After managing just one Duckworth-Lewis-assisted win from their seven World Cup games so far, South Africa have rapidly emerged as the new minnows of world cricket.
With many disappointed by the International Cricket Council’s decision to reduce the number of teams competing in this year’s tournament, the Proteas have ably stepped up to fill the role previously played by Nepal and Holland.
This development will no doubt please many South African residents with Dutch heritage, who may have felt underrepresented at the World Cup.
While normally reserving their choking at cricket’s biggest tournament for the semi-finals, South Africa have exceeded their own underperforming standards at the 2019 World Cup, leaving many fans to wonder if a new era of glorious mediocrity lies ahead for Faf du Plessis’ side.
Only two games remain in the Proteas’ World Cup campaign, leaving open the possibility of a last place finish, should Afghanistan manage a victory in the tail end of the tournament.
So where has it all gone wrong the Faf’s team? With ageing quick Dale Steyn unable to recover from injury and subsequently ruled out of the Cup, the Proteas could argue they were missing an experienced campaigner.
However, Steyn has been injury plagued in recent years, managing only 13 one day games since first March 2016. Faf Du Plessis and the selectors would not have had high hopes for a strong showing from the veteran on this basis.
South African captain Faf du Plessis (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
In his absence, South Africa have received reasonable performances from their remaining bowlers, with Imran Tahir faring best in taking ten wickets from seven matches, without reaching his match-winning best.
Chris Morris and Andile Phehlukwayo have also cracked the tournament’s top 20 wicket takers, with nine and eight wickets respectively.
Batting wise, South Africa have been particularly disappointing. Only two batsmen, Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen have cracked the tournament’s top 20 run scorers to date, with a combined total of 453 runs from seven matches.
In contrast, a resurgent Australian side have seen David Warner smash 447 runs from six matches, with captain Aaron Finch compiled 396 runs to date and Steven Smith chipping in with another 244 runs.
In a World Cup of match winning hundreds, Faf du Plessis’ men have not achieved a single three figure score between them. This has ultimately contributed to losing a few winnable games, particularly in close results against Bangladesh and India.
Should they hope to salvage any pride in the tournament’s final stages, coach Ottis Gibson will be expecting one of his men to ton up and win a game for their country.
For now, let us bask in the stench of failure emanating from Faf and his team, who have reached new levels of disappointment in this year’s tournament, with history awaiting them in their quest for a last-placed finish.
Brett Susan
Roar Rookie
Im South Africa and I loved it.. we generally behaved poorly during the sandpaper gate saga ....so a bit of hubris from the Aussies is well deserved.
Neel
Roar Guru
No worries man. I am looking forward to reading your next article mate.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Cheers, Neel. The headline was intended as a joke, as I'm just waiting for the next time South Africa thump Australia. I appreciate your kind remarks. I probably rushed this one, writing it in about 20 mins, which clearly was a bit quick! It will be very interesting to see selection decisions moving forward, but I definitely think there will be numerous changes before their next ODI series.
Neel
Roar Guru
The headline is a bit over the top mate, but I won’t malign you any further. It takes a lot of effort to form an article and hats off to you for trying to take on this tongue-in-cheek approach. On the other side of things, how disappointing have the South Africans been in this World Cup? It’s so disappointing to see a regular contender at World a Cups perform so dismally. They have had bad luck as well but it’s just so disappointing to see them reach this low. A few changes will be needed after this World Cup for sure. Amla, has been great for a long time, but he is well past his prime now, Duminy has to go, Phehlukwayo, Pretorious, Miller and Markram have been fairly disappointing as well. I would drop them but I don’t know if they have anyone to replace them or any young gun coming through the ranks.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Thanks again.
Paul
Roar Guru
nah, serious can be really boring and can be just as hard as tongue in cheek sometimes. Maybe its a case of obviously poking fun, or obviously taking the p.... In any event, as I've found out, you'll get some lively responses if you put together something a few don't agree with
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Thanks, Paul. I appreciate your reply. Definitely a fine line, and I'm thinking I should stick to more serious analysis and opinion pieces moving forward!
Paul
Roar Guru
It's certainly a fine line when you're putting together an article Daniel, that's for sure. In fairness, you made a number of valid points though. Hopefully the Saffers can finish off with a couple od wins - just not against the Aussies.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Hi Paul, thanks for your comment. This article was intended to be tongue-in-cheek, but appears to have missed the mark. I will give more thought to future articles.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Hi Ron, Thanks for your comment. The line you are referring to was in reference to the fact the Netherlands and other associate countries were not included in this year's tournament. On re-reading, I completely understand how it reads, and can assure you this was not my intended meaning. I apologise for this, and will give my words more thought in future articles. I do not appreciate the One Nation reference, which I feel is a little strong, but I respect your opinion and will do better in the future.
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
Good Article; although Nepal actually never made it to the WC.
Ron
Guest
‘This development will no doubt please many Souths African residents with Dutch heritage who may have felt underrepresented at the World Cup’......really Daniel?? I cannot believe the ignorance of the statement in this day and age. The Proteas are a symbol of unity and a well respected team in South Africa and all of us are disappointed. I don’t know where you met these ‘pleased South Africans with Dutch heritage’, perhaps they joined you at a ‘One Nation’ convention in Australia with all the ‘Australians of British heritage’? Oh and Daniel, I live in Brisbane and I am a South Afrikaner of ‘Afrikaner heritage’ and my favourite players are Kagiso Rabada and Andile Phlekuwayo.....fancy that....
Paul
Roar Guru
This is an extremely disappointing piece about a side who has had any number of issues to deal with; . losing ABdeV before a ball was bowled would have the team mentally as well as losing one of the best short form cricketers in the game. The subsequent events would have unsettled the team even more. . guys who were thought to be match winners, have either had injury problems or have not been in form. .Some of the selections were made, perhaps for sentimental rather than practical reasons and they haven't come off. . The draw hurt the Saffers - 3 games in a week, two of which were against England & India, was by far the hardest start of any team. Three losses and with all their other issues, South Africa was probably gone by the 6th of June. Australia was playing ODI cricket as badly 18 months ago - we were really playing that badly only 5 months ago - so to be so derogatory is not fair IMO. We've shown it doesn't take much for a team to rebound and there is way to much talent in the current SA side for them to be down for long. Faf and his team will regroup and there will no doubt be another batting or bowling superstar to emerge in the next year or two. This side is down but by no means out. Minnows - I really don't think so.