Dillon du Preez

du Preez is a medium-pace bowler who is also a useful lower-order bat. He started off at a very young age, came through the U-17 South African and Free States set-up. du Preez had a very interesting start to his first-class career. He was picked to bowl for Free States against West Indies and he bowled for two continuous days, bowling 29 overs and picking up 3 wickets for 75 runs which also included the priced scalp of Shivnarine Chanderpaul. He didn't stop there, he also scored 56 and picked 2 for 34 in the second innings.

du Preez attended Corrie van Zyl and Rudolf Steyn's coaching academy. He made slow progress and took three years to break into the Eagles' first team. In 2007-08, he picked up 55 wickets and was part of a victorious Eagles side. Leicestershire signed him up in 2008 as a Kolpak player and in 2009 he was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad.

The allrounder continued to toil hard in first class cricket without any fruit to his efforts. du Preez has the experience of over 300 games in all three formats of the game. He is not done too badly either, 330 scalps in the longer form at 21.92 are impressive figures, but somehow he was never noticed by the selectors.

His batting has also improved over the years. Runs in all formats and at a strike rate in excess of 100 in List A and as well Twenty20. du Preez must wonder what more he could have done to represent South Africa. His Kolpak deal might be one of the reasons for him not taking the next step. However, in the inaugural Global T20 League, du Preez will have a chance to show his countrymen what they have missed.