Claremont Cricket Club face title defence without Josh Breed and Matt de Villiers

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Josh Breed Claremont Cricket ClubJosh Breed.

Posted By: Editorial August 23, 2023

Claremont Cricket Club will likely be without all-rounder Josh Breed and batsman Matthew de Villiers for the bulk of – if not the entire – 2023-24 Western Province Cricket Association premier league.

Breed was the leading wicket-taker and seventh-highest run-scorer during the 2022-23 WPCA premier league. De Villiers was the joint fourth-highest run-scorer.

Both are awaiting visas to play for Merivale-Papanui Cricket Club in Christchurch, New Zealand, during the southern hemisphere summer.

Smith joins

Former South Africa Under-19 and Eastern Province all-rounder Kenan Smith, meanwhile, has joined Claremont Cricket Club.

Smith was capped seven times by Eastern Province at first-class level from 2017 to 2019 – and has since relocated to the Western Cape.

Appollis exits and Johnson retained

Wicketkeeper-batsman Michael Appollis has left Claremont Cricket Club for Strandfontein Cricket Club in the WPCA first division A.

Claremont Cricket Club have retained head coach Allison Johnson.

Claremont Cricket Club won the 2022-23 WPCA premier league and Ama20 Competition premier league titles under Johnson.

What Claremont Cricket Club said

“We are aware that there are a lot of rumours and chat regarding how Claremont Cricket Club will turn up this year,” Claremont Cricket Club representative Marvin Williams told Club Cricket SA.

“Yes, we have had some developments with outgoing and incoming players, but that’s normal. That’s life. The show will go on.

“We are excited for the season ahead and we will have high ambitions going into the 2023-24 campaign as defending Western Province Cricket Association premier league and T20 champions.”

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