Ernest Kemm – SACA | South African Cricketers' Association

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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…

Liam Alder Named Overall SACA MVP for Domestic Division 2

March 25, 2026April 30, 2026

Following the completion of all domestic fixtures, Liam Alder of the Garden Route Badgers finished at the top of the SACA MVP overall rankings, identifying him as the most valuable player in the division across all formats.

Alder won the Overall Division 2 SACA MVP title with 360,805 points across 20 matches, providing a consistent baseline for his team. His slow left-arm orthodox bowling earned him 257,542 bowling points, while his contributions with the bat resulted in 65,262 batting points, comprising two half-centuries in the 4-Day Series, where he maintained an average of 35.22. Alder’s total was further supported by 11 winning points and 7 fielding points, marking him as the most statistically active performer in the division this summer.

Emanuel Motswiri of the Limpopo Impalas was named the 1-Day Cup SACA MVP in Division 2. In six matches, Motswiri accumulated 126,878 total MVP points through a campaign based on bowling performance, where he took 16 wickets at an average of 16.81 and an economy rate of 5.85. Motswiri also provided middle-order runs, scoring two half-centuries to earn 24,851 batting points, showcasing his ability to perform in the 50-over format.

The red-ball format of the division was led by all-rounder Ernest Kemm of the Eastern Storm, who won the 4-Day Series SACA MVP title with 309,037 points. Since moving to the Eastern Storm, Kemm has added value to the team environment as a senior player, and his impact is reflected in his second-place finish in the overall rankings with 341,536 points. He ended the season as the division’s leading wicket-taker with 40 wickets, including five five-wicket hauls.

The T20 Knockout MVP went to Alindile Mhletywa of the Eastern Cape Iinyathi, who topped the rankings with 101,912 MVP points after taking 15 wickets at an average of 12.08 during the Iinyathi T20 campaign.

Recognition of these performances is facilitated by the SACA MVP ranking system, which measures player impact in CSA’s domestic competitions. Administered by statistician Andrew Samson, the domestic SACA MVP algorithm provides a data-driven analysis of performance, awarding points for batting, bowling, and fielding metrics based on match context and oppositional strength. Match impact points are also awarded for team wins and Man of the Match performances, ensuring recognition is based on statistical impact and match contributions.

Andrew Breetzke, SACA CEO, commented, “We would like to congratulate Liam, Ernest, Emanuel, and Alindile for winning the SACA MVP in their respective categories. It is a great achievement and an honour to be recognised as the most valuable player of the season. We wish all players a restful off-season after challenging themselves throughout the year.”

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Simmonds and Kemm Crowned 4-Day Series SACA MVP Winners

February 24, 2026April 30, 2026

Kyle Simmonds and Ernest Kemm end the CSA 4-Day Series with top honours in the SACA MVP rankings in the format for Division 1 and Division 2, respectively. Their consistent performances and impactful contributions across the red-ball series have set a high standard for excellence in the domestic game.

Kyle Simmonds capped off a dominant campaign by finishing at the summit of the Division 1 4-Day Series rankings. The left-arm spinner’s ability to bowl long, disciplined spells and provide crucial breakthroughs made him the standout performer for his team in the competition.

Simmonds was a constant threat throughout the 2025/26 4-Day Series, finishing as one of the top wicket-takers in the division with 28 wickets in 7 matches. His red-ball campaign was highlighted by a career-best performance against Boland, where he claimed match figures of 11/110—including 5/66 in the first innings and 6/44 in the second—to help secure a victory by an innings and 141 runs.

In addition to his bowling and batting prowess, Simmonds was reliable in the field, claiming 8 catches throughout the tournament. His consistency was reflected in a comprehensive total of 266,363 MVP points, built on 149,089 bowling points, 98,273 batting points, and 9 fielding points. This all-round dominance resulted in an impressive average of 38,052 points per match. His ability to contribute significantly across all facets of the game—including scoring 537 runs at an average of 88.76 during the series—ensured he maintained his lead over a highly competitive field.

