It is reasonable to assume that the Proteas Cricket World Cup squad will be entirely drawn from the 19-man group chosen for the ODI series against Australia.
To jog your memory that group is: Temba Bavuma (captain, Lions), Dewald Brevis (Titans), Gerald Coetzee (Titans), Quinton de Kock (Titans), Bjorn Fortuin (Lions), Reeza Hendricks (Lions), Marco Jansen (Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Titans), Sisanda Magala (Lions), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Titans), David Miller (Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Anrich Nortje (Warriors), Tabraiz Shamsi (Titans), Wayne Parnell (Western Province), Kagiso Rabada (Lions), Tristan Stubbs (Warriors), and Rassie van der Dussen (Lions).
The ICC Cricket World Cup limits squad size to 15 players, and it could be assumed that the four players who miss out will be placed on standby in the event of an injury or enforced absence.
Here we take a look at who the certainties for the World Cup squad, those on the bubble and those likely to miss out.
Nailed on
Skipper Temba Bavuma is the chosen leader and has been in excellent form as an international opener to boot and, barring injury, will captain the squad in India.
Quinton de Kock has a proven track record as one of the best ODI batters in the world, and he is a great keeper when fully fit.
The Proteas need Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram as their first choice, No 3 and No 4; no players have performed these roles better than the experienced campaigners.
Equally, there is no need to debate the presence of finishers Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller. If they are on song the Proteas will be dangerous.
In India, more than one spinner will be a must, and the two who should be assured of their places are Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi who have excelled as white-ball tweakers.
Even on the subcontinent, it would be unthinkable for the Proteas to travel without their trio of top fast bowlers Lungi Nigidi, Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada, even if only two play in any given match.
Up for grabs
Reeza Hendricks just doesn’t seem to slot into a configuration that looks like their best XI but he has to be the man in the front of the queue as reserve opener/top order batsman.
That leaves seven players fighting for three spots in the squad.
At this stage, Bjorn Fortuin is the tempting third spinner option and a leading candidate to be player 13/15. Fortuin’s problem is that his batting at seven hasn’t set the world on fire.
The Proteas might end up dropping that third spin option in favour of the allround talents of Gerald Coetzee.
Marco Jansen and Wayne Parnell could be seen to be in a shootout as the Proteas, something a little bit different which down the years has been little more than a euphemism for left-arm quick. It won’t just be about bowling for these two as they will be picked to bat at either 7 or 8 given the lack of allrounders.
Sisanda Magala will once again face the gauntlet of fitness questions, but he will nail down a place if he performs well against Australia.
Not their time yet
Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs will play multiple World Cups for South Africa but they would have to do something special against Australia to convince selectors that their time is now.
Predicted Proteas World Cup squad
Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Reeza Hendricks, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Sisanda Magala.
