Proteas coach Russell Domingo looked as much to the past as the future when he announced the 15-man squad for the World Cup at the V&A Waterfront.
Eight of the squad that suffered a shock quarter-final defeat to New Zealand in Dhaka four years ago will have the chance to avenge that loss when they leave for Australasia on February 4. There are also seven World Cup rookies though that will hope be part of the first South African team to lift the much-sought after trophy at the MCG on March 29.
Batsmen Rilee Rossouw and Farhaan Behardien have both been chosen, ostensibly as cover for the injured Quinton de Kock, who South Africa will take with to the World Cup despite him still suffering from the ankle ailment sustained during the first Test against the West Indies at Centurion last month. Dolphins all-rounder Ryan McLaren is the big casualty that has missed out on a World Cup ticket, despite being a regular in the Proteas ODI team for the past few years.
“We are hoping that he (De Kock) will be ready. We are putting in a reserve against the West Indies (the preceding bilateral series).
“It backs up the style of cricket we want to play. We like to play seven batsmen, and just in case a batsman gets injured on the eve of the game, we have gone with eight batsmen in the squad,” national selection convener Andrew Hudson said last night.
Domingo still has five ODIs against the West Indies over the course of the next month to fine-tune his plans before the World Cup, and believes this could possibly be the opportunity to work on a few back-up options should De Kock not be ready for that first encounter against Zimbabwe in Hamilton on February 15.
“The time for experimentation is over. Winning is important now to create momentum heading into a World Cup. However, with Quinton being one of the injured players, and if he is not 100percent, we have to possibly look at a different opening batsman,” Domingo said before continuing: “It’s my first World Cup. It’s very exciting. We have the opportunity to do something that no South African side has done. We learnt a few things on our recent Australia series and it was definitely the kick up the backside we needed as we had played good cricket before.”
World Cups are certainly special events with a player possibly having the opportunity to play in two World Cups at best. Captain AB de Villiers is the most experienced as this will be his third global showpiece, having been present in the Caribbean in 2007 and the subcontinent four years ago.
Rossouw is one of the players who will be heading to his first tournament and was elated with his selection.
“I stand in front of you as very proud man. I feel honoured to have been selected for my country on the biggest stage. I thought I had a 50/50 chance of going but you don’t know for certain until you get that actual phone call. I am very excited, and can’t wait to jol,” said the 25-year-old.
But it’s not only the rookies that feel the extra hype surrounding a World Cup, with a superstar like Dale Steyn becoming a little bit more anxious than usual.
“My heart is actually pounding here. I am normally very relaxed about these things, but I am actually quite nervous,” Steyn said.
Handling the expectant pressure will be key to South Africa’s chances in their seventh trip to the World Cup. Up until now the Proteas have reached three semi-finals (1992, 1999, 2007), two quarter-finals (1996, 2011) and exited before the play-offs on home soil in 2003.
No official mental psychologist will travel with the 26-member strong group, but former Springbok and current Stormers “kop dokter” Henning Gerricke will consult with the team at various stages during the World Cup. Gerricke was an official member of the squad at the last World Cup. - The Star