Free State (cricket team) explained

Free State (formerly Orange Free State) is the first-class cricket team representing the province of Free State (known as Orange Free State until 1995) in South Africa. For the purposes of the SuperSport Series, Free State merged with Griqualand West and formed the Eagles cricket team franchise. The team was called Orange Free State from January 1904 to April 1995; it has been part of the Eagles from October 2004.

Honours

• Currie Cup (3) – 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98 ; shared (0) –
• Standard Bank Cup (4) – 1988–89, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96
• South African Airways Provincial Three-Day Challenge (0) –
• South African Airways Provincial One-Day Challenge (1) – 2004–05
• Gillette/Nissan Cup (2) – 1991–92, 1992–93

Venues

Venues have included:

• Ramblers Cricket Club Ground, Bloemfontein (Jan 1904 – Feb 1986)
• South African Railways Club Old Ground, Bloemfontein (Jan 1938 – Dec 1939)
• Welkom Mines Recreation Ground (occasional venue Nov 1954 – Nov 1963)
• University of Orange Free State Ground, Bloemfontein (Oct 1986 – Dec 1993)
• Harmony Gold Mine Cricket Club A Ground, Virginia (four matches Nov 1986 – Sept 1991)
• Goodyear Park, Bloemfontein (Oct 1989–present)
• Rovers Cricket Club, Welkom (two games 1981 – 1985)

Squad

In April 2021, Cricket South Africa confirmed the following squad ahead of the 2021–22 season.^[1]

• Mbulelo Budaza
• Gerald Coetzee
• Patrick Kruger
• Wandile Makwetu
• Migael Pretorius
• Jacques Snyman
• Pite van Biljon
• Raynard van Tonder
• Farhaan Behardien
• Patrick Botha
• Matthew Kleinveldt
• Gregory Mohlokwana
• Mangaliso Mosehle
• Alfred Mothoa
• Dilivio Ridgaard
• Nealan van Heerden

Sources

• South African Cricket Annual – various editions
• Wisden Cricketers' Almanack – various editions

Notes and References

1. Web site: CSA reveals Division One squads for 2021/22 . Cricket South Africa . 20 April 2021 . 20 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420104034/http://cricket.co.za/news/38184/CSA-reveals-Division-One-squads-for-2021-22 . dead .