South Africa ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 profile

As it stands, South Africa’s 2018 ODI win record equals Scotland’s and out of all other ODI sides stands above only Sri Lanka, U.A.E, West Indies and Zimbabwe. That said, due to the multi season calculations that make up the ODI rankings, they are currently still sitting in fourth position. However you dress it up though, South Africa are having an average run up to the ICC World Cup 2019 due to kick off in England and Wales next May. And that average is exactly 50/50.

Form aside, South Africa also has a long track record of falling at the penultimate hurdle in previous World Cups. In half of all the competitions they have competed in they have fallen short at the semi-final stage. The reasons for that lack of success are various but current ODI captain, Faf du Plessis believes there is only one solution that will see them lifting the trophy as victors in July. Courageous cricket!

Part of the 2015 World Cup side that were beaten by New Zealand in the semi-finals, Du Plessis is acutely aware of what is required:

“For me, you can see in the current group there are some young, courageous players in there. I believe that is the way we’ll win the World Cup; to really go there without all the baggage and go ‘these are the most talented and courageous cricketers’ and play a style of cricket that doesn’t limit us from being so mentally challenged by going to a World Cup every time.

“Because, let’s be honest, that’s probably the only hurdle we haven’t overcome is the mental aspect of it. We’ve always been skilfully right up there, just lacking in crucial aspects of the game. That’s why my message is to free players up mentally, try get them to a space where they’re not fearing failing.

“I’ve been involved in two World Cups now where we’ve tried two different approaches, from leading up to the tournament and a mental approach. I certainly have seen the good, the benefits, and bad from both of them.”

It seems that a freedom to express oneself and a loosening of the shackles is a message spreading throughout the ODI world. That is exactly the mantra repeated by Eoin Morgan to his highly successful England side. Perhaps unlike England though, with their swashbuckling batting lineup seen as the key, the prime emphasis for the Proteas Captain will be his strike bowling unit.

“I think if you look at Pakistan who won the Champions Trophy, your bowling unit is going to play a massive role,” 

“We went there [Champions Trophy] with probably the best batting line-up in the world – I think we had four of the top ten batters, so we were feeling very confident in the batting unit we had. But the ability to get wickets in those conditions seemed to be the ten percenter, so that’s why we’re looking at guys who can get you wickets at any stage of a game.

“From a batting point of view, try and have as long a batting line-up as you can. That’s probably why England will call themselves favourites, because they have a very long batting line-up. It’s a little different with our team we don’t have those guys who are all-rounders.”

The right balance between youthful raw talent and fearlessness and a cool head on veteran shoulders is always tricky. And for that reason, Du Plessis still sees a key role for Dale Steyn. His ultimate bowling line up is still to be decided however:

“We probably need one more fast bowler. You probably need three fast bowlers in your squad, over the next two series; we’ll see who grabs that opportunity.”

Speaking of veterans, South African legend Alan Donald sees their chances having diminished quite substantially at the news this year of the retirement of the incredible AB De Villiers after a dazzling fourteen year career. 

“AB’s a massive, enormous loss. I spoke to him last year and he was pretty adamant he wanted to play in the World Cup. So, I half expected him to give South Africa real hope that they could win the World Cup.

“I don’t think they are totally out of it. But without AB de Villiers, with him in the team they would have had a huge chance.

“But it’s his choice and I respect that. He just said he was tired, He has a very young family, and maybe he just realised it was his time now. It happens to all of us. And that you’ve got to respect.

“He’s given South Africa plenty; he has won many games off the back of his own bat. His brilliance, his flair, it will be missed. And it will hurt South Africa not having him here next year.

“But it’s also a hugely selfless decision. Knowing AB he’s as dead-on as they come. He can walk away with his head held high. He’s achieved everything in the game.”

And for several reasons, home turf, an ultra aggressive batting mentality amongst others, Donald feels it is England’s World Cup to lose.

“I really do feel that if ever they [England] had the chance to win a World Cup, it’s definitely now,” 

“I reckon in their own backyard they will be very tough to beat. The way they take on one-day internationals now it’s a different England from the one I’ve seen.

“I’ll be honest, given what I faced back in the day; I wouldn’t have thought they could get to this point. But there’s something about them that I like.

“They play a very aggressive brand of one-day cricket. And my gut feeling is that they will go a long way in this World Cup.

“The skill is stupendous for most teams now. But England for me, through Eoin Morgan and the coaching staff have brought a different beast to it.”

Time will tell if Du Plessis’ men can turn around their current so-so form and produce the goods at the ICC World Cup 2019. Their upcoming fixtures against, Australia, Pakistan and finally Sri Lanka will be a real proving ground. If they are able to get their semi-final monkey off their back and play with the freedom and courage he is asking of them, then their chances could be very good indeed.

Expat Sport’s Dan McTiernan explores the Proteas’ challenges, a revival ideology, the impact of the international retirement of a titan of South African cricket and the search for attack bowling reinforcements, in the countdown to the World Cup.