The South African cricket team will have its task cut out in the 2024 edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 to be played in the West Indies and USA. South Africa will come into the tournament on the back of a 3-0 series defeat against West Indies. The Proteas were outplayed by the hosts and there were few positives for the visitors. Despite a few key players missing, the manner in which they lost the series is telling. South Africa will be led by Aidan Markham, who played for Sunrise’s Hyderabad in the 2024 Indian Premier League season. SRH lost in the final.

South Africa have named a quality squad with several interesting assets in the mix. Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen are the forces with the bat for the side. SA will hope to have a fit, Kagiso Rabada, who suffered an injury during the IPL 2024 season and had to return home. SA are a team that have a powerful batting line-up but there are shortcomings as well.

Across eight editions of the T20 World Cup, the Proteas have managed to reach two semi-finals (2009 and 2014). However, they have suffered round 2 exits in the remaining events (Super 8s, Super 10s and Super 12s). In each of the last three editions. In the 2024 edition, SA are clubbed in Group D alongside Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands and Nepal.

Here, we analyze the South Africa squad for the T20 World Cup.

A look at South Africa’s 15-member squad

Squad: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs

Heinrich Klaasen is South Africa’s trump card

Heinrich Klassen has matured into a fine cricketer who is one of the best in business. Unlike the start of his career, Klaasen has grown to understand and tune his game accordingly. He can go bonkers and his approach against spin makes him one of the lethal batters out there. A finisher, Klaasen puts a price on his wicket. He has impressed in the IPL across the last two editions. His stocks in ODIs have also increased. Klaasen can make a real difference for the Proteas.

Strengths of the South Africa cricket team

South Africa’s desired top-six batting can challenge any side and give them a run for their money. The experienced Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock will open the innings. Hendricks recently surpassed 6,500 T20 runs and is a quality figure. With four tons and 49 fifties, there is a player with an eye for big scores. His strike rate is 128-plus.

De Kock is the main batter in that top order. He has been in the scheme for things for a long time. With over 9600 runs, he remains one of South Africa’s best players. He has six tons and 61 fifties. De Kock owns close to 400 sixes (376) and 1000-plus fours (SR: 137.92). He is South Africa’s highest scorer in T20Is and is closing in on 2500 runs.

Markram comes in at number three for South Africa. This is a crucial position for Markram as he needs to be the fulcrum of the side. He owns a decent average of 38-plus and his strike rate is healthy (150-plus). Tristan Stubbs can be the answer at number four. The youngster has a lot of pedigree and could be one of the emerging players of the tournament. He comes into the picture with a quality run in the IPL.

Klaasen and David Miller are the two of the finest finishers. They will don the number five and six positions. Klaasen owns close to 4500 T20 runs and his strike rate is over 150. As per ESPNcricinfo, his strike rate is 196.42 in the last four overs in T20 cricket. As mentioned, he is an able player of spin. His strike rate is 158.93 versus spinners and he averages 37.41.

Miller can come in at number six. He owns a truckload of runs (10276). He averages 35-plus and his strike rate is close to 139. Miller has smoked over 450 sixes. In the last four overs, Miller has over 3500 runs, and his strike rate is 184.43. He is the only batter with over 100 sixes for South Africa in T20Is.

SA also have Ryan Rickelton as an option with the bat. He is an impressive figure and owns over 2200 runs with a strike rate close to 137.

SA have a quality spin attack on offer. Keshav Maharaj is their main spinner. He can be highly accurate and have control in terms of conceding runs. The left-arm spinner owns 132 scalps. Tabraiz Shamsi has a lot of experience. He owns 294 T20 wickets and is SA’s wicket-taking bowler. Bjorn Fortuin has over 150 scalps and can come in whenever needed.

SA’s pace attack has depth. Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee are the best bets. They can purchase help and be amongst the wickets. SA have three more pacers in the mix. Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman are decent options. They can be rotated as per the situation.

Weaknesses of the South Africa cricket team

South Africa don’t have quality all-rounders who can stake a claim and make things happen. They need to play six batters and go in with five bowlers. This makes Marco Jansen’s case crucial. He needs to deliver in that number seven position. Jansen has played just four T20Is for South Africa. If the left-arm pacer is ignored, then Maharaj can be the option. The left-arm spinner owns 700-plus runs from 161 T20s. His strike rate is 115 which is worrisome.

So the five bowlers SA will go with aren’t key figures in terms of giving those extra runs with the bat. This is a worry. The load, therefore, is on the front six players to go about and do the job.

SA can also struggle with the bat on slower surfaces. A bit like England, they are powerful on batting surfaces but could fumble a bit when the ball comes a bit slower. In the pace department, barring Rabada, one can see Nortje struggle as he came from the IPL conceding aplenty. Coetzee can also be plucked for runs.

A bit of depth in batting is also missing in this SA side especially when you look at the bench. These factors could undermine South Africa in the upcoming World Cup.

Author’s view: SA could head out in Super 8s

SA doesn’t have that balance. They are well stocked with their front six and a quality five-man attack but in between, things look murky. Do they have a bowler who can go out and give you wickets aplenty, like Shaheen Afridi or Jaspreet Bumrah? The answer is no. SA need to have the belief and play their brand of cricket but there are sides who are better placed and will be ahead in the pecking order. SA could head out in the Super 8s.

Players to watch out for

Tristan Stubbs: The promising batter impressed one and all in the IPL 2024 season, where he played all 14 matches for Delhi. Stubbs had an impressive average of 54 and he scored 378 runs at an impressive strike rate of 190.90. He hit three fifties. Stubbs smoked 24 fours and 26 sixes. Overall, in T20s, Stubbs has over 1800 runs, and his strike rate is 151-plus.

Kagiso Rabada: The SA fast bowler needs to lead the bowling attack. Rabada is SA’s best bet and he will need to provide the fireworks. In 201 T20s, Rabada has 251 wickets at 23.86. His economy rate is 8.12. In the first six overs, Rabada owns 69 wickets at 32.20. He would want to be more destructive. The last four overs have seen him pick 101 scalps at 17.22. He will be crucial at the death.

South Africa’s schedule for the T20 World Cup

June 3, Sri Lanka vs South Africa – Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York (8:00 PM IST)

June 8, Netherlands vs South Africa – Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York (8:00  PM IST)

June 10, South Africa vs Bangladesh – Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York (8:00 PM IST)

June 15, South Africa vs Nepal – Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent (5:00 AM IST)

Related