidi; Chris Morris; Andile Phehlukwayo; Imran Tahir; Tabraiz Shamsi

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