Cape Town - The Cape Cobras will have to do without the services of Andrew Puttick in Tuesday’s One-Day Cup clash against the Knights in Bloemfontein due to a suspension.
The opening batsman was suspended for two matches on Monday – one of which is suspended for one calendar year – after Cricket South Africa found him guilty of a level two offence of the CSA Code of Conduct.
The matter relates to an incident during a Sunfoil Series match between the Cobras and Titans in Benoni that started on December 27, which the Titans won by 10 wickets.
Puttick had shown serious dissent at an umpire’s decision and CSA said in a statement on Monday that the veteran left-hander had admitted his guilt. “I have taken into account the fact that Mr Puttick admitted the offence and has accepted that his behaviour was inappropriate,” said CSA disciplinary commissioner Professor Rian Cloete.
But the Cobras have already secured a Newlands final after beating the Warriors by five wickets in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, with Dane Vilas scoring a sparkling 105 not out off just 70 balls (11x4, 5x6) to spearhead the chase for the 258-run victory target.
So, losing Puttick is not a huge problem for Cobras coach Paul Adams, who has already indicated that he will give some of his stalwarts a breather for the Knights match on Tuesday ahead of the final on Sunday, February 28 at Newlands.
“We’ve got a few changes, a couple of guys that are having breaks,” Adams said. “So we’re having a good look at some of our youth, it’s an opportunity in that sense.
“You rarely get these opportunities to have a look at players, so we’re trying to use this window. It’s a nice chance and we don’t think it will disrupt us at all.”
This could see youngsters such as all-rounder Jason Smith – who scored a half-century on his Cobras debut recently – and classy No 4 batsman Zubayr Hamza get a start in Bloemfontein.
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