Altus Momberg

Cape Town – Three national stars from the Warriors will not be short of motivation when they take on the Cape Cobras in Friday’s MTN40 cricket series semi-final in Paarl.

Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Ashwell Prince swapped Cape Town for Port Elizabeth at the beginning of last season following a fall out with Cape cricket bosses.

Warriors coach Russell Domingo said on Thursday that he was aware of the dangers that a team can lose momentum when it suddenly has to find places for a number of international players, but he does not expect it to be the case on Friday.

“They are motivated to do well against their former team. And Mark Boucher never requires motivation for any game,” Domingo said at a Newlands training session.

Prince, Kallis and Boucher were furious when they did not make the Cobras’ team for the semi-final of the Pro20 series two years ago.

The Proteas had just returned from India and Cobras’ selection committee decided to pick the players that took them through to the semi-finals.

That prompted the three Proteas to join the Eastern Cape franchise.

However, Robin Peterson moved in the opposite direction this season and will be one of the Cobras’ big weapons in Friday’s game.

He did not only excel with the ball in the league phase, but is also very dangerous with the bat during power plays.

“I’m really enjoying my cricket since moving to the Cape. I know the Warriors very well and that makes it interesting to play against them. They also know what to expect from me and will have a plan,” said Peterson.

In a surprise, yet understandable move, Justin Kemp has retained the Cobras’ captaincy. National captain Graeme Smith will only be an opening batsman.

Kemp has performed very well this season as skipper of the Cobras and probably knows the players that do not play for the Proteas better.

It will be interesting to see whether Kallis opens for the Warriors. He will not bowl in the game, but his designated role for the Proteas in one-day cricket is that of opening batsman.

The teams are:

Cape Cobras:
Graeme Smith , Andrew Puttick, Herschelle Gibbs, JP Duminy, Justin Kemp (captain), Justin Ontong, Stiaan van Zyl, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Rory Kleinveldt, Charl Langeveldt, Francois Plaatjies.

Warriors (from):
Ashwell Prince, Justin Kreusch, Jacques Kallis, Colin Ingram, Mark Boucher, Davy Jacobs (captain), Johan Botha, Nicky Bojé, Rusty Theron, Wayne Parnell, Makhaya Ntini, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Jon-Jon Smuts, Andrew Birch.

Starting time: 16:00