South Africa name Hashim Amla in 15-man World Cup squad
South Africa will open their World Cup account against England at The Oval on May the 30th with accomplished veteran Hashim Amla in the squad. His inclusion was the final piece of the team jigsaw still under debate for the Proteas as they headed into the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales.
Amla has proved a prolific and accomplished servant of South African one-day international cricket, having amassed nigh on 8000 runs with a batting average that hovers at just under 50. While he has battled for form lately, with the past twelve months of a glittering career dogged by inconsistency, it was his immense experience and undoubted pedigree that sealed the deal as far as the selectors were concerned.
Although, Amla’s inclusion scotched any possibility of a World Cup place for Reeza Hendricks, the 29-year-old had who had made the very best possible start in terms of establishing himself as a credible potential replacement for South Africa’s elder cricketing statesman. Hendricks hit a century on his ODI debut; however he too has hit a dip in form with a fairly lacklustre average of 26 over his 18 ODIs.
South Africa squad announced for ICC Cricket World Cup 2019:
Faf du Plessis (Captain), Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock (Wicketkeeper), Hashim Amla, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, JP Duminy, Dwaine Pretorius, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, [Anrich Nortje now replaced by *Chris Morris*], Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi
Amla’s presence in and amongst, offers South Africa three robust opening pairing combinations, along with Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock. De Kock has been in excellent shape, in South Africa’s last ODI engagement against Sri Lanka he struck one century and three fifties in five innings. It is therefore likely that De Kock will secure one of the opening slots, in partnership with either Amla or Markram.
Captain Faf du Plessis also has a plethora of pace bowling options at his disposal; the roster of selections includes Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje (*Now Chris Morris), Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn.
Both Nortje and Ngidi picked up injuries while playing in the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL), unfortunately Expat Sport has learned [7th May] that Norte has now been ruled out; however Ngidi is well on the road to fitness. All-rounder JP Duminy, who was recovering from shoulder surgery, has also been selected.
Imran Tahir at 40 years old will head up the Proteas spinners, with Tabraiz Shamsi as either match partner or back-up dependent on conditions, and there is also an experienced fall back in part-time off-spinner Duminy.
Duminy firing on all cylinders will be crucial to the middle order, along with du Plessis. While Rassie van der Dussen has begun his international career in some style and carrying that confidence forward would hope to continue plundering runs at a similar rate over the World Cup. Plus the feisty David Miller who offers both a turbo-charge to the batting unit, and exceptional cover as a back-up wicket-keeper to Quinton de Kock in the event of any mishap. All ably supported by solid all-rounder options in Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo alongside Duminy.
Fast bowler Dale Steyn, commenting to reporters prior to the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL match in Kolkata at the pre-selection stage had much to say about the team’s potential to break their World Cup duck this time round.
“We’re going with good expectations.” If you’re not going to the World Cup expecting to win, then you probably shouldn’t go. But I’m not going to lie, we have some fantastic players.”
“We’re led by Faf, who’s been in fantastic form lately. And in the Indian Premier League, Imran Tahir has been right up there in terms of wickets.
“From Quinton de Kock all the way down to number 11, they’re all match-winners. We just need to go there and hope a bit of luck – weather, a missed no-ball – goes your way, and you could win the tournament.
“You look at KG (Rabada); he’s been bowling exceptionally well. Kagiso is a wunderkind. Just hope he continues that kind of form,” Steyn concluded.
South Africa squad current stats:
Specialist-Batsmen:
Faf du Plessis (Captain – Middle-order left-hand batsman, 134 ODIs Batting average 46.54 Highest Score 185), Aiden Markram, (Opening right-hand batsman, 18 ODIs Batting average 29.58 Highest Score 67 not out), Quinton de Kock (Wicketkeeper- left-hand batsman, 106 ODIs Batting average 45.56 Highest Score 178), Hashim Amla (Top-order right-hand batsman, 174 ODIs Batting average 49.74 Highest Score 159), (Rassie van der Dussen, Opening right-hand batsman, 9 ODIs Batting average 88.25 Highest Score 93), David Miller (Middle-order left-hand batsman, 120 ODIs Batting average 38.96 Highest Score 139),
All-rounders:
JP Duminy (Left-hand batsman, 194 ODIs Batting average 37.38 Highest Score 150 not out: Right-arm offbreak 68 wickets Best bowling figures 4 for 16), Andile Phehlukwayo (Left-hand batsman, 43 ODIs Batting average 32.00 Highest Score 69: Right-arm fast-medium 54 wickets Best bowling figures 5 for 22), *Chris Morris [called up to replace injured fast bowler Anrich Nortje see ‘Latest News’ below] (Right-hand batsman, 34 ODIs Batting average 19.65 Highest Score 62: Right-arm fast 35 wickets Best bowling figures 4 for 31)*
Specialist-Bowlers:
Dwaine Pretorius (Right-arm medium-fast 19 ODIs 24 wickets Best bowling figures 3 for 5), Dale Steyn, (Right-arm fast 125 ODIs 196 wickets Best bowling figures 6 for 39), Kagiso Rabada (Right-arm fast 66 ODIs 106 wickets Best bowling figures 6 for 16), Lungi Ngidi (Right-arm fast 18 ODIs 34 wickets Best bowling figures 4 for 51), Anrich Nortje (Right-arm fast 4 ODIs 8 wickets Best bowling figures 3 for 57), Imran Tahir (Right-arm legbreak googly 98 ODIs 162 wickets Best bowling figures 4 for 45), Tabraiz Shamsi (Left-arm slow chinaman 15 ODIs 19 wickets Best bowling figures 4 for 33),
*Latest news 7th May *- In a blow to the team Anrich Nortje has now been ruled out of the tournament because of a fractured thumb. All-rounder Chris Morris has been called up as his replacement.
Nortje who reached speeds of 150kph (93.2mph) and beyond bowling in the 2018 Mzansi Super League and was equally impressive on his ODI debut in the Sri Lanka series, standing in for Steyn will represent a big loss to Faf du Plessis. Although that said, while stand-in Morris has less pace he has greater ODI experience and superior stats because of that.
Third in the ICC ODI Rankings, South Africa, have not lost a one-day series in the past 12 months, encompassing home and away victories against Sri Lanka, a win down in Australia, and then back home again to overpower Pakistan and Zimbabwe.
Yet in terms of the ICC World Cup to date South Africa carries some interesting historic baggage.
It has in the past lost key games because of a misunderstanding of the rules governing rain interrupted and shortened, as well as rained off matches, a system known as Duckworth–Lewis, whereby the required run-rate requirement was calculated incorrectly. The Proteas also fell out of the competition as a result of a comedy of errors relating to run outs.
Four years ago, they came up short in a semi-final thriller when New Zealand’s Grant Elliott launched Steyn for six off the penultimate ball of the match to claim a dramatic win.
Nonetheless, South Africa is a side richly endowed, enjoying the company of several genuine match-winners and given that essential slice of luck, they certainly have the ability to bring their World Cup winners’ desire to fruition in England and Wales.
Expat Sport’s Mac McTiernan takes a long look at a very talented South Africa side with a winning mentality that seems more than ready to try and lift the trophy at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
