Barely a year ago, MI Cape Town were no-hope losers drifting from one defeat to the next.
It was unexplainable how a team with that much talent could be so hopeless. They failed to reach the play-offs and were left with the SA20 wooden spoon for the successive season.
Something, it gradually dawned, had to change. Plenty has. Players now openly speak about the culture shift towards providing locals with opportunities after a previous over-reliance on the overseas superstars. And also how everyone is enjoying each other’s company in the dressing room.
This culture shift has led to a dramatic improvement with MICT facing the defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape at Newlands on Wednesday evening with virtually one foot in the play-offs and the possibility of finishing in the top two.
There have been a couple of shrewd signings that have helped the process, and none more so than top-order batter Reeza Hendricks.
“Yeah, look, I mean, obviously excited to have come here,” Hendricks said. “I obviously know quite a few of the guys, so coming here made it slightly easier.
“I've played with most of them, so that was cool. And yeah, the staff has been really good. It helped. Obviously, guys have been playing good cricket.”
Hendricks’ arrival at Newlands also reunited, “The Three R’s” – namely his longtime Lions teammates Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen. The trio have dominated domestic cricket, winning countless titles with the Lions, with their runs at the top often being the catalyst for championship successes.
A similar story line has unfolded during MICT’s season 3 campaign with Van der Dussen leading the way with 252 runs followed by Rickelton’s 178 and Hendricks’ 119.
“Yeah, I would love to think so (playing together is a good omen),” Hendricks said.
“I mean we’ve played a lot of cricket together. We managed to have success, as well. Not just as individuals, but as a team, as well.
“So, hopefully, yeah, hopefully we're bringing it to MICT as well.”
The importance of Wednesday’s clash against the Sunrisers cannot be overstated for both teams.
The Sunrisers are still smarting from a heavy defeat to the Joburg Super Kings last Sunday at the Wanderers which brought their four-game winning streak to a grinding halt. The defending champions are desperate to finish in the top two places to earn a spot in a home Qualifier 1 at St George’s Park.
MICT, meanwhile, are well aware that a victory for them will guarantee them the Qualifier 1 spot alongside current table-toppers Paarl Royals.
“It's an important game. Sunrisers, I think their last one, they lost. So, yeah, they will obviously come out firing against us,” Hendricks said.
“We obviously know there's a lot to play for to try and get that second spot. Everybody knows how important that is. So, yeah, we obviously try not to hop on that.
“So, yeah, I think their three wins they had were all bonus points. So, we know when they get it right, obviously, they can be a very dangerous team. Obviously, back-to-back champions, as well.
“It’s definitely an important game and hopefully we can bring our best game because if you lose that play-off game, you still have a second bite at the cherry. As a team, that's definitely where we want to end up,” he concluded.