Perhaps the stage is set for a Proteas triumph

The Proteas' t20 world cup squad

Captaincy and opening the batting are arguably the two hardest jobs to do in cricket on the field. There is seldom chat about which jobs would be the hardest to do off the cricket field and I think selection has to be one of them. Especially when selecting a South African team. Too many times, the South African fanbase is divided by selection for many varied reasons. However, for the first time ever since I started following the Proteas, there are very few people who are unhappy about the World Cup squad. Well, I guess there is always going to be that small group that is never happy.

Convenor of selectors announced quite a balanced South African side to participate in the T20 World Cup in Australia. The squad takes me back to 2015 where selectors picked an almost perfect squad. I still feel a few bad decisions at that World Cup stood in the way of that team’s success there. The 2015 team is probably the best we have had in a World Cup in terms of player pedigree. Let me not delve any deeper into the 2015 World Cup to avoid opening a can of worms and in the process end up opening old wounds that are yet to heal. The selectors have managed to answer a lot of questions that they needed to answer heading into the World Cup, and they managed to cover most if not all the bases. South African fans would not be naive to fancy the side’s chances at the World Cup when considering the squad and the fact that, at the last World Cup, the team was only knocked out due to Net Run Rate. Something Temba and his men will look to rectify.

THE SQUAD

While there may not be any surprises, it is worth noting that a young Tristan Stubbs will be making his world cup debut with just 6 matches under his name. I cannot remember a time where the Proteas have gone in with an inexperienced youngster to a World Cup. It is always the tried, tested and failed. It is pleasing to see a selection like that of Tristan Stubbs because for many world cups we have seen experienced players get picked and still fail. Maybe Rassie’s injury made things easier, but this is still a selection worthy of praise.

THE OPENERS

Convenor of selectors confirmed that Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma and Reeza Hendricks would be the openers in the squad. This is probably where it gets tricky for match day selection. Quinton and Temba have not been in good form for the Proteas T20I side, but Quinny is our best keeper and Temba is our captain. Apart from just his current form, Quinny tends to go missing in World Cups, but he remains one of those guys you cannot just drop because of the potential damage they can cause to opposition. Dropping Quinny would also mean you will have both Reeza and Temba opening. I do not think a Reeza-Temba pairing is ideal even with Reeza’s form. If we are to try and push for a higher Net Run Rate this time, someone like Quinton will be crucial. Provided he finds some form. It is however, going to be difficult for the coaching staff to choose between the three openers. Okay, between the two openers because, as captain, Temba is as good as confirmed.

THE BOWLERS

With the amount of depth in the fast-bowling department and the recent success of the spin twins, the Proteas think tank will really have a tough time choosing which bowlers to go with. Do they persist with two spinners, or do they play 1 and hope Aiden and or Stubbo can give them a few overs which could prove risky considering how well the two specialist spinners have done with the ball. It becomes even tougher when it comes to choosing which seamers to play. At the moment, Lungisani Ngidi probably picks himself and the choice would then have to be between the seamers. This will be a good headache for the selectors. Selection might just have to boil down to economy rate.

The ALLROUNDERS

This is easily that one aspect of the squad that affects the real balance. A problem we currently face is one that can only be solved by the Potara earrings and or the fusion dance. Sadly, none of these are possible. Our allrounders would make a really good allrounder if they were one person. The handy yet brutal batting of a Dwaine Pretorius combined with the swing, pace and death bowling of a Wayne Parnell could really be a force. Dare I say, even when adding the change up bowling of an Andile Phehlukwayo to that would give us an almost if not complete white ball allrounder. However, we sit with 2 allrounders in the squad. Having both in our top 6 could get us into real trouble and playing one of them as a specialist bowler intensifies the challenge of trying to pick a seamer to partner Lungi and the spinners.

The number of good headaches that come with this squad are exciting because on a given day, anyone in the side can make a match winning contribution. It will important that we get our combinations right and make sure that we make good decisions on the day.

My Playing XI would look like this.

1.       Quinton de Kock(wk)

2.       Temba Bavuma©

3.       Rilee Rossouw

4.       Aiden Markram

5.       David Miller

6.       Tristan Stubbs

7.       Dwaine Pretorius

8.       Keshav Maharaj

9.       Kagiso Rabada

10.   Lungisani Ngidi

11.   Tabraiz Shamsi

The decisions made on match days at the World Cup could be the major deciding factor when it comes to the Proteas. The team we pick on the day and how we choose to play on the day will be particularly important. The squad picked is not perfect but is a good balanced squad. As a South African, I look at the squad and I cannot help but to believe in our chances. Perhaps the stage is set for a Proteas triumph. Looking at how Proteas fans are split when it comes to the Coach and the Captain. A T20 World Cup victory could very well send a message to Mark and Temba’s detractors.