Expectations
In the context of the 50-over World Cup, South Africa has a history of reaching the semi-finals on four occasions. They are yet to go beyond that. Over the years, they have had a mix of bad luck and nerve-wracking setbacks in crucial situations, which earned the ‘label’ of chokers. India 2023 is an opportunity for South Africa to shed this unwanted tag. The Proteas aren’t among the favourites to clinch the title, with teams like India, England, and Australia carrying that expectation. So they are the underdogs.
Where they finished last time
It was a dismal campaign, where South Africa finished seventh out of 10 teams in the league stage. They won just three of nine matches and were never seriously in reckoning for a place in the last-four stage.
Strengths and weaknesses
Meaty middle-order: South Africa have a formidable middle-order featuring Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller, not to forget Quinton de Kock at the top. All of them come into the tournament in good form. They have a reputation for performing well against spin, a crucial skill for success in Indian conditions.
A matured captain: Temba Bavuma’s two-year tenure as captain has allowed him to develop a deep understanding of his squad and identify the right players for pressure situations. His leadership, coupled with a changed batting approach, has transformed him into an effective leader. As the team enters the big stage, Bavuma’s leadership will be one of South Africa’s greatest strengths.
Nortje void hard to fill: The absence of Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala from the fast bowling unit significantly impacts its potency. While Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee, Lizaad Williams, Marco Jansen, and Andile Phekhlukwayo provide varied seam bowling options, only Rabada, Ngidi and Jansen have experience of playing in India. This lack of familiarity in Indian conditions is a concern for the fast bowling group. South Africa will sorely miss Nortje, one of their most reliable death bowlers.
Star turn
Heinrich Klaasen: He is in red-hot form at the moment, having just blasted 174 in 83 balls against Australia. This dynamic right-handed batter showcased his skills on Indian soil earlier this year. This makes him a threat for other teams in the World Cup. In the 2023 IPL season, he amassed 448 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 12 matches, at an impressive average of 49.78 and strike rate of 177.08.
New kid on the block
Gerald Coetzee: This will be his debut appearance in a 50-over World Cup. In his relatively brief international career, Coetzee has earned a reputation as an X-factor player, who has the potential to make a significant impact. Known for his aggressive bowling style, he sometimes hits a challenging length that poses difficulties for the batters. With an average of 29.45 and 11 wickets in six games, Coetzee has shown promise with the ball. He also brings depth to the batting line-up, being a handy lower-order batter. This dual capability makes him a player to watch out for.
Where they should finish
At this moment, they are not among the favourites to reach the semi-finals. But one upset here, another washout there and you never know!
Schedule
Oct 7: Versus Sri Lanka, Delhi
Oct 12: Versus Australia, Lucknow
Oct 17: Versus Netherlands, Dharamsala
Oct 21: Versus England, Mumbai
Oct 24: Versus Bangladesh, Mumbai
Oct 27: Versus Pakistan, Chennai
Nov 1: Versus New Zealand, Pune
Nov 5: Versus India, Kolkata
Nov 10: Versus Afghanistan, Ahmedabad
Full squad
Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams.
Likely first-choice XI
Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi.