The 2020/21 international cricket season should have kicked off with a T20 World Cup, but a pandemic put paid to that idea, and the term is now fraught with uncertainty.
Photo Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
It is unclear if the home cricket season will even go ahead at all for the Proteas and it seems likely that the proposed fixtures may at the very least be subject to changes.
The next major ICC tournament is the T20 World Cup in India which should impress upon Cricket South Africa how important it is that all South African players make it to the IPL in the UAE in September.
That T20 focus should carry through to the domestic season where it will be critical to ensure that the Mzansi Super League takes place which might require intervention at boardroom level.
In the international arena, it is vital that certain key young players are afforded game-time before the T20I World Cup, where they will need to play a role.
Janneman Malan and Kyle Verreynne, in particular, are players who will only get better with experience of international cricket.
The Proteas must also do everything they can to keep the opening partnership of Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma together. The pair’s understanding and dovetailing skills are critical to South Africa being able to compete against the likes of India, Australia and England.
On the bowling front, options will be critical, and Mark Boucher and his backroom staff should give particular focus to ensuring Sisanda Magala can meet the fitness standards. From a craft point of view, a bowler of his type and calibre should thrive in India, but he needs international exposure before the big show.
The pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje need to have their workloads managed to ensure all three are fit come the 2021 T20 World Cup in India.
The Proteas will also need to figure out if Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers will be on board for the extravaganza, and they, in turn, will need to prove their form.
As far as spin-bowling goes the Proteas are in desperate need of a second or indeed third tweaker behind Tabraiz Shamsi who is undoubtedly South Africa’s number one. George Linde and Bjorn Fortuin appear to be the chosen ones, but both men are also in desperate need of international exposure.
The building project continues for Boucher but with a few small changes and a whole lot more uncertainty in terms of global health and also the state of the Cricket South Africa board.
