The year is 2022 and the likes of Dean Elgar, Francois du Plessis, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn, and Vernon Philander have retired from Test Cricket leaving the Proteas in what many believe to be cricket oblivion. I disagree.
Let’s begin with the framework that Ottis Gibson has employed for the Proteas test side during his tenure. He generally opts for 6 specialist batsmen, one of whom will keep wicket, 1 all-rounder, and 4 specialist bowlers. Looking at our most recent test 11:
1. Markram
2. Elgar
3. Amla
4. Bavuma
5. du Plessis
6. de Kock
7. Philander
8. Maharaj
9. Rabada
10. Steyn
11. Olivier
Right off the bat we can exclude Elgar, Amla, du Plessis, Philander, and Steyn based on their likely retirement from the game. We can further exclude Duanne Olivier who has recently opted for a Kolpak contract which makes him ineligible to play for the Proteas.
So, what are we left with?
1. Markram
2.
3.
4. Bavuma
5.
6. De Kock
7.
8. Maharaj
9. Rabada
10.
11.
It makes for grim reading, but we are essentially left with 5 of our most recent 11 in the next couple of years. Ottis Gibson will be in the market for an opening batsman to partner Markram, a reliable number 3 who has the ability to absorb pressure should an early wicket fall, a solid number 5, an all-rounder for that number 7 slot, and then 2 fast bowlers to complete the Proteas XI.
Let’s start with the number 3 and 5 slots with the 2 ‘household’ names, Rassie van der Dussen, and Theunis de Bruyn. van der Dussen has yet to make an appearance in the red ball format of the game, but his form and temperament in the shorter format makes me believe that he is our go to number 3. With an average of around 44 at a domestic level, and over 100 caps for the Lions, I believe he deserves a shot. Theunis de Bruyn has lacked runs at an international level, averaging only 20 runs per innings. Having said that, he is still a relatively young lad, only having recently turned 26. He has scored a mountain of runs at a first-class level this year and played an instrumental role in the Northern Titans MODC winning campaign. With a first-class average of 46, and an international century to his name, I believe he cannot be overlooked and is in fact the best candidate for the role.
Moving away from the more well-known players, two youngsters have really caught my eye and have undoubtedly put their hands up for contention in that middle order. I have referring to the Warriors and Cobras youngsters Sinethemba Queshile and Kyle Verreynne who are currently 20 and 21 years of age respectively. They may have only the 41 caps between the 2 of them, but both boast averages around that 50 mark for their respective franchises making them two of the most, if not the most promising cricketers in the franchise set up. What makes both these players more impressive is the fact that they in fact both keep wicker for their respective franchises which presents the option of handing either of them the gloves and allowing Quinton de Kock to focus entirely on his batting.
Lastly, but certainly not least is a player who has had a sniff of international test cricket with 1 test match to his name. He averages a highly impressive 51 for the Cobras at a first-class level, and at the tender age of 23 it is likely that he will develop his game and mature as a cricketer as his career unfolds. I am of course referring to Zubayr Hamza who has a fantastic eye and strong wrists which has helped him to be one of the best on-side cricketers in domestic cricket. Having said that, in my admittedly limited experience of watching Hamza play red ball cricket, I believe that he is not technically sound enough just yet to fill that number 3 role. He has the major flaws of moving his head too much and has the tendency to play around his front pad on too many occasions which I believe will be exposed at an international level.
Taking this all into account, we have the following:
1. Markram
2.
3. de Bruyn / Verreynne/ Hamza
4. Bavuma
5. van der Dussen / Queshile
6. de Kock
7.
8. Maharaj
9. Rabada
10.
11.
Now let’s look for a potential opening partner for the young but highly talented Aiden Markram. Dean Elgar has filled that role for a number of years and has had a handful of partners along the way with the likes of Smith, Cook, and Kuhn watching from the other end. This leaves us with the issue of not having an opening batsman with any kind of international experience and forces one to look to the franchise set up.
The first player that has caught my eye is Cobras youngster, Janneman Malan who boasts a hefty 55 run average in his 30 first class games. This is even more impressive when you take into account the fact that he has just recently turned 23 years old. Regardless of his age or inexperience, this is definitely a player that cannot be overlooked and in my opinion is the best candidate for the position.
