SA20 2023: Joburg Super Kings name Sibonelo Makhanya as Harry Brook's replacement

The Joburg Super Kings have decided to replace Harry Brook with Sibonelo Makhanya in the ongoing inaugural season of SA20. England’s new batting sensation Harry Brook withdrew from SA20 2023 citing workload issues after he was picked in the IPL auction for a hefty amount. He is also expected to feature in England's ODI squad for the series against South Africa later this month. 

Coming back to Makhanya, he is currently enjoying a purple-patch on the cricket field for a while. Last year, he had led the Titans to a CSA T20 Challenge title triumph. Apart from the Titans’ collective performances, the emerging cricketer also proved his individual brilliance scoring 119 runs from six innings at an impressive strike rate of 119.

Sibonelo Makhanya hoping to fill in the big shoes of Harry Brook

Sibonelo Makhanya would be hoping to make his good form count and play a key role in helping the Joburg Super Kings’ campaign from hereon. Notably, the middle-order batter has some experience of playing in the shortest format having amassed 818 runs from 74 appearances at a strike rate of 114.8.

While the Johannesburg-based franchise will be very happy with the replacement, they would still be hoping to overcome Harry Brook’s departure as they had spent a fortune on the Englishman for acquiring his services.  

Brook’s name had come for a base price of R850,000 for the inaugural SA20 auction. Nonetheless, the Joberg Super Kings succeeded in bringing him on board for a staggering R2.1 million after an aggressive bidding war with the Paarl Royals.

With Harry Brook being bought by the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the last month’s IPL 2023 auction, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had reportedly requested the Super Kings to withdraw his name citing workload management as the middle-order sensation represents the Three Lions across formats.

Meanwhile, the Super Kings began their SA20 2023 campaign on a winning note against the Durban Super Giants, but since then have lost their next two games against the Paarl Royals and MI Cape Town. They would be hoping to get back to winning ways when they face Pretoria Capitals at the Wanderers Stadium on Tuesday, January 17.

Check: Live Cricket Score of Joburg Super Kings vs Pretoria Capitals, 11th Match

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