The first thing that comes to my mind regarding the South African one-day outfit is how have they not won a World Cup?
The African nation has produced truckloads of world-class cricketers, yet the World Cup always seems to elude them. Despite a poor 2019 World Cup, South Africa have slowly begun their road back to dominance, especially after a 3-0 drubbing of Australia recently.
With so many quality cricketers produced in South Africa, it was incredibly difficult to fit them all into an XI.
Opening the batting will be Hashim Amla and Quinton De Kock. I don’t think I’ve seen a classy batsman like Amla from South Africa. Despite his form declining in his latter years, Amla was close to unstoppable at the peak of his powers. Retiring with 27 ODI hundreds, Hashim Amla holds the record of the most ODI tons by a South African player.
His partner in Quinton De Kock is one of the best wicket-keeping batsmen in modern-day times. Debuting less than six months after playing in the 2012 U19 World Cup, De Kock has gone from strength to strength for the Proteas.
At the top of the order, De Kock has caused nightmares for opposition bowlers in his sleep. His glovework has been close to flawless, and his ODI record ekes him over Mark Boucher.
My first drop is Faf Du Plessis. An incredible white-ball player, Du Plessis has a phenomenal ODI record with the bat. His ability to carve bowlers all over the park is second to none. With AB De Villiers being such a phenomenal player, Du Plessis often went under the radar.
To play the anchoring role is none other than the legendary Jacques Kallis. Arguably the greatest all-rounder of all time, Kallis is South Africa’s leading ODI run-scorer with 11550 ODI runs. A player who had shots all over the field, one shot that always remains in my mind is him dancing down the ground against the spinners to hit sixes for fun.
Alongside his world-class batting, Kallis took 269 ODI scalps with the ball and showed that he was capable of changing the game with both bat and ball consistently.
At number five is my captain in AB De Villiers. until date, De Villiers remains the only ODI player to average over 50 and have an ODI career strike rate of over 100. Dubbed Mr 360, De Villiers’ was unstoppable in the middle-order for the Proteas. The perfect number five to up the ante regardless of the situation.
My number six is David Miller. Very few players are consistent in the middle-order with the bat and deliver most times. Bowl length deliveries to him and he’ll club you between long-on and midwicket. Very few players have the power and consistency Miller possess.
Talking of power and consistency, my finisher is Lance Klusener. A world-class batsman down the order, Klusener used his brute force to pummel bowlers all over the ground. His medium-pacers weren’t bad, casually picking up 192 ODI wickets in his career. A highly underrated all-rounder that nearly knocked out Australia in the 1999 World Cup (sorry Proteas fans).
My three frontline seamers are Shaun Pollock, Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini. All world-class bowlers in their own rights who created a great legacy on South African cricket.
My lone spinner is South Africa’s greatest white-ball spinner in Imran Tahir. Forget his quality wrist-spinners, his celebrations itself warrants himself a spot in the XI. Bloke gave his all for the Proteas with the ball and always wore his heart to his sleeve. Cricket fans can hope that he will have one last hurrah with the Proteas in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
This is how the South African XI shapes up in the end.
1. Hashim Amla
2. Quinton De Kock (wicketkeeper)
3. Faf Du Plessis
4. Jacques Kallis
5. AB De Villiers (captain)
6. David Miller
7. Lance Klusener
8. Shaun Pollock
9. Dale Steyn
10. Makhaya Ntini
11. Imran Tahir
NOVED MUJAWAR
Guest
ALL TIME BEST SOUTH AFRICAN ODI TEAM :- 1. HERSCHELLE GIBBS 2. GRAEME SMITH (C) 3. HASHIM AMLA 4. JACQUES KALLIS 5. AB DE VILLIERS 6. LANCE KLUSENER 7. MARK BOUCHER (WK) 8. SHAUN POLLOCK 9. ALLAN DONALD 10. MAKHAYA NTINI 11. IMRAN TAHIR
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
That 1999 semi final tie did not go on net run rate - it went on the fact that Australia had won the only other time the two teams had faced each other in the same tournament.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
This is my all time saffie test XI: Graeme Smith (captain), Barry Richards, Hashim Amla, Graeme Pollock, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Quentin de Kock, Peter Pollock, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and a spinner, not sure who as they haven’t had many great ones. My all time saffie one day XI: Quentin de Kock, Barry Richards, Graeme Pollock, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Clive Rice, Mike Proktor, Lance Klusener, Dale Styen, Fanie de Villiers and Imran Tahir.
