Published: Apr 18, 2019, 10:19 AM (IST)
Edited: Apr 18, 2019, 10:19 AM (IST)
South Africa will today announce their 15-man squad for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.
The major debating point is the form of veteran Hashim Amla, who faces stiff competition from Reeza Hendricks.
Amla, 36, managed to score only 51 runs in four innings in South Africa’s Test series defeat to Sri Lanka earlier this year and did not play in the first three ODIs against the tourists, although CSA stressed he had not been dropped. Hendricks, 29, has scored 455 runs from 18 ODIs at an average of 26.76 with one century and two fifties.
There is also some doubt over the fitness of Lungi Ngidi and Anrch Nortje, the two fast bowlers sidelined with injury. If they are due to be fit before the South African team departs for England in May, Ngidi and Nortje should be included in the World Cup squad.
The certainties are skipper Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn. Aiden Markram’s hot List A form marks him out as a candidate for opening the innings at the World Cup, and in the middle order Rassie van der Dussen is set too. The all-round trio of Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorious look likely to be picked. Imran Tahir and Tabraiz Shamsi will be the two spin bowlers.
Ahead of the announcement of South Africa’s World Cup team, here is the predicted squad:
BATSMEN
Faf du Plessis (capt), David Miller, JP Duminy, Hashim Amla/Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen
WICKETKEEPER
Quinton de Kock
ALLROUNDERS
Chris Morris, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlulwayo
FAST BOWLERS
Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje
SPIN BOWLERS
Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi
South Africa likely World Cup squad:
Faf du Plessis (capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), David Miller, JP Duminy, Reeza Hendricks/Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Chris Morris, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi
South Africa likely World Cup XI:
1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Aiden Markram, 3 Hashim Amla/Reeza Hendricks, 4 Faf du Plessis (capt), 5 JP Duminy, 6 David Miller, 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Chris Morris, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Imran Tahir
South Africa’s World Cup fixtures:
May 24: (warm-up) South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Cardiff
May 26: (warm-up) South Africa vs West Indies, Bristol
May 30: South Africa vs England, The Oval
June 5: South Africa vs India, Southampton
June 10: South Africa vs West Indies, Southampton
June 15: South Africa vs Afghanistan, Cardiff
June 19: South Africa vs New Zealand, Birmingham
June 23: South Africa vs Pakistan, Lord’s
June 28: South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Durham
July 6: South Africa vs Australia, Manchester
For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE
