South Africa’s comfortable 87-run victory against Sri Lanka in an ICC Cricket World Cup warm-up game in Cardiff on Friday will have given the team a good deal of confidence heading into the tournament, not least with respect to the strength in depth it has in the seam bowling all-rounders spots.
South Africa’s Dwaine Pretorius plays shot during his unbeaten knock against Sri Lanka on Friday
Cardiff:
“I think there is quite good competition and good depth within the squad,” Phehlukwayo said. “Personally, I am not looking in terms of those competitions. I just want to contribute for the team, whoever is playing in that all-rounder position is obviously the person in form and hopefully they can do the job for the team. Aside from that I don’t think personally I have any agenda in terms of the all-rounder.
“We have a very diverse squad so I think on the day we can play any combinations and that team that is fit to play will do everything to perform and to win the game for South Africa. So, at the moment I am really not sure, but I know that the diversity and the depth that we have in our squad is really good so whoever is fit to play will do the job for the team.”
South Africa’s captain, Faf du Plessis, said that at least one of those three players would have to sit out.
“There is definitely not space for three of them,” Du Plessis said. “Depending on fitness, Dale Steyn is progressing. So, if he doesn’t progress the way that he wants to then two all-rounders comes into the equation. If our fast bowlers are all fit, we love that diversity in our attack.”
In the match against Sri Lanka runs from the lower middle order was hugely important in South Africa posting a total of 338/7 after there was a burst of three wickets for 52 runs in the middle of their innings. When asked if he sees himself as a finisher, he said that was a role he relishes.
“Definitely I do,” Phehlukwayo said. “Every day you’re learning in terms of your batting, your bowling, and I need to get into the nets and keep improving my power hitting. It’s definitely there and today there were glimpses of it. I need to go and practice it a little bit more.”
Runs for Andile Phehlukwayo (35), Dwaine Pretorius (25*) and Chris Morris (26*) and wickets for Phehlukwayo and Pretorius, means all three men should be in the mix for a spot in the starting XI.
“I think there is quite good competition and good depth within the squad,” Phehlukwayo said. “Personally, I am not looking in terms of those competitions. I just want to contribute for the team, whoever is playing in that all-rounder position is obviously the person in form and hopefully they can do the job for the team. Aside from that I don’t think personally I have any agenda in terms of the all-rounder.
“We have a very diverse squad so I think on the day we can play any combinations and that team that is fit to play will do everything to perform and to win the game for South Africa. So, at the moment I am really not sure, but I know that the diversity and the depth that we have in our squad is really good so whoever is fit to play will do the job for the team.”
South Africa’s captain, Faf du Plessis, said that at least one of those three players would have to sit out.
“There is definitely not space for three of them,” Du Plessis said. “Depending on fitness, Dale Steyn is progressing. So, if he doesn’t progress the way that he wants to then two all-rounders comes into the equation. If our fast bowlers are all fit, we love that diversity in our attack.”
In the match against Sri Lanka runs from the lower middle order was hugely important in South Africa posting a total of 338/7 after there was a burst of three wickets for 52 runs in the middle of their innings. When asked if he sees himself as a finisher, he said that was a role he relishes.
“Definitely I do,” Phehlukwayo said. “Every day you’re learning in terms of your batting, your bowling, and I need to get into the nets and keep improving my power hitting. It’s definitely there and today there were glimpses of it. I need to go and practice it a little bit more.”