South Africa is still hunting for the maiden ICC trophy. In detail, we look at South Africa’s ICC World Cup 2023 squad.
South African cricket fans have long waited for an ICC trophy. The Proteas have reached the semi-finals in 1992, 1999, 2007, and 2015. But they are yet to play a World Cup final. The current South Africa squad isn’t considered a favourite, but can the Proteas spring a surprise in India?
Cricket fans will have expectations from the South African side, which has produced quality cricket in World Cups over the years. Where do you think the Proteas will finish in the 50-over mega event? Make predictions on an ODI World Cup betting platform and earn exciting rewards daily.
South Africa 15-Man World Cup 2023 Squad
Cricket South Africa (CSA) recently announced their 15-man squad that will participate in the ODI World Cup in India. The team, led by Temba Bavuma, has a mix of experienced and exciting prospects. Wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock has already announced that he will retire from ODI cricket after the tournament.
Here’s the South Africa squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup:
- Temba Bavuma (captain)
- Gerald Coetzee
- Quinton de Kock
- Reeza Hendricks
- Marco Jansen
- Heinrich Klaasen
- Sisanda Magala
- Keshav Maharaj
- Aiden Markram
- David Miller
- Lungi Ngidi
- Anrich Nortje
- Kagiso Rabada
- Tabraiz Shamsi
- Rassie van der Dussen
Another exciting Big Bash League (BBL) season will begin in December. Check out the full BBL schedule for the 2023-23 season.
Let us look at the 15 players one by one:
Temba Bavuma:
The Proteas skipper, who doesn’t have an impressive white-ball record in India, is one of the mainstays in the South Africa batting unit. He can dig in and register a big knock. The 114 against Australia recently was a great example of Bavuma’s strength in the 50-over format.
Quinton de Kock:
The former Proteas skipper is one of the prominent names in the 15-member squad. He is integral to South Africa’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals in the 2023 World Cup. With over 6000 runs in the 50-over format, De Kock has proven that he can dominate the best bowling attacks.
Rassie van der Dussen:
Dussen, who bats at No. 3, is the most crucial player in the Proteas batting unit. A lot will depend on him if South Africa loses early wickets and needs a big partnership. The former Rajasthan Royals batter has a stellar ODI average of 57.
Aiden Markram:
Markram is the middle-order mainstay for South Africa. The part-time spinner, next in line to succeed Bavuma as captain, will most likely come out to bat at four and would like to play at least 20 overs, setting up the base on which the likes of Miller will launch their counter.
Heinrich Klaasen:
Klaasen can be an excellent middle-order batter who can put the step on the paddle when conditions go south. He usually bats at five and can make the most of the batting-friendly conditions available in India, where the wicketkeeper-batter averages 69 in ODIs.
David Miller:
Miller is undoubtedly one of the best finishers in white-ball cricket. Being an IPL regular, the Proteas batter is no stranger to Indian conditions. With a strike rate of more than 100 in ODIs, the 34-year-old is one of the biggest threats in South Africa’s batting line-up.
Kagiso Rabada:
With close to 150 wickets in ODIs, Rabada is the most experienced player in the bowling department. He generates raw pace with his conventional bowling action and extracts swing with the new ball. Like De Kock, Rabada is another player South Africa fans have pinned their World Cup hopes on.
Anrich Nortje:
Nortje is likely the second-in-command to Rabada. The pacer is used to conditions in India thanks to exploits with Delhi Capitals in IPL. He has extreme raw pace, which will help him in his pursuit to become the top wicket-taker in the upcoming World Cup.
Lungi Ngidi:
Just like his fellow fast bowlers, Ngidi has played in the IPL and is not alien to the conditions. The right-arm fast bowler, who can be lethal with pace and bounce, and his strike rate of 29, which means a wicket every 30 balls, makes him one of the players to watch out for.
Keshav Maharaj:
The front-line spinner of South Africa, Maharaj, will have all eyes on himself on the Indian pitches. He can extract turn and bounce and will be eyeing to impress in spinner-friendly conditions. The left-arm spinner will be playing in his first-ever ODI World Cup.
Tabraiz Shamsi:
Shamsi is the second spinner in the South African fold. He has been a regular in the white-ball squad for a long time. The Johannesburg-born wrist spinner has improved his game thanks to playing in franchise cricket across the world. In Indian conditions, Shamsi will pose a danger for the batters.
Reeza Hendricks:
Hendricks is an excellent white-ball opener, slamming a century on his debut against Sri Lanka. The 34-year-old has an excellent record in subcontinent conditions. Unfortunately, he might warm the bench until the management doesn’t break the current opening stand of Bavuma and De Kock.
Sisanda Magala:
Magala is another exciting pace option in the Proteas squad. He is excellent at bowling the death overs and has impressed in the few ODIs played so far. But with Rabada, Nortje, and Ngidi in the squad, the Chennai Super Kings pacer’s opportunities will be limited in the playing 11.
Marco Jansen:
The lanky pacer is a player to watch out for in the South African squad. On Indian pitches, the 23-year-old left arm-pacer can put batsmen in trouble with his pace and accuracy. Jansen is also a handy batsman, as he has registered a few 30+ scores in ODIs.
Gerald Coetzee:
With seven wickets in three ODIs, Coetzee is an exciting prospect in the South Africa 15-member squad. The fast bowler is unlikely to feature in the playing 11 but adds excellent strength to South Africa’s pace department. He has extreme pace at his disposal and can trouble the batters in Indian pitches.
Young batters Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs didn’t make the cut.
Concluding Thoughts
The South African team looks pacey with the likes of Rabada, Nortje, Ngidi, Jansen, and Magala. When it comes to spin, they have two front-line spinners, Maharaj and Shamsi. The batting looks formidable, with De Kock, Bavuma, Markram, Dussen, and Klaasen being the big names.