Oldies, babies and goodies: 10 potential bargains up for grabs in the SA20 auction

Cricket South Africa's (CSA) new T20 league, the SA20, takes a further step towards fruition when it hosts its maiden player auction in Cape Town on Monday afternoon.

All six franchises have an overall budget of R34 million to spend on a squad of maximum 17 players that can contain 10 local players and 7 foreigners, though only 4 of them are allowed in any given match XI.

However, the franchises were allowed to sign a maximum of 5 players from a pre-auction pool of stars.

Three of the teams decided to recruit all 5, another 4, while two others only opted for 2.

What's left in the franchise's kitty for the auction depends on what they spent at pre-auction.

While there's undeniably scope for some big-name signings, there could be some really good bargains sitting in the proverbial shop window.

Sport24 picks a batch of 10 potential value-for-money buys.

ROSS TAYLOR, NEW ZEALAND (R850 000 reserve price)

The Black Caps legend's minimum price might seem steep, but the fact that he's 38, retired from international cricket and hasn't played any form of T20 since February 2021 might mean some teams are reluctant to engage in a bidding war, which - if the reserve price is met - could keep the final amount down.

Taylor's credentials are impeccable, a vastly experience stroke-maker with an underrated power-game and excellent fielder.

An ideal senior statesman.

SEAN WILLIAMS, ZIMBABWE (R425 000 reserve price)

A fluent left-handed batter, the experienced batting all-rounder possesses enough skill to occupy various positions in the batting order.

He's also a very proficient, strangling spinner with an excellent economy rate.

PIETER MALAN, SOUTH AFRICA (R175 000 reserve price)

The 33-year-old elder brother of Proteas regular Janneman has consistently