SA20: Jason Smith relishing prospect of returning to Newlands with MI Cape Town

Smith is born and bred from the Western Cape, having attended and being star at Wynberg Boys High school and then making his debut for Western Province in the professional ranks in 2013.

The now 29-year-old is also in an elite group of players in South Africa to have an ICC World Cup winners medal, having been part of the national U19 team - captained by Aiden Markram and included Kagiso Rabada - that won the global tournament in Dubai in 2014.

The allrounder's senior career did not pan out as he had hoped at Western Province and Smith decided to relocate to Durban and join the Dolphins ahead of the 2021/22 domestic season.

The decision has proved to be a fruitful one with Smith flourishing on the East Coast in the last five years that has seen him earn three ODI caps and a T20I appearance for the Proteas while he is a regular in the South Africa A side.

Smith has already had a taste of the SA20 when he was picked up by Durban's Super Giants in the third edition, and played three matches, but will now be based at Newlands and with the defending champions, MI Cape Town, when the tournament kicks off on Boxing Day.

The allrounder is looking forward to joining up with the franchise and getting a role that will help the team as they look to win the title for a second successive season.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Smith said: "I'm actually extremely excited because obviously my family and everyone is still based in Cape Town. Hopefully it brings back a lot of memories of my time that I had early on in my career.

"We've got all the nice fixtures - Boxing Day, New Years and the final - so I think, you know, the support that you get in Cape Town is always going to be unbelievable.

"Just to be able to have that opportunity, I think I'll really appreciate that and I think it's something that I need. Hopefully we can win the trophy again.

"I think, personally, I can fit into the middle or the finishing role. I think that probably will be suited for me."

Smith touched on the positive impact the SA20 has already had on cricket in South Africa in the first three seasons, especially the players returning from the franchise tournament back into provincial teams.

The major benefits of the tournament is players such as Smith will get to work with MI Cape Town batting coach Hashim Amla, who will share his tons of knowledge and experience in the game.

"You can see players growing and developing within, I would say, even a couple of months," Smith added.

"So, I think it's been good for domestic cricket and especially those that actually get to consistently experience that intensity and that level of cricket.

"Just being a sponge with guys that you don't really get to speak to all the time. Hash (Amla), for example, we don't get to experience him on a daily basis where that month (in the SA20) you'll get that opportunity to work with him quite closely.

"I think it's a great time (to be a South African cricketer), World Test champions and SA20, I think that all of this is just exposing South Africa's talent more and I think that's a good thing for South African cricket."

The fourth season of the SA20 will start on Boxing Day when holders MI Cape Town welcome Smith's former team Durban's Super Giants to Newlands.

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