T20 World Cup 2021 Team Preview – South Africa

During every ICC event, the experts and critics would always put South Africa as one of the top four teams to enter the semifinals or even better, favorites to lift the title. The team boasted names such as Lance Klusener, Hansie Cronje, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, and AB de Villiers. Players who could outright win a match on their own. Apart from botching up semis, the team invariably had a great run till the league stage of the global event since 1992. Things though changed for South Africa during the last ICC event in 2019.

The team didn’t boast of star players, but they still were competitive under the able leadership of Faf du Plessis. The team still had players such as Quinton de Kock, Hashim, Amla Kagiso Rabada and David Miller. Yet the team stuttered and faltered in the tournament, and off-field news started to hog the limelight.

The cracks further widened when accusations were pointed to certain players during the SJN hearings, and the board was financially lagging. Amidst this transition period, the CSA announced Temba Bavuma as the captain and handed contracts to a flurry of newcomers. This year the experts and critics have not placed a bet on South Africa, and the media is constantly comparing Bavuma to the Springboks team. The diminutive batter, though, has answered all those comparisons with a smile and reckoned there is no weight of expectations, and that might just work during the T20 World Cup.

With that hope and optimism, Bavuma will lead his troops and try to put in spirited performances, with a bunch of new players who won’t carry the scars of the previous editions of World Cups.

Build-up form

South Africa have surprised themselves as well onlookers of the game by beating West Indies in the T20I series. The biggest trump card that emerged from those five T20Is was the performance of Tabraiz Shamsi. Usually, spinners don’t dominate the proceedings for South Africa, but here was this chinaman who was bamboozling the opposition by spinning a web. That series win against a top team like West Indies gave the team confidence of doing well.

The team next traveled to Sri Lanka and did well by beating them 3-0. Again spinners played a huge part and this time Shamsi had the support of Keshav Maharaj and George Linde. So the team has confidence and momentum with them ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Strength and Weakness

For over a long period, the team has relied on batters and all-rounder’s to take the team to victories. This time the scenario has changed as the selectors have opted to go with horses for courses policy. The team has three spinners and have backed Shamsi, Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin to come good in the UAE conditions.

The weakness lies in batting, as, apart from De Kock, there is not an outright match-winner in the team. Aiden Markram has looked good but how well he handles the pressure situations will be key. David Miller has also blown hot and cold. So the management would be hoping the batters to show more application.

Players to watch out for:

Adaptability and Flexibility in South Africa

With three spinners in the team, South Africa will be hoping to exploit the conditions in UAE. Batting first should be a key as the team botches up run-chases invariably in the World Cups. The onus will also be on Rassie van der Dussen to lend the finishing touches along with Miller. Markram could be the X-factor player due to his recent form. Apart from that, pacers Rabada and Nortje have a good understanding of the UAE wicket and are in good form.

Probable Finish

South Africa are placed in the Group of death alongside West Indies, Australia, and England. Beating these three teams should be tough but with form and unpredictability factors, South Africa should have hopes to advance to the next stage.

Schedule

23 October 2021 – South Africa vs Australia – 15:30 – Abu Dhabi
26 October 2021 – South Africa v West Indies – 15:30 – Dubai
30 October 2021 – South Africa v A1 – 15:30 – Sharjah
2 November 2021 – South Africa v B2 – 15:30 – Abu Dhabi
6 November 2021 – South Africa v England – 19:30 – Sharjah