Anrich Nortje has expressed his desire to concentrate on T20 cricket for the upcoming months. This strategic shift has been clarified by Enoch Nkwe, Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) director of cricket, who stated to ESPNcricinfo, “He requested he wants to focus on T20 cricket for the next few months. He is not retiring from any internationals. He will avail himself for T20 internationals. Towards the end of the year, he will look to play ODIs again.” CSA plans to support Nortje throughout this period, indicating a tailored approach to player management.
Quinton de Kock’s career trajectory has also stirred discussions. After withdrawing from 50-over cricket following the last World Cup, de Kock’s performance in the Big Bash League was underwhelming, as noted by his stats of 104 runs in six innings. His form improved slightly in the SA20, scoring 213 runs across 12 innings. Despite these fluctuations, Nkwe confirmed de Kock’s availability for the T20 World Cup, adding, “He will be available for the T20 World Cup but he understands he needs to perform. He wants to earn his place.”
Controversy has also surrounded CSA’s selection policies, particularly with David Bedingham’s exclusion from the contracted Proteas list despite an impressive start in Test cricket. Herschelle Gibbs, voicing his criticism on social media, highlighted this decision as questionable, saying, “No national contract for the proteas most complete batsman,” alongside a facepalm emoji. Gibbs’s comments extend to the broader selection dynamics within CSA, reflecting on Temba Bavuma’s and Andile Phehlukwayo’s situations, prompting debates on selection criteria versus performance.
No national contract for the proteas most complete batsman, beddingham 🤦♂️ #sscricket
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) March 26, 2024
I know why bud don’t worry .. its pathetic
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) March 26, 2024
Gibbs seemed to reveal a lack of understanding with regards to player contracts, agreeing with a Tweet suggesting Bavuma chose to stay in South Africa for the SA20 tournament, instead of joining the touring squad in New Zealand. The reality being that as a contracted player, Bavuma’s involvement in the SA20 was compulsory, and supercedes any national duty.
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