JamesH
Roar Guru
...Although after saying that, his best cricket was definitely pre-2000. These time cutoffs make it tough to judge players who straddled the line.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Yeh, what with all those World Cups they have won in cricket! Sheesh! A Reality check is obviously in order for you! SA currently sits at 0 Cricket World Cups! They've had some good sides, just not when it counts. NZ are very similar. They talk the talk but can't walk the talk when it counts!
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
I think South Africa have more than demonstrated past 25 years their stomach for the contest.. Be it in cricket or other sports.. Gary Kirsten himself has recently labeled the Proteas extremely unlucky at World Cups....your comment that South Africa don't have the ticker is not supported by reality... Australians in particular should know that.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
But you didn't comprehend it so it needs to be said again ... and again ... and again until SA wins a World Cup (cricket).
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Yes you said it.. And I read it..
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
As I said, SA lacks the necessary ticker to win World Cups!
Brian
Guest
Fair point I didn't realise Klusener played so much this century. Given Kallis can bowl as well Klusener should replace Steyn or Morkel
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Can’t really argue with that line up. But for the Captain.. Not AB.. He got given the captaincy and his game fell apart. He like Amla voluntarily relinquished the job.. Only other candidates are Pollock or De Kock the current SA ODI captain.. South Africa has been incredibly unlucky in World Cups.. Being on the receiving end of rain interrupted matches 3 Times.. That famous incident where Donald dropped his bat against Aus in the semi, they actually drew the game didn’t lose it. Went out on net run rate from previous games. .. SAs time will come..
JamesH
Roar Guru
Good call in switching Miller for Gibbs but I can't see how Klusener could miss out. Averaged 41 with the bat at a SR of 90, and 30 with the ball at a SR of 38 and an economy of 4.7. For about four years he was the best ODI allrounder on the planet. The gain you get with the ball by adding Morkel doesn't offset what you lose with the bat. Statistically, you could throw a blanket across Pollock, Morkel, Steyn and Ntini so I'm not fussed which of them misses out.
Nick
Roar Guru
Definitely. It's almost criminal to not put Gibbs in. I'd also give the gloves over to AB and slot Klusener in for De Kock. Nothing against De Kock but he has not played long enough to make an all time XI yet.
Nick
Roar Guru
No Herschelle Gibbs!!??
Samuel Laffy
Roar Guru
I'd get rid of Miller, move De Kock down the order and open up with Herschelle Gibbs - the highlights of his 175 in the 9-438 chase are outrageous. (Plus, anyone who hits 36 off an over in a WC is fairly handy, regardless of who he hit it off)
Brian
Guest
The Sri Lankan XI should actually be very good not withstanding their current malaise. Jayasuriya, Dilshan, Sangakarra, Jayawardene, Arnold, Matthews, Perrera, Kulasakera, Vaas, Malinga, Murali.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Ticker, or lack thereof, is the issue for the Saffers. When the going gets tough SA collapse!
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
This team wouldn't lose many games.
Targa
Roar Rookie
Great side. I'd be tempted to try to find a spot for Graeme Smith though (perhaps bat De Kock out of position at 6 for Miller) as he (Smith( would be better at keeping them calm and perhaps stopping a choke. Also perhaps Morkel or Rabada for Ntini. As a Kiwi I'm amazed that we haven't lost to SA at a WC since 1999 (beat them in 03, 07, 11, 15, and 19). Now they'll probably beat us in a super over in the 2023 final!
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Doing one for all teams that competed in CWC 2019 (excluding Afghanistan). Then will have an associates one which will include afghan and irish players since they were associates for most of this century till date