New Dolphins batsman: Getting 10 first-class games per season is incredible - the more, the better

Joshua Richards as left the Lions for the Dolphins.

The Dolphins will play 10 first-class fixtures during 2026-27 domestic season in South Africa.

This number will rise to 11, if the Dolphins reach April 2027’s final of the 1st Class Series, which was known as the 4-Day Domestic Series, division one, prior to last week’s rebrand.

Batsman Josh Richards, who has moved from the Lions to the Dolphins, toldClub Cricket SA: “Getting 10 first-class games per season is incredible – the more, the better.

“December will be jampacked – this is good. There hasn’t really been a December this busy for the past few years.First-class cricket is where it’s at – that’s where players learn their craft.”

Division one and two teams will compete against each other in the Pro20 Cup during the 2026-27 domestic season.

Previously, division one teams contested the T20 Challenge and division two teams contested the T20 Knockout.

The Dolphins have been grouped with fellow division one teams North West, the Lions and Warriors – and division two teams Northern Cape, Limpopo, Border and South Western Districts – for the Pro20 Cup.

The other group comprises division one teams Western Province, Boland, the Knights and Titans alongside division two teams Mpumalanga, Easterns and the Tuskers.

“In T20 cricket, the playing fields can be levelled. There could be a couple of division two teams surprising the division one teams,” concluded Richards.

LATEST news on new CSA domestic cricket structure

See all the fixtures for the 2026-27 domestic season in South Africa
Tuskers CEO: The real test for promotion will be the 1st Class Shield
Keith Dudgeon: We’ll see batsmen reaching 1,000-run mark again
WP president: Positives of new CSA domestic structure outweigh negatives
New Northern Cape head coach: Three-day first-class cricket a sensible move
Knights batsman: A few hidden gems in division two
Border captain: We don’t want to simply make up the numbers in Pro20 Cup
SWD CEO: We hope Pro20 Cup will revive domestic T20 cricket in South Africa
Warriors assistant coach: Season will test depth – opportunity outside of normal incumbents
Easterns CEO: It’s a slight concern going from four-day to three-day cricket
Mpumalanga CEO: A one-day game straight after a three-day game will be a challenge
New Limpopo all-rounder: Promotion and relegation has become more fair for all teams
Lions CEO: I am glad we are playing more four-day cricket
North West leadership: Division two players will put their hands up in Pro20 Cup
Dolphins returnee: More four-day cricket massive positive – that’s where my bread is buttered
Mpumalanga head coach: Pro20 Cup is going to be like the FA Cup in soccer