Published: May 23, 2019, 12:03 PM (IST)
Edited: May 23, 2019, 12:03 PM (IST)
South Africa are a team who have traditionally started the ICC World Cups as one of the strongest and favourites. But this time around, the hype around them is missing. In the lead up to the tournament, their lead pacers have been plagued by injuries and add to that, their batting looks fragile – that too in a tournament which is being expected to be dominated by the batsmen. Add to that a painful history at the showpiece event. Time after time, after a strong start, they have fallen in the knockout stages and thus the tag of ‘chokers’.
The players themselves are acknowledging they aren’t the title contenders. In 2015, they made it to the last-four only to be beaten by co-hosts New Zealand in a dramatic semi-final. A weight of history heavy on their shoulders, can the Proteas defy the odds and go all the way to a maiden trophy?
World Cup record: P 55 W 35 L 18 T 2 NR 0
SQUAD: Faf du Plessis (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), David Miller, JP Duminy, Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Lungi Ngidi, Chris Morris, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi
Likely starting XI: 1. Quinton de Kock, 2. Aiden Markram, 3. Hashim Amla 4. Faf du Plessis (capt), 5. JP Duminy, 6. David Miller, 7. Andile Phehlukwayo, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. Dale Steyn, 10. Lungi Ngidi, 11. Imran Tahir
Matches:
May 30 vs England, Kennington Oval, London
June 2 vs Bangladesh, Kennington Oval, London
June 5 vs India, The Rose Bowl, Southampton
June 10 vs West Indies, The Rose Bowl, Southampton
June 15 vs Afghanistan, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
June 19 vs New Zealand, Edgbaston, Birmingham
June 23 vs Pakistan, Lord’s, London
June 28 vs Sri Lanka, Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street
July 6 vs Australia, Old Trafford, Manchester
World Cup standings: 1992 – Semi-final, 1996 – Quarter-final, 1999 – Semi-final, 2003 – Out in group stage, 2007 – Semi-final, 2011 – Quarter-final, 2015 – Semi-final
Most runs: AB de Villiers (1207 runs in 23 matches)
Most wickets: Allan Donald (38 in 25 matches)
