Thame Town is delighted to announce the re-signing of last season’s professional, Johan van Dyk, for their 2020 Home Counties Premier League campaign.

Van Dyk is a promising seam bowling all-rounder playing for Free State in South African domestic cricket.

Whilst he’s had an intermittent career to date, his exploits over the past two seasons have ensured he’s regularly featured in red-ball cricket, in particular.

Domestic success

In 2017/18, he took his maiden 5-wicket haul en-route to 12 wickets at 19.91. He then took another two 5-wicket bags amongst a season tally of 18 wickets at 16.38 in 2018/19.

A right-arm seamer and hard-hitting lower-middle order batter, van Dyk made his first-class and T20 debuts for Free State in February 2015, but failed to cement his spot, despite strong performances. After 4 wickets at 14.75 (2014/15) and 7 wickets at 27.28 (2015/16), he enjoyed more game time in 2016/17, then again last season, due to his success.

Johan van Dyk in action for Free State.

Van Dyk has also weighed in with notable contributions with the bat, hitting back-to-back scores of 25 against Northerns during their first-class and List A matches in March 2017, respectively.

He returned to first-class early last season (v KZN) and, in his second match against Northern Cape, he took his maiden 5 wicket haul, namely 5-27 (14.2) in the second innings, following 2-47 (13) in the first innings.

Prospect to Professional

The quick was long regarded as a player of serious promise. He represented Free State through the age-groups and starred in two Coke Weeks, where he averaged 18 (2011/12) and 20.20 (2012/13) with the ball.

In September 2014, he represented South Africa Emerging Players at the Africa Cricket Association Cup before excelling for the University of Free State in the Varsity Competition (December 2014). He continued to shine for the University in the Red Bull Campus and National Club Championships before his final match in April 2017.

Thame return in 2020

In a view to continuing his development, he traveled abroad in 2019 to play for Home Counties Premier League side Thame Town.

He enjoyed a productive season taking 35 wickets at 17.74, in what is a strong standard of league cricket.

The South African quick was quick to put pen to paper in order to return to Thame again in 2020.