Kings of the Field

MICape Town fielded their way to the top

Kruger van Wyk is a big believer in coaches maintaining their cool in the dugout. He has done so since forever. He understands that outward expressions of emotion to onfield events can affect cricketers' performances. However, he broke that rule on 8 February 2024.

Van Wyk rose from his seat in celebration the second an outstretched Kagiso Rabada pouched the ball as if they had choreographed the moves earlier. What they had done, though, was work on executing in similar scenarios. Coach and player had repeatedly drilled the move during one of their sessions until it was second nature. Van Wyk's reaction had been as instinctive as Rabada's as he launched himself to his right.

The image of Kagiso Rabada, parallel with the ground as he plucked the ball destined for the boundary to not only stop a four but also effect a dismissal, will be forever etched on the minds of MICape Town fans. That was the instant the team and their supporters knew the title was theirs.

Cricket is both entertainment in the present and a time machine to past glorious moments. Older fans lost track of time and sunk into nostalgia. For a split second, it wasn't Kagiso Rabada in MICape Town's blue kit but Jonty Rhodes in Natal's green Benson and Hedges strip. Rhodes was a fixture at point or backward point. Batters went aerial in his direction at their own risk.

Rhodes' ground fielding was so outstanding that batters were advised to go for a single after the ball had passed him. Otherwise, they risked being run out. In 2004, a year after his retirement, Rhodes cleaned the dust off the Economics degree he attained in 1992 on his way to Standard Bank. He joined them as an accounts executive. That's where Surf Excel placed a call when they wanted to discuss an advertising contract.

The company was looking for a brand ambassador and who better to endorse washing powder than the man who made getting flannels dirty fashionable? Rhodes finished his ODI career with 5935 runs. A large chunk of that, 4462, came in the number five and six slots. No other batter has been able to surpass that figure. David Miller is a close second with 4151.

When you split the slot into two positions, Rhodes still holds the records for the most ODI runs for South Africa at number five and third-most at six. However, he is less remembered for his batting and more for his fielding exploits. It is difficult to think of any other cricketer bankable simply because of his fielding.

Rabada is not this generation's version of Jonty Rhodes, however, on Saturday night, he mimicked the South African legend to perfection.

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Losing teams generally struggle with their fielding. MICape Town lurched from one loss to another on their way to a last-place finish in season one. Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen's bucketload of runs couldn't save them from a successive basement finish to the second season. In both seasons, their fielding stats were at the foot of the leaderboard.

"I had a look at the data, studied video footage, and looked at our fielding organisation. There was work to be done," Van Wyk shared.

Fielding is important to Van Wyk. He is passionate about it. Teams can tilt matches in their favour through good fielding. A team can save 20 to 30 runs in the field, and a lot of times, that could be the difference between restricting the opposition to a manageable total or a mountain too high. Van Wyk's teams have always been successful because they valued fielding as much as their primary skills.

"I always tell guys that whether you score runs or not, you can always add more value in the field," Van Wyk explained.

The difference was that with his previous sides, Van Wyk had a preseason period and months of competitive cricket to get his teams at their best. SA20 is a shorter tournament, with only about two months to work with players. He gets two to three hours a day to work with the team on fielding drills.

So, he fast-tracks the process. Van Wyk splits the team into small groups that take turns working with him. Working with small groups helps him get through more stuff at a quicker rate. He also ensures that he has a few minutes of one-on-one work and feedback with players.

It would have been easier if he drew up uniform plans for all matches. That wasn’t the case. MICape Town had to adopt new plans each time they played away from home. They played five of their 10 group matches in Paarl, Gqeberha, Durban, Johannesburg, and Pretoria. Each venue needed to have different fielding plans.

"I have to give credit to the senior players. They bought into my plans from the first meeting I had with the team. They contributed to many of our plans," Van Wyk shared.

According to Van Wyk, a team's fielding gives you insight into their culture. Cohesive sides perform better as a fielding unit. Ryan Rickelton shared as much after their victory over Joburg Super Kings on the 18th of January. He stated that the atmosphere in the team felt different, in a good way.

"There is a good thing brewing," the batter shared.

Van Wyk checked fielding stats after every match. He was convinced a good thing was brewing after their eighth match. MICape Town had saved 68 runs against the 28 they could have stopped, for an aggregate of 42. They were on top of their game when it came to fielding.

The stats from the group stages are more telling. MICape Town had the highest catching efficiency. They held on to 88% of catches, six points ahead of the next-best team; Paarl Royals. They created 43 chances and dropped only five, the lowest number by any team. They also executed the highest number of direct hits to effect run-outs.

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According to Rhodes, he suffered more bruises, grass burns and cuts in practice than in match play. Van Wyk and MICape Town adopted the same intensity. The coach tapped into his players' competitive nature to elevate the vigour.

One of the things he did was put coffee vouchers on the line. It wasn't that the players needed the coffee, but each wanted to be the one who won it over others. The most prized award was bragging rights. So, Van Wyk had a clipboard with the top-performing fielders at training. No one held on to the top spot for extended periods. They pushed each other to be at their best. The training translated on the field.

MICape Town had the two top catchers this season. They made difficult grabs look easy. It was as if they had 10 mini versions of Jonty Rhodes. Van Wyk's headache was who to put in hot spots because he was spoiled for choice. Hence, Kagiso Rabada fielding at point was not an accident. It was by design.

"KG is incredibly athletic. We had different plans for different bowlers. KG trained for fielding at point to George Linde's bowling," Van Wyk explained.

Jonty Rhodes maintained that the key to his fielding brilliance was that he expected every ball to come to him. That kept him on the balls of his feet, ready to spring into action. Rabada adopted the same mindset as he took his position at point at the beginning of the 10th over, George Linde's first over. The pacer's services were not required in the over.

He didn't change his approach when Linde returned for his second over. The anticipation paid off 68 balls into the match. Linde landed the ball on a good length. It was one of those that spun away from the off-stump. Aiden Markram tried to loft it over extra-cover but it turned more than the Sunrisers captain had anticipated. Instead, he sliced the ball in the point region.

Rabada took a few steps to his right before diving, both hands stretched towards the ball. He pouched the ball and was in celebration mode immediately. He launched the ball, a back-of-the-hand throw, into the floodlit Johannesburg sky in celebration. His teammates corralled around him.

Earlier in the evening, MICape Town had been on 93/4 after 11 overs when Dewald Brevis arrived at the crease. The 21-year-old smoked four sixes and a couple of fours for his 38 off 18 balls. It was probably the most important 38 runs he has ever scored for MICape Town. His knock lifted them to 121/5 after the 14th over, and suddenly a score of 180 was in their sights.

Scores of 140, 119, 151, 173 had been enough to secure victory at the Wanderers in season three. MICape Town had been quietly confident when they walked out to defend 181. However, Sunrisers still had Aiden Markram at the crease when Linde started his spell. The Sunrisers captain was their in-form batter and could singlehandedly turn the match on its head.

"It wasn't a spectacular catch. But we know what Aiden can do once he gets going. That's what made that wicket outstanding," Van Wyk explained.

I felt goosebumps… and something else, something harder to describe as I watched Rabada and his teammates celebrate the wicket. Like Van Wyk and MICape Town, I knew this was the end. It took me a few minutes to recognise the other feeling, it was sadness of another SA20 season ending.