SEC sign Crawley, Overton and van der Merwe for SA20 2025

With the home cricket season approaching in South Africa, franchises of the SA20, the premier franchise T20 tournament of the rainbow nation, are piling up their stocks to try to gain early-movers' leverage over the others. 

Even with the start of the 2025 SA20 season earmarked for February next year, the defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape announced three signings on July 30 (Tuesday). 

Among the signed players are two Englishmen - Zak Crawley and Craig Overton. While Crawley has previously represented Hobart Hurricanes and Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League (BBL), for Overton, this will be a first-ever overseas assignment despite representing MI Emirates in the 2023 International League T20 (ILT20). 

Roelof van der Merwe will be the franchise's third signing, with it being his return to the SA20 after appearing in the inaugural edition of the tournament. 

Speaking about the opportunity at hand, Crawley, a permanent member of the English Test squad but someone who is yet to make his debut for the national side in the shortest format, said, “I've always wanted to be a good white-ball player.”

“I'm trying to add a few other shots to my game, but I feel like it's quite suited [to me] and I've done well in T20 cricket in the past when I've had a run at it. I'm trying to add a bit more power to my game, I'm working hard in the nets trying a few different things to hopefully hit more and bigger sixes," added the 26-year-old batter. 

Both Crawley (76) and Overton (102) have enough T20 experience in their bags. The Kent batter has scored 1771 runs across 76 T20s at a strike rate of 134.77, while the Somerset bowling all-rounder has 106 wickets at an average of 26.21 and 467 runs at a strike rate of 127.59 in his kitty. 

The 39-year-old Dutchman, van der Merwe, who has also played international cricket for South Africa, has experience worth 343 T20s and a best figure of 6/20, which was achieved in the inaugural season of SA20. 

Earlier, Pretoria Capitals roped in former Afghanistan coach and England batter of South African origin Jonathan Trott as their head coach for the next season.

If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here