Moving north towards Johannesburg is Lions youngster, wicket keeper, and star opening batsman Ryan Rickelton. Rickelton too has never got the call from Ottis Gibson but is undoubtedly on his radar given his immaculate form in the 2018/2019 season which saw his franchise average climb toward the 43 mark.
There are a number of youngsters who have shown signs of brilliance and an ability to make it at the highest level, but lack consistency compared to the aforementioned players. I’m referring of course to players such as Tony de Zorzi, Cloete, and Reeza Hendricks. At this point in time I believe its safe to say that they are firmly in the ‘queue’ behind the likes of Malan and Rickelton but anyone who has played or understands the game knows how much can change in a season or two.
We now start seeing a solid side taking shape with the top 6 all but decided:
1. Markram
2. Malan / Rickelton
3. de Bruyn / Verreynne / Hamza
4. Bavuma
5. van der Dussen / Queshile
6. de Kock
7.
8. Maharaj
9. Rabada
10.
11.
Vernon Philander was an ideal number 7 who not only had the ability to knock over top orders but also to contribute with 30 runs at the back end of an innings. I think it’s fair to say that South Africa currently lacks a player of the same magnitude and that he has left very large boots to fill. South Africa currently has 4 prominent all-rounders, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Wiaan Mulder and Christopher Morris. Given that we’re looking to build a side for 2021, both Pretorius and Morris will be nearing the end of their career and are therefore ineligible to be picked for this side. That leaves us with essentially 3 options. We could pick Phehlukwayo, we could pick Mulder, or we could change the dynamic of the side and instead opt for 4 outright bowlers, and 7 batsmen (one of which has the ability to contribute with the ball). Personally, I like the idea of 7 batsmen and 4 bowlers, but it is quite clear that Gibson is a fan of all-rounders having played Phehlukwayo and Pretorius/Mulder in the same side on a number of occasions. Going by the premise that the team needs an all-rounder, Andile Phehlukwayo gets the nod from me. He has held his nerve on more than one occasion at the back end of high pressure matches and although a touch expensive with the white ball in hand, he offers a bit of variety compared to the pace of Rabada, Ngidi, and Nortje and is equally as capable as Vernon Philander with the willow. A key benefit of his will be the rate at which he scores runs which is a handful attribute to have when setting targets with enough time to bowl out the opposition.
With the top 9 now completed, Ottis Gibson will be in the market for 2 tall, strong, and most importantly quick bowlers.
1. Markram
2. Malan / Rickelton
3. de Bruyn / Verreynne / Hamza
4. Bavuma
5. van der Dussen
6. de Kock
7. Phehlukwayo / Mulder
8. Maharaj
9. Rabada
10.
11.
He will not need to look too far with Ngidi the obvious choice having been ruled out of the most recent test series due to injury rehabilitation. I will accept no arguments with this selection and Ngidi slots in that number 10 spot and will share the new Kookaburra ball with Kagiso Rabada. The final slot is up for a debate given South Africa’s never-ending supply of premier fast bowlers. Nortje is the first name that comes to mind given his impressive performance in the recent ODI series which earned him a spot on the flight to London for the 2019 Cricket World cup.
Right off the bat I’d like to exclude Dane Paterson (age 30), Beuran Hendricks (29) and Junior Dala (31) based on their age. What I’m looking for is a young bowler with pace who will mature into a premier fast bowler in a couple of years. Having already mentioned Nortje, Dupavillon and Sipamla come to mind. Both young in age and both have the key attributes of a premier an international fast bowler. I have witnessed both Nortje and Dupavillon reach speeds of around 150 clicks which excited me beyond words. Sipamla seems a ‘tidier’ bowler who hits a good length consistently and operates within that corridor of uncertainty more often than not. Looking at their first-class numbers, Nortje, Dupavillon, and Sipamla average 25, 24, and 27 runs per wicket respectively which is quite impressive for a group of young players. I would opt for a 3-prong pace attack consisting of Rabada, Ngidi, and Nortje with Dupavillon and Sipamla ready to jump in should Ottis Gibson opt for a full seam attack.
That leaves us with a completed Proteas 2022 XI:
1. Markram
2. Malan / Rickelton
3. de Bruyn / Verreynne / Hamza
4. Bavuma
5. Van der Dussen / Queshile
6. de Kock
7. Phehlukwayo / Mulder
8. Maharaj
9. Rabada
10. Ngidi
11. Nortje / Dupavillon / Sipamla
Comments