NATIONAL NEWS - The Garden Route Badgers are charging into the 2025/26 cricket season with renewed vigor, as preparations under new head coach Lotle Sesele hit full stride. With all players back from their overseas commitments, the Oudtshoorn-based side is poised for a competitive campaign, blending fresh leadership with a clear focus on success.
The Badgers’ season will launch on October 2 with a four-day clash against the Limpopo Impala in Polokwane. They’ll return home to Oudtshoorn on October 16 to face the Mpumalanga Rhinos in another four-day encounter, before diving into the high-octane T20 Challenge later in the month.
Sesele, who stepped into the head coach role this offseason, has confirmed Yaseen Valli as captain for red-ball cricket and George van Heerden as skipper for white-ball formats (50-over and T20).
“We have full confidence in their leadership abilities,” Sesele said.
“As a coaching staff, we trust that their dual roles will seamlessly align with our plans for a successful season.”
The team, however, faces a challenge with the recent retirement of wicketkeeper-batsman Luke Beaufort, a former South Africa U19 star.
Beaufort has opted to pursue a corporate career in the UK, leaving a gap in the squad. Sesele assured fans that a replacement will be named soon, keeping the team’s momentum intact. With a blend of seasoned players, emerging talent, and a dynamic new coach, the Garden Route Badgers are setting their sights on a standout season. Fans will be watching closely as the team aims to make waves in both the four-day and T20 formats.
The fixtures for the season are:
Cricket South Africa Division 2 T20 Challenge
- 25 October vs Limpopo Impalas (Cricket Club Polokwane)
- 29 October vs Eastern Cape Iinyathi (Recreation Ground; Oudtshoorn)
- 2 November vs Northern Cape (Kimberley Oval; Kimberley)
- 8 November vs Mpumalanga Rhinos (Recreation Ground; Oudtshoorn)
- 12 November vs Eastern Storms (Recreation Ground; Oudtshoorn)
- 15 November vs Free State (Mangaung Oval)
- 18 Novemebr Division 2 T20 Challenge - Qualifier 1
- 19 November Division 2 T20 Challenge - Eliminator
- 21 November Division 2 T20 Challenge - Qualifier 2
- 23 November Division 2 T20 Challenge - Final
Cricket South Africa Four-Day Series: Division 2
- 2-5 October 2025 vs Limpopo Impalas (Cricket Club Polokwane)
- 16-19 October 2025 vs Mpumalanga Rhinos (Recreation Ground, Oudtshoorn)
- 18-21 December 2025 vs Eastern Cape Iinyathi (Recreation Ground, Oudtshoorn)
- 8-11 January 2026 vs Northern Cape (Kimberley Oval, Kimberley)
- 15-18 January 2026 vs Free State (Mangaung Oval)
- 29 Jan - 1 Feb 2026 vs Eastern Storms (Recreation Ground, Oudtshoorn)
- 6-10 February 2026 Final
Cricket South Africa One-day Domestic Competition 2026: Division 2 - 21 February vs Northern Cape (Recreation Ground, Oudtshoorn)
- 25 February vs Mpumalanga Rhinos (Uplands College, White River)
- 28 February vs Eastern Storm (Willowmore Park, Benoni)
- 5 March vs Free State (Recreation Ground, Oudtshoorn)
- 8 March vs Eastern Cape Iianyathi (Buffalo Park, East London)
- 11 March vs SA Emerging (Recreation Ground, Oudtshoorn)
- 15 March vs Limpopo Impalas (Recreation Ground, Oudtshoorn)
- 18 March - One Day Domestic Qualifier
- 22 March - One Day Domestic Final
‘Ons bring jou die nuutste Tuinroete, Hessequa, Karoo nuus’
