The Proteas must put their World Cup troubles behind them and get the job done against India at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday, writes JOHN GOLIATH.
It’s certainly not been the start to the World Cup that South Africa’s coach Ottis Gibson would have envisaged. A 104-run thrashing at the hands of England in the tournament opener, and a shock defeat to Bangladesh have left the side with little margin for error in their remaining matches.
Up next, India.
The bowling attack, which was supposed to be their big strength, hasn’t fired and has been hit by a number of personnel blows over the last couple of days. Legendary fast bowler Dale Steyn is going back home with a shoulder injury, while Lungi Ngidi’s hamstring injury will keep him out of action for at least another week.
Gibson’s batting unit has also failed to come to the party, with the team unable to chase down 311 against England, while Bangladesh’s 330 was also a bridge too far. No one has taken responsibility as far as effort is concerned, while many senior players are struggling for form.
But now is not the time to panic.
The Proteas need to pick themselves up off the canvass and try and beat one of the competition’s favourites to keep their slim hopes of making the semi-finals alive, because another defeat this early in the tournament will be nothing short of a disaster.
The Proteas’ big players need to step up in the face of adversary. Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock and Chris Morris need to deliver the type of match-winning performances that can get this dilapidated Proteas side over the line.
TEAM NEWS
The Proteas will be without frontline bowlers Steyn and Ngidi, and will have to make a decision about who will fill that bowling void in the team.
Left-arm seamer Beuran Hendricks will be flying over to England to join the Proteas, but will not slip right into the lineup as a like-for-like replacement for Ngidi.
Morris is likely to continue in the team as a frontline seamer, which means that either all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius or left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi will play against India.
India will play their first match of the tournament and look set to go with a pace bowling option against South Africa. Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are all set to start, while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav will provide the spin options. Their team, with all their topline batsmen fit, look balanced and present a sizable threat to SA’s slim hopes.
READ: Predicting: Starting Proteas XI vs India
CONDITIONS
Over 700 runs were scored in the last ODI played at the Rose Bowl in Southampton where the Proteas take on India. The pitch should be good for batting, but overcast conditions are predicted, which could see the fast bowlers get some assistance early on.
South Africa have elected to field in the first two matches, but have failed to chase down the targets. It may take a brave decision to bat first against India, who now have a potent pace attack that will thrive with swing on offer.
TALKING POINTS
The make-up of South Africa’s bowling lineup will be interesting, but it’s their batsmen who go into this match under a lot of scrutiny.
With their bowling lineup under pressure regardless of who plays, the batsmen need to back them up in a big way during this match and convert the starts into big, big scores.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Kagiso Rabada: South Africa’s spearhead will have a lot more on his plate in the absence of Steyn and Ngidi. He needs to strike with the new ball to try and expose the Indian middle order to the likes of Imran Tahir and Andile Phehlukwayo, who have been the Proteas’ best bowlers so far.
