Kevin Pietersen, Dwayne Bravo Boost Dolphins for RAM SLAM T20
Kevin Pietersen will get a taste of South African domestic T20 when he turns out for Dolphins. Dwayne Bravo to return to Durban too.
Kevin Pietersen and Dwayne Bravo, two of the world's most sought after T20 players, will be getting a taste of South African domestic cricket when the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge begins next week. (Click here for latest Cricket stories)
For the controversial Pietersen, still hungry to play for England again, flying into Durban was like a homecoming. He will play five matches for the Dolphins in the RAM SLAM T20, the South African version of the Indian IPL or the Australian Big Bash.
"I always get an exciting feeling flying back into to South Africa whether it's for a holiday or to work," said Pietersen.
"It's going to be a lot of fun and a lot of hard work because I set myself high standards and from the quality that was at training, it is quite an exciting bunch of young guys so hopefully we can get some positive results and I can help on the field, off the field and do whatever I can to help create some sort of a buzz," he added.
Pietersen, who played two first class matches for the Sunfoil Dolphins in October 2010, will get his first taste of the South African domestic T20 competition on Sunday when the men from Durban take on The Unlimited Titans and the powerful right hander is pleased with where his game is.
"I know exactly what I need to get myself ready for whenever I play; it's just about getting feet moving."
"It counts for nothing in the nets but I've always been a hard worker and cricket is everything to me, my batting is everything to me!" said Pietersen.
Despite Pietersen only being available for the first half of the competition, Dolphins CEO Pete de Wet said on Wednesday that West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo will return to Durban during the second half of the tournament for his second stint with the franchise.
"Dwayne has become one of the top performing all-rounders in T20 cricket in recent years and to have him return to our setup for the second five games of the RAM Slam T20 Challenge is something we're extremely pleased with," said De Wet.
"Dwayne has toured South Africa with the West Indian side and represented the Dolphins in the same competition last season and so we look forward to his familiarity with the both the environment and our squad contributing to a strong contribution from him with both bat and ball," he added.
Together with Pietersen's arrival, captain Morne van Wyk returns to the squad after overcoming a wrist injury that saw him miss a portion of the Momentum One Day Cup while David Miller, Kyle Abbott and Khaya Zondo -- all returning after their time with the Proteas in India -- add great strength and experience.
Former South African all-rounder Lance Klusener is the team's coach.