World Cup Teams Watch – South Africa: Shades of doubt loom large as youngsters provide hope

Ever since South Africa joined the World Cup party in 1992, coming out of their isolation due to their infamous apartheid regime, it has been one of the most impressive sides in world cricket. Yet, when it boils down to crunch moments, the knockouts have proven to be a hurdle too far to cross for the Proteas.

Come 2023, the Rainbow Nation barely managed to sneak themselves in the World Cup after a couple of victories against Netherlands and England earlier in the year but if we take a look at the side’s records in 2022, they were ailing in the bottom half of the race for the World Cup contenders.

A side that is always brimming with hopes will need nerves of steel when they arrive to the tournament and with two of their main fast bowlers, Sisanda Magala and Anrich Nortje being ruled out of the tournament due to a left-knee niggle and a lower-back injury respectively, it is going to be a baptism by fire for the remainder of the side who hope to get rid of an infamous tag that has been pinned on them for a while now.

Recent form:

South Africa’s recent form would tell you that the team is ready for the bigger stages but how well can they continue delivering day in day out would be a matter of great interest. They went down against Australia in the first two ODIs of the series but were quick to gain footing in less than no time whatsoever as they turned the tide around and defeated Australia 3-2, securing three victories and all of them coming by more than 100 runs. In the only warm-up match played, they went down fighting against New Zealand in a rain-shortened affair.

X Factors:

Heinrich Klaasen

It is needless to say but Klaasen has been South Africa’s best bet with the willow in his hands in 2023 that has already seen him conjuring a couple of tons in ODIs. He has scored at an average of 58.55 in this year while smashing the cherry at a staggering strike rate of 151.43. Add to this the crazy sheen of smacking 25 sixes and South Africa will depend on Klaasen for a lot of runs.

Gerald Coetzee

Gerald Coetze’s selection ahead of the seasoned Wayne Parnell did come as a surprise, however, there are a few things about Gerald that makes him a threat. An out and out pacer capable of bowling 145 kph regularly, Coetzee’s pace could be quite a menace for the batters - and add to that the youth of exuberance, and the batters will need to be wary of some chin music coming their way in this World Cup. 

Tabraiz Shamsi

Whenever you are arriving in India, your spinners play a crucial role in the side and Shamsi is one of those bowlers who doesn’t care how many runs he is going for but he will keep on searching for those wickets. In the last five matches that he has played across ODIs and T20Is combined, he has clinched eight wickets.

Areas to work on:

They have a flurry of questions in their middle-order that has been a major source of worry for the side. With all said and done, the engine room is overtly reliable on the shoulders of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller and if the duo fail to turn up, they could find themselves in a bit of bother.

Squad for World Cup:

Temba Bavuma (C), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (WK), Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams, Andile Phehlukwayo