Phil Salt — the pre-signing who attacks from ball one

Signed before the auction, not at it

Salt was one of Pretoria’s two pre-signings, alongside Matthew Short. Pre-signings are the players a club moves for first, before the bidding starts — and the Capitals chose one of the most destructive openers in white-ball cricket.

He bats right-handed and opens the batting, scoring quickly against both pace and spin. His range is the point: he hits the ball cleanly through the off side, pulls anything short, and clears the boundary with a still head and fast hands. Bowlers cannot simply bowl one type of delivery and hope — Salt has a shot for every ball.

He also keeps wicket, which gives the side a second skill in the same player. With Connor Esterhuizen also in the squad, the Capitals have two keepers and can choose by conditions — but Salt is the one who opens the batting, and that is where his value starts.

Powerplay destruction, and a keeper who frees up the XI

Salt’s job is the first six overs. Win them, and the rest of the innings gets easier for everyone.

A fast start takes pressure off the middle order and lets Brevis and Russell play without chasing the game. And because Salt keeps, the Capitals get their opener and their keeper in one overseas slot — which is why they can afford so much bowling depth around him. With Matthew Short beside him, Pretoria have two openers who both attack from the first ball.

Finalists again, with a rematch to open

Pretoria Capitals reached the 2026 final and are still chasing a first title. Keshav Maharaj has captained the side since Season 4, Sourav Ganguly has been head coach since Season 4, and the home ground is SuperSport Park in Centurion, which hosts five home league games.

The SA20 Season 5 starts on Sunday 17 January 2027, and the Capitals open it — against Sunrisers Eastern Cape at St George’s Park, a rematch of the 2026 final. See the full SA20 Schedule for the fixtures, and the SA20 Players index for every squad. If Salt fires at the top, the title chase looks very different.