Former Proteas batsman Rilee Rossouw is involved in the Knights’ ongoing T20 series against Namibia in Bloemfontein.
Rossouw will likely be available for the Knights (Free State) during Cricket South Africa’s new T20 Knock Out Competition later this month, too. Whether he stays for the remainder of the country’s 2021-22 domestic season remains in the balance.
? Get Club Cricket SA news on Whatsapp – club cricket news straight to your phone. User comments disabled, so no spam – just relevant news.
“We’ve got Rilee training with us and we are hoping that he will be available to play in the pre-season games as well as the upcoming games when the season starts,” said Knights batsman Matthew Kleinveldt.
Besides a brief stint with the Tshwane Spartans during the inaugural Mzansi Super League, Rossouw hasn’t played professional cricket for a South African team since January 2017.
The 31-year-old Rossouw played 36 ODIs and 15 T20Is for the Proteas from 2014 to 2016 before forging a career in the United Kingdom on a Kolpak contract.
He has also represented several franchises in domestic T20 leagues around the world, including the Pakistan Super League, Australia’s Big Bash League, Indian Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League.
Jacques Rudolph also with the Knights
Former Proteas batsman Jacques Rudolph is part of the Knights’ coaching staff for the series against Namibia. Former Proteas fast bowler Allan Donald is the Knights’ full-time head coach.
The Knights, like the Titans and Dolphins, have retained the franchise name despite South African domestic cricket’s return to top-tier provincial competition. The Cape Cobras, for example, have returned to Western Province. Franchise cricket has effectively been dissolved.