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SA Cricket WC squad takes shape
Brad Morgan
15 January 2007
South Africa's cricket selectors have named a provisional 30-man squad for the upcoming Cricket World Cup in the West Indies. Only four of the players are uncapped.
The most crucial decision, it appears, is that of choosing a frontline spinner. The squad offers four options: Johan Botha, Paul Harris, Robin Peterson and Thandi Tshabalala.
Peterson is the incumbent and a good batsman, which adds to his value, but the other spinners offer some interesting competition.
Harris, who hasn't played limited over cricket for his franchise, the Titans, nonetheless made an impressive debut for South Africa in the third test against India. His aggressive, confident approach will have the national selectors taking a long, hard look at him.
Action probed
Botha was on his way up when he made his ODI debut for the Proteas late in 2005, but since that time he has had to modify his action twice under scrutiny of the
International Cricket Council. Like Peterson, he is a useful batsman.
Surprisingly, in the hectic world of Twenty20 cricket, Thandi Tshabalala has made his mark, being one of the top performers in South Africa in the short form of the game. In fact, in the first two seasons of Twenty20 cricket, Tshabalala has been the highest wicket taker in South Africa.
Tshabalala makes up the uncapped quartet of players, along with Harris, Cape Cobras all-rounder Vernon Philander and Titans all-rounder Alfonso Thomas.
Zimbabwe tour
At the same time as the preliminary World Cup squad was announced, the national selectors also named an SA 'A' squad to tour Zimbabwe for three one-day matches towards the end of January.
Their selections give a good idea of which players are on the fringe of the World Cup squad, and which players are strong candidates for the final 15-man line-up, which will be announced on 13 February.
Those not named to
tour Zimbabwe include Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Garnett Kruger, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Ontong, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Graeme Smith and Dale Steyn.
Out of that group, Botha, Harris, Kruger, Ontong, Rudolph, and Steyn have not been regulars in the ODI team. Steyn, however, after a strong showing in the recent test series against India, appears likely to be included. That leaves Botha, Harris, Kruger, Rudolph, and Ontong on the outside looking in.
Core group
It also leaves Boucher, De Villiers, Gibbs, Hall, Kallis, Nel, Ntini, Pollock, Prince, and Smith as the likely core of the World Cup team.
Given the racial make-up of the core players - seven white players out of 10 - a number of black players are likely to be included from those not in the 10-man lineup. They include Loots Bosman, JP Duminy, Garnett Kruger, Charl
Langeveldt, Justin Ontong, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Roger Telemachus, Alfonso Thomas and Thandi Tshabalala.
The form the players display in Zimbabwe could also play a role in selection. Looking at that squad, Justin Kemp - who recently smashed a stunning unbeaten 100 off 89 balls in the third ODI against India at Newlands - looks like a frontrunner for a place in the World Cup squad. Apart from his batting, Kemp is also a more than useful fast-medium paced bowler.
Forgotten man
Boeta Dippenaar is in many ways the forgotten man in South African cricket. However, in 104 one-day internationals he averages just less than 43, which is an excellent average in the 50-overs-a-side game.
Dippenaar's Eagles' teammate Jacques Rudolph is another of those forgotten men. He has proved himself a solid, consistent performer at domestic level and in 45 ODIs he averages almost 36.
Fast bowler Charl Langeveldt is
probably the most natural swing bowler in the South African squad, with the ability to swing the ball both ways. He would likely be a solid performer in the West Indies.
Those four players look as if they would be good additions to the SA World Cup squad, but the selectors might have other ideas.
It seems 10 players are assured of their places, but just who the remaining five players will be is something that will be revealed on 13 February only.
Preliminary World Cup squad
Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Garnett Kruger, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Ontong, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Roger Telemachus, Alfonso Thomas, Thandi Tshabalala, Johan van der Wath, Morne van Wyk.
Squad to tour
Zimbabwe
Loots Bosman, Boeta Dippenaar, JP Duminy, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Roger Telemachus, Alfonso Thomas, Thandi Tshabalala, Johan van der Wath, Morne van Wyk.
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