World Cup newcomers that could shine for the Proteas

Success at an ICC Cricket World Cup requires a squad with different types of players and all sorts of characters.

When it comes to the 2019 edition in England and Wales, Proteas coach Ottis Gibson is encouraging his whole squad to dream big.

The squad has obvious stalwarts such as captain Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla, and Imran Tahir - those that have been to World Cups before and are motivated by righting the wrongs of the past.

Other than the senior players, it’s noticeable that the squad has a core of players that have never been to the showpiece before, each bringing a new dynamic to a Proteas World Cup campaign and all with potentially important roles to play as they try to make those big dreams come true.

KAGISO RABADA

For someone that’s achieved so much already at international level, it’s hard to believe that this is Kagiso Rabada’s first ICC Cricket World Cup.

He’s basically spearheaded the Proteas attack, he’s topped the ODI bowling rankings in the past and he’s played a starring role in an U19 ICC World Cup winning cause.

All the ingredients seem to be there for Rabada to perform on a stage like the World Cup. He’s treated as a “go-to” man in tough situations for his country and most recently for his IPL franchise. It’s easy to see why captains view him like that since he backs up his skill and pace with a calmness that suggests he’s always equipped to deal with pressure.

LUNGI NGIDI

Whether it’s a bouncy pitch with pace or a slower deck that keeps a bit lower, Lungi Ngidi always seems to be able to cause batsmen problems with his pace, control and awkward lengths that he bowls.

After 18 ODI matches, he has a bowling average (21.6) and strike rate (24.3) that’s better than any other bowler in the Proteas squad.

While often causing problems for batsmen at the start of the innings, he’s also shown enough skill and willingness to take up the challenge of bowling at the death. If he gets into a groove of landing yorkers at about 140km/h from his height, he could be one of the more difficult bowlers to slog in the later overs.

ANDILE PHEHLUKWAYO

The last time there was a World Cup in England, a South African lower-middle order batsman ended up winning the man of the tournament award.

While one is reluctant to make too many comparisons between Lance Klusener and Andile Phehlukwayo, Phehlukwayo could well come to the fore in the same role in the 2019 edition.

As one of those batsmen that seems to light up more the harder the match situation is, Phehlukwayo’s aggression can act as a catalyst to the innings when the top order hasn’t finished the job. You get the feeling that there’s at least one important and successful run chase in him at this World Cup.

His boldness carries through into his bowling. While he isn’t nearly the quickest in Faf du Plessis’ arsenal of seamers, he’s probably the bravest in terms of variations to bowl – a vital component in modern limited overs cricket.

While he doesn’t always produce economical figures, he possesses that “golden arm” knack as a partnership-breaker. If the Proteas are going to be successful in England and Wales, there should be some vital Phehlukwayo wickets along the way.

RASSIE VAN DER DUSSEN

Embed video clip of van der Dussen from YouTube

As soon as he got brought into the ODI setup, Rassie van der Dussen has looked like an accomplished international batsman that adds plenty of value to the Proteas middle order.

Van der Dussen has shown a cricketing maturity beyond his 9 ODI caps – often a major benefit of only bringing players into the squad at the age of 30.

A standout feature is how he judges the match situation and shifts the gears in his innings. He’s as big a hitter as anyone in the squad when he needs to be, but he’s also shown that he’s just as comfortable nurdling ones and twos to solidify matters when the required run rate demands it.

Whether going hell-for-leather to set a big target or managing a run chase, van der Dussen looks equipped to contribute in all match situations.

AIDEN MARKRAM

A winning World Cup captain at U19 level in 2014, Aiden Markram always seemed destined to become a Proteas cricketer and an important ODI player.

His eye-popping domestic form in the Momentum One-Day Cup with an average of 108.4 and 3 centuries (including one in the final) made it necessary for a spot to be found for him in the World Cup squad.

While his ODI record up until now hasn’t been particularly impressive, his set of shots all around the wicket and clear aptitude for international batting surely means it’s only a matter of time before he finds a way to pile on the runs for South Africa in this format.

With a nation with such a painful World Cup history, could one of these fresh faces help re-write the history books?