Bowlers give ‘chokers’ Proteas wings this World Cup.
London:
The Proteas, a side which always had the potential on paper to lift the trophy, never actually made it to the final of the tournament, having crashed out at the semi-final stage on four occasions.
It was heart-breaking in 1999 when it was vanquished by eventual winner Australia and from then on the story has been more or less the same. This time, the Faf du Plessis-led side is not counted among the favourites to lift the trophy, but its bowling battery has all bases covered and looks threatening, especially in English conditions.
Strengths: Led by Rabada, who took the Indian Premier League by storm, scalping 25 wickets in 12 matches before picking up a back injury, South Africa this year is placing huge emphasis on its bowling attack. The pace trio of Rabada, Dale Steyn and Lungi Ngidi will be expected to fire on all cylinders and make the most of English conditions although more often than not, it would find flat decks to deal with. Coming to spinners, du Plessis would look no further than Tahir who ruled the IPL with the ball, returning as the highest wicket-taker with 26 scalps to his name from 17. Among the batsmen, skipper Faf and wicketkeeper batsman Quinton de Kock have been in good form in the IPL.
Weaknesses: South Africa’s middle order is not strong enough, although there is no dearth of experience with the likes of David Miller and JP Duminy around. However, it lacks proven match winners. In Andile Phehlukwayo, it has a batting all-rounder who has done well since the 2015 World Cup with an average of 31.3 with the bat and 29.8 with the ball. South Africa also picked 36-year old Hashim Amla despite his poor form and left out Reeze Hendricks who played 18 consecutive ODIs before being axed ahead of its recent match against Sri Lanka in March.
Opportunities: South Africa does have match winners in Rabada, Tahir and du Plessis who as captain has won 11 of its 13 series. Rabada is desperate to further raise his stock as the best pacer in the world by winning the biggest prize in the sport, while 40-year old leg-spinner Tahir is as passionate as anyone for any team he plays for. Champion quick Steyn, 35, would also hope to stay fit and break the jinx to lift the World Cup and possibly end his glittering career on a high. Steyn needs just four wickets to break the 200-barrier at the World Cup.
Threats: South Africa does have experience on its side, be it in bowling or batting. But injuries to pacers -- all three of Rabada, Steyn and Ngidi will be coming on the back of nursing niggles -- could prove to be a bane. Its batters also haven’t been in great form and with other teams having strong match winners in their ranks, who are also in better form, this could be a big threat.
Squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Rassie van der Dussen, JP Duminy, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir.
Led by young Kagiso Rabada and veteran Imran Tahir, ‘perennial chokers’ South Africa will be looking to ride its bowlers’ firepower to try and shed the tag and make its eighth attempt to win the World Cup at the showpiece event beginning May 30.
The Proteas, a side which always had the potential on paper to lift the trophy, never actually made it to the final of the tournament, having crashed out at the semi-final stage on four occasions.
It was heart-breaking in 1999 when it was vanquished by eventual winner Australia and from then on the story has been more or less the same. This time, the Faf du Plessis-led side is not counted among the favourites to lift the trophy, but its bowling battery has all bases covered and looks threatening, especially in English conditions.
Strengths: Led by Rabada, who took the Indian Premier League by storm, scalping 25 wickets in 12 matches before picking up a back injury, South Africa this year is placing huge emphasis on its bowling attack. The pace trio of Rabada, Dale Steyn and Lungi Ngidi will be expected to fire on all cylinders and make the most of English conditions although more often than not, it would find flat decks to deal with. Coming to spinners, du Plessis would look no further than Tahir who ruled the IPL with the ball, returning as the highest wicket-taker with 26 scalps to his name from 17. Among the batsmen, skipper Faf and wicketkeeper batsman Quinton de Kock have been in good form in the IPL.
Weaknesses: South Africa’s middle order is not strong enough, although there is no dearth of experience with the likes of David Miller and JP Duminy around. However, it lacks proven match winners. In Andile Phehlukwayo, it has a batting all-rounder who has done well since the 2015 World Cup with an average of 31.3 with the bat and 29.8 with the ball. South Africa also picked 36-year old Hashim Amla despite his poor form and left out Reeze Hendricks who played 18 consecutive ODIs before being axed ahead of its recent match against Sri Lanka in March.
Opportunities: South Africa does have match winners in Rabada, Tahir and du Plessis who as captain has won 11 of its 13 series. Rabada is desperate to further raise his stock as the best pacer in the world by winning the biggest prize in the sport, while 40-year old leg-spinner Tahir is as passionate as anyone for any team he plays for. Champion quick Steyn, 35, would also hope to stay fit and break the jinx to lift the World Cup and possibly end his glittering career on a high. Steyn needs just four wickets to break the 200-barrier at the World Cup.
Threats: South Africa does have experience on its side, be it in bowling or batting. But injuries to pacers -- all three of Rabada, Steyn and Ngidi will be coming on the back of nursing niggles -- could prove to be a bane. Its batters also haven’t been in great form and with other teams having strong match winners in their ranks, who are also in better form, this could be a big threat.
Squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Rassie van der Dussen, JP Duminy, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir.