Opinion

Rabada needs help at death

The Proteas head into the Champions Trophy with only one competent death-bowling option in Kagiso Rabada.

The Proteas must play their best side in the third ODI to lift their spirits for the Champions Trophy.

Chris Morris needs to play every Champions Trophy game at No 7 to avoid repeating past failings in major tournaments.

The Proteas have the quality to win the Champions Trophy, but they didn’t need to pick two spinners.

The selectors made the right call by including Keshav Maharaj and Morné Morkel, as they don’t affect the continuity of the side.

Domestic T20s are driving cricket’s shortest format, so there’s no need to put bilateral T20 series on the international schedule.

Aiden Markram will play for the Proteas, but there’s no need to rush.

Can we fault the selectors for giving De Bruyn a go at opening? Based on the other options available, no.

No 1 in the ODI rankings. No 2 in the Test rankings. The Proteas can reflect on a very successful season.

The top-order failings throughout the series means the Proteas were fortunate to have won the series against New Zealand.

A dearth of substantial top-order partnerships continues to limit the Proteas’ potency.

Keshav Maharaj’s arrival and Morné Morkel’s return bode well for a Proteas side with grand ambitions.

Imran Tahir would have been a good horses-for-courses inclusion for the third Test against New Zealand.

Stephen Cook, Hashim Amla, and Temba Bavuma need to find form ahead of a series in England where big team scores will be paramount.

The three-match Test series should be a chance for the Proteas to have a look at the fringe players in the squad.