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The time has come to evaluate the Proteas’ state of readiness for the World Cup, which will be hosted by England and Wales, and is set to run from May 30 to July 14.
Former Proteas batsman and Cobras coach Ashwell Prince and former Lions bowling coach Gordon Parsons run the rule over the team’s batting and bowling acumen.
Ashwell Prince
What’s to like about the batting?
There is a lot to like. Quinny (Quinton de Kock) is obviously in good form. He’s a quality player, but my concern is how much cricket he and Kagiso Rabada are playing. But I’m excited about the way Quinny is batting.
Faf du Plessis is batting well, David Miller will give them a lot of power, JP Duminy has batted nicely for us at the Cobras, and guys like Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram will provide youthful exuberance.
So, the selectors have tough choices. I believe there is enough batting there, it’s just a question of whether they get the balance right.
Criticism?
I am not in the camp, so I don’t know what the discussions are, but it looks like they want to go with three out-and-out quicks and Imran Tahir. I’m not sure if that’s the best balance. I like two all-rounders with a top six, which gives you a strong eight instead of a decent seven.
What do you recommend?
I put out a World Cup squad earlier and the surprise selection there was (Cobras all-rounder) George Linde.
I don’t always think a seam bowling all-rounder is necessary. The second all-rounder in my top eight could sometimes be a spinning all-rounder, and I think he could provide that.
I can never really see the two spinners they’ve selected, Tahir and Tabraiz Shamsi, playing in the same line-up. I can see Tahir and a spin bowler who can bat.
I’m just thinking ahead – at the start of the English summer, you’ll probably need to play two seam bowling all-rounders, but, by the end of the tournament, you might want a spin bowling all-rounder because the wickets will be getting tired.
Linde hasn’t even made an appearance for the national team yet, but that would be my recommendation.
Gordon Parsons
What’s to like about the bowling?
They’ve got two of the quickest bowlers in the world in Dale Steyn and Rabada – one has the experience to hand to the young player, and both bowl high-class, wicket-taking balls.
Steyn is still dangerous because he swings it around and Rabada was the No 1 bowler in the world. (Leg spinner) Tahir has been consistent.
It’s his swansong in the Proteas team, so he’ll be up for it and he has the experience. They’re all class bowlers, and you have Lungi Ngidi to back them up. So, what’s not to like? They have two fast bowlers who are high class and a wrist spinner of the highest order.
Criticism?
I’m not sure which way they’re going to go with the fifth bowler, but I wouldn’t like to go into any game with all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo having to bowl 10 overs. An option may be to go in with Duminy to split the 10 overs with him.
In Ngidi and Dwaine Pretorius, you probably have bowlers who haven’t been tested under pressure yet, but have good track records to suggest they can do a good job.
I doubt there’s a need to take a second wrist spinner as I don’t see them playing two spinners in England in June, but I think they’ll take them both.
I would opt for another seamer because in June there are strong winds and we all know English grounds have an up and down hill, which means somebody is going to have to run uphill and against the wind.
Phehlukwayo, Wiaan Mulder and Pretorius could do the job. I hope they consider this and not only pick out-and-out blasters who all want to bowl at one end.
What do you recommend?
For back-up options, you have a choice – do you take Anrich Nortje as an out-and-out blaster, Shamsi as optional wrist spin or someone like Mulder, who can cover both bases? I’d probably take Mulder, even if he’s not going to play, because he is the future going forward.
He will be happy to go and if you want to rest Duminy, he’ll bat; and if you want to rest a bowler, he’ll bowl.
