ZA Cricket

It is not long until the Proteas get another shot at winning an ICC trophy. The West Indies and USA will be hosting the T20 World Cup in June this year. As a South African, I know what this possibly means. An opportunity for the boys to finally make us happy or another opportunity for them to break our hearts and make sure that we spend another month complaining about how we think we should have won the World Cup. The Proteas find themselves in what could be one of the easiest groups in World Cup history. If you are reading this you are either saying, ‘SHH do not jinx it” or just reminding me that we managed to lose to Netherlands twice in two World Cups. One of those being at the very same T20 World Cup we’re trying to win. That’s okay because that is not the point anyway.

For any country, the few months building up to the World Cup are as important as the year building up to the World Cup. Whatever match that plays gets the extra attention because it is played in the build-up to a tournament. Fortunately for the coach and players, there seems to be a lot of T20 cricket being played just before the World Cup. From the SA20, the CSA T20 competition, the Indian Premier League (IPL), and a few other T20 tournaments in between. Nobody can say they never got the opportunity to try and knock the selectors’ door down.

Earlier this year in an interview, Proteas white-ball cricket coach, Rob Walter insinuated that his T20 World Cup squad would be picked on current form. “Current form” could mean anything. It could mean form based on the last few weeks or even a month ago. Only Walter knows what it means for him. However, one can assume that he will probably look at the SA20, CSA T20 challenge, and the IPL.

Much like any other squad selection, there are a number of questions that may need to be answered either before picking the squad or during the selection process.

1. How much weight will SA20 performances carry?
   The answer to this question could determine whether Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton are called back into the side or not. The two had great SA20 for MI Cape Town.
2. Does Faf get one last crack at a World Cup, or do we move on from him?
   His form has not been great and even though many people have been calling for his return, it would not shock me if he was not selected. There are still more IPL games left to play and I am sure Faf will be looking to find some form.
3. A few days ago, Quinton de Kock’s form would have been a major concern. Even more so because he was benched in the IPL. However, he just made his return to his side with two back-to-back 50s after having a poor SA20. Reeza Hendricks” form would have been another, but he too seems to have found some form. It will be interesting to see if the two of them can keep going heading into the World Cup.
4. Marco Jansen has shown his value as an all-rounder for the Proteas and even the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20. He has probably cemented his spot as the all-rounder for the Proteas for now so the big question is, who will the 2nd all-rounder be?
5. With the form Heinrich Klaasen is in, how we use him or don’t use him could very well determine our fate at the World Cup. Especially in the knockout stages.

These are just a few of many questions that require answers from Walter. How he answers these questions could determine whether South Africans and South African cricket fans get to finally celebrate a cricket World Cup or the misery and trauma of being knocked out of a World Cup continues.