Veteran all-rounder Ernest Kemm secured the 4-Day SACA MVP title in dramatic fashion. Since moving to the Eastern Storm, Kemm has added significant value to the team environment as a senior player. His presence has been impactful throughout the season, though the race for the top spot was closely contested. Kemm held onto the second position for the majority of the season before finally taking over the top spot in the rankings during the final match.

Kemm finished the 2025/26 4-Day campaign as the leading wicket-taker in Division 2, claiming 40 wickets across eleven innings. His season was highlighted by five five-wicket hauls, with best bowling figures of 6/55. His match-winning influence is reflected in his final accumulation of 309,037 total MVP points, a tally significantly bolstered by 245,181 points from his bowling contributions alone. This clinical performance underscores his experience and earns him the title of the division’s most valuable player.

“We would like to congratulate Kyle and Ernest for winning the title of SACA MVP for the 4-Day Series in their respective divisions. It is a great achievement to be recognised as the most valuable player for the season in the longest format. This season, players have challenged themselves and let their talent shine. We would like to wish all players a restful off-season.”

The SACA MVP uses an internationally recognised ranking system to identify the key influencers in CSA’s domestic competitions. The algorithm, developed by SACA and administered by renowned cricket statistician Andrew Samson, identifies the most valuable performers through an objective, data-driven lens. Points are awarded based on how well a player performs “on the day” under different match situations and are accumulated throughout the competition to determine the most valuable players within the specific format. This system ensures that recognition is based purely on statistical impact and match-winning contributions.

SACA MVP Prize Money
The SACA MVP rankings not only celebrate excellence but also provide financial rewards for top-tier performance. SACA provides prize money for the top performers in the Division 1 SACA Overall MVP rankings, as well as the top 10 players in the 4-Day Competition, the CSA One-Day Cup, and the CSA T20 Challenge.

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Domestic MVP Spotlight: Mhletywa Crowned T20 Knockout MVP

November 26, 2025June 2, 2026

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) is pleased to announce and congratulate Alindile Mhletywa of the Eastern Cape Iinyathi, as the SACA MVP for the CSA T20 Knockout Challenge.

Mhletywa topped the tournament’s MVP rankings with a total of 101,912 points, edging out teammate Thozama Totana, 89,404 MVP points, and Free States Jacques Snyman on 88,972 MVP points.

His effectiveness with the ball was the driving force behind this impressive score, as his bowling contributions accounted for 74,821 of his total points. As one of the top bowlers in the competition, taking 15 wickets with best figures of 3/23 against Garden Route Badgers and maintaining a strong bowling average of 12.08.

SACA CEO Andrew Breetzke extended his congratulations, stating: “We are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our division two domestic MVP winners. This T20 accolade for Alindile is a testament to his consistent, high-impact contribution, which is precisely what the objective SACA MVP rankings are designed to measure.”

In the Overall Rankings, Ernest Kemm of the Northern Cape Heat holds a commanding position at the top of the rankings. The all-rounder’s excellence across the 4-Day Domestic Series and white-ball cricket has set him apart from the pack, consistently accumulating valuable points in the season so far.

The SACA MVP ranking system is a crucial, internationally recognised statistical tool that objectively measures a player’s genuine performance and impact on the game. The rankings use a sophisticated algorithm, administered by cricket statistician Andrew Samson, that goes beyond numbers to quantify a player’s worth to their team’s success. It measures match-defining contributions in a game by awarding points for batting, bowling, captaining, and fielding achievements, which are weighted by the match context and the contribution’s importance.

This impartial system ensures that the players who truly perform when it matters most, regardless of their specialisation, are justly recognised as the most valuable players in domestic cricket.

The domestic season continues to showcase incredible talent. Stay tuned for the latest updates in the SACA MVP race.