Sports · Cricket · 1 day ago
18-year-old Jason Rowles becomes SA20’s costliest auction signing
Joburg Super Kings signed 18-year-old Jason Rowles for R2.9 million at the auction for South Africa’s SA20 competition.
He was the auction’s most expensive signing after a bidding contest with MI Cape Town.
Rowles is from Johannesburg and is still a school pupil.
He has represented South Africa at the Under-19 World Cup and was the team’s leading run-scorer there.
He can bat left-handed and bowl left-arm spin.
SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith said franchises are increasingly investing in young South African players, helped by scouting and opportunities in franchise cricket.
Rowles will now have the chance to develop with Joburg Super Kings, and his performance at senior franchise level will be watched closely.
Eighteen-year-old Jason Rowles became the most expensive signing at the SA20 Season 5 auction.
Joburg Super Kings bought the Johannesburg batter for R2.9 million, or $174,248, after a bidding contest with MI Cape Town.
Rowles was signed for 14.5 times his R200,000 base price.
He has represented South Africa at the Under-19 World Cup and scored 280 runs in five innings.
SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith said the signing reflected growing confidence in emerging South African talent.
- Who
- Jason Rowles, an 18-year-old South African batter.
- What
- Joburg Super Kings signed him for R2.9 million, making him the auction’s most expensive signing.
- When
- At the SA20 Season 5 auction; the sources describe it as taking place on Wednesday but do not give a consistent calendar date.
- Where
- The SA20 auction. Rowles is from Johannesburg.
- Why
- Joburg Super Kings wanted a young local talent they had tracked. The sources say franchises are increasingly investing in emerging South African players.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
He is a local boy from Joburg that we've tracked for a long time.
The opportunities for young players now, I think with the growth of franchise cricket, are enormous
For me, talent is talent and ability is ability. I don't think we should put any age groups on it.
Rowles played in the Schools SA20 Finals, representing St David's Marist.
Rowles scored 280 runs in five innings at the Under-19 World Cup.
Rowles scored a double hundred in the second Youth Test against England Under-19.
Joburg Super Kings signed Rowles for R2.9 million after a bidding battle with MI Cape Town.
- Age
- 18
- Winning team
- Joburg Super Kings
- Auction price
- R2.9 million
- Base price
- R200,000
- Price in US dollars
- $174,248
- Under-19 World Cup runs
- 280 in five innings
Sources
From schoolboy to biggest SA20 auction signing: How Jason Rowles became Joburg’s big bet
Jason Rowles' SA20 Auction Price Reflects Growing Faith In Young South African Talent, Says Graeme Smith







