Here’s a fun fact: South Africa – a proud cricket nation with a rich history of producing a number of world-class one day players – has never appeared in an ICC 50-over World Cup grand finale.
That is a pretty amazing and unexplainable piece of sport history for a nation which has used the influence of sports to unite a race-torn country during the height of the apartheid.
A few decades ago, during the 1970s, the ICC suspended South Africa from International Cricket due to their separatist sports policies. You can imagine the composition of the team in those days and you may ask why is this relevant.
Fast forward to 2019, and the ‘Rainbow Nation’ is chasing their maiden World Cup title and at the forefront of the hunt is largely a none-white bowling attach which can rival any other for the tag of the best bowling unit in the tournament.
Leading the way is an exceptionally talented 23-year old fast bowler in Kagiso Rabada from Johannesburg who is currently at the top of the game in ODIs, ranked fifth in the world.
Joining him is another 23-year old, Lungi Ngidi, an imposing seamer who can clock 140s km either side of the new ball.
There is also Imran Tahir, the animated figure who can turn a game on its head for South Africa while Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi – all heirs of South Africa’s quota system – will join forces with the experienced Dale Steyn and Chris Morris to give their side an obvious edge.
The worry though for skipper Faf du Plessis and coach Ottis Gibson is their dubious batting line up.
Quinton de Kock’s imposing presence at the top of the order is reassuring but there were recent question marks hanging over his open partner Hashim Amla who has been severely criticized for his inability to up the ante.
Meanwhile, there’s no telling in how the right-handed Aiden Markram, who has played a handful of matches, will fare on the biggest stage, however, he should slot in at first drop.
The bulk of the work, it appears, will fall on the shoulders of De Plessis and the emerging 30-year-old Rassie Van Der Dussen, who has managed himself well since first appearing for South Africa earlier in 2019.
The coaching staff though will be hoping for fireworks and finishing roles from David Miller and his elder-statesman JP Duminy. Their campaign gets underway on Thursday in the tournament’s curtain raiser against the host in what is expected to be a keen contest between bat and ball – Jason Roy versus Rabada.
