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Cricket enthusiasts are eagerly waiting for the upcoming three-match T20I series between the West Indies and South Africa, kicking off on May 23. With the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA on the horizon, this series is vital for both squads to hone their tactics and finalize their team rosters.
Leadership and squad structure
Rassie van der Dussen will take the helm for the Proteas in this T20I series. Although Van der Dussen is not part of the T20 World Cup squad, he will lead a group that includes several key players bound for the World Cup. Notable names such as Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, and Tabraiz Shamsi are expected to be crucial in the World Cup campaign.
Absence of key players
Several prominent South African players will miss this series to manage their workloads ahead of the World Cup. Aiden Markram, set to captain the Proteas in the T20 World Cup, is unavailable due to his Indian Premier League (IPL) duties. Markram’s IPL team, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), is scheduled to play Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Friday. Additionally, other stars like David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, and Marco Jansen will not be traveling to the West Indies for these matches.
Also READ: South Africa announces squad for the T20I series against West Indies; no place for Aiden Markram
South Africa’s best playing XI for the T20I series against West Indies
Quinton de Kock (wk)
- Role: Wicketkeeper-batter
- Strengths: Explosive batting at the top of the order, agile wicketkeeping skills, aggressive approach, and ability to provide quick starts.
Reeza Hendricks:
- Role: Opening batter
- Strengths: Solid technique, ability to anchor the innings, good stroke play, and versatility to adapt to different formats of the game.
Rassie van der Dussen (c