Sunrisers Eastern Cape SWOT Analysis: Can Tristan Stubbs guide them to a third SA20 title?

Sunrisers Eastern Cape SWOT Analysis. [Source - SA20/x]

SA20 is set to continue its exciting journey as it heads into its 4th edition. Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the most successful team in the tournament’s history, will kick off their campaign against Paarl Royals on Saturday, December 27, in Paarl.

With a fresh-looking squad and a new captain at the helm, the team brings a mix of experience and emerging talent. While they have dominated previous editions, sustaining that success with a revamped lineup will be a true test, and only time will tell if they can continue their winning legacy.

Let’s dive deeper into Sunrisers Eastern Cape squad with a sharper focus on their strengths, weaknesses and more.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape squad for SA20 2025-26

Jonny Bairstow, Matthew Breetzke, James Coles, Quinton de Kock, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Lewis Gregory, Jordan Hermann, Marco Jansen, CJ King, JP King, Patrick Kruger, Adam Milne, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla, Tristan Stubbs, Beyers Swanepoel, Mitchell van Buuren, Chris Wood.

Strengths of Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20 2025-26

1. Explosive top-order

SEC has an explosive top order blends experience and youth, offering aggressive starts with stability and match-winning potential through powerplay dominance and fearless stroke-play across different conditions.

• Quinton de Kock is in superb form following strong performances in the recent India series as well as for South Africa.
• Matthew Breetzke, despite a poor last season, shows promise and has bright days ahead at the top in this format.
• Jonny Bairstow, a renowned destructive opener, adds proven firepower and intimidation in the powerplay.
• Jordan Hermann, the young gun, brings freshness, intent, and left-handed balance to complete an explosive top order.

---

ALSO READ

MI Cape Town SWOT analysis: Can Rashid Khan and co defend their crown in 2025-26?

---

2. All-round pace attack

Sunrisers Eastern Cape possess a formidable fast-bowling unit combines left-arm variety, hard-length intensity and express pace, offering wicket-taking threat and control across all phases.

• Marco Jansen poses a serious powerplay threat with his left-arm angle, troubling openers and creating early breakthroughs.
• Chris Wood serves as a reliable backup to Jansen, maintaining the left-arm threat when needed.
• Anrich Nortje and Adam Milne bring express pace and wicket-taking ability across all phases.
• Lutho Sipamla and CJ King provides additional support, offering a dependable backup option in the pace attack.

Weaknesses of Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20 2025-26

1. Middle-order dependence on Stubbs

While the top order has stars like Bairstow and de Kock, the SEC's middle order posses names which are unproven, which means a lot of responsibility falls on Tristan Stubbs to anchor or accelerate the innings.

• If Stubbs fails, there’s a risk of a collapse or slower scoring in the middle overs, putting extra pressure on lower-order hitters.
• With Marco Jansen expected to hit big in the last 5 overs, it’s crucial that at least one top-order batter lasts till around the 15th over to set the platform alongside Stubbs.
• James Coles, the right-handed batter from England, has not played much in South African conditions, adding to the reliance on Stubbs.

---

ALSO READ

SA20 schedule

---

2. Limited wicket-taking spin options

The team lacks experienced wicket-taking spinners, which may make controlling the middle overs difficult, especially on good batting tracks in this format.

• Apart from Senuran Muthusamy, who also is not a convincing wicket-taking spin option, spin depth is weak, which could be exploited by the oppositions.
• Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar has struggled to take wickets as well in the recent ILT20 and CPL, claiming only ten wickets in 12 matches.

Opportunities

1. Stubbs eyes continued Sunrisers dominance

As the new captain, Tristan Stubbs has the chance to continue Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s SA20 dominance. The team has reached the finals in all three editions, winning two titles, and the young skipper will be motivated to lead such a successful franchise to further glory.

Threats

1. Captain Stubbs’ form

There is a concern for Sunrisers Eastern Cape which is Tristan Stubbs’ form. The young captain has not been at his best in T20s this year, struggling in both franchise leagues and T20Is for South Africa, which could impact the team’s batting consistency.

Table - Tristan Stubbs in T20s, 2025.

2. Death-bowling woes

One key threat for Sunrisers Eastern Cape can be their death bowling. None of their first-choice bowlers have shown promising performances in the final overs in T20s in 2025, potentially allowing opposition teams to score freely towards the end.

Table - SEC pacers in T20 death overs in 2025

Sunrisers Eastern Cape probable XI for SA20 2025-26

Quinton de Kock, Jonny Bairstow, Jordan Hermann, Matthew Breetzke, James Coles, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Senuran Muthusamy, Adam Milne, Anrich Nortje, and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar.

Expected finish: 5th

---

ALSO READ

Released and return! Kane Williamson recalled to Durban’s Super Giants for SA20 2025-26

---