Jason Rolls, a schoolboy from St Marist Inanda School, secured a major deal worth 2.9 million rand with the Joburg Super Kings team during the Betway SA20 auction in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
This highly rated all-rounder from St David's Marist Inanda and Lions, who is the vice-captain of the South African U-19 team, received this significant sum after teams MI Cape Town and Joburg Super Kings entered into a competitive bidding war for his services.
Currently, the 18-year-old Rolls plays for SA Emerging XI in the ongoing CSA T20 Challenge tournament. In his last match against Western Province in Newlands, he demonstrated impressive play, scoring 45 not out off 31 balls (with 4 sixes) and taking 1 out of 19.
The young athlete received a higher bid than Faf du Plessis, former Proteas captain, whom JSK brought back for 2.7 million rand. Rolls will join another T20 legend, all-rounder Kieran Pollard, who was bought for 1.5 million rand, in the Wanderers dressing room.
Joburg Super Kings also acquired a new coach in Albie Morkel, who replaced former New Zealand Test captain Stephen Fleming after his fourth season. Notably, Fleming later took up the position of England Test team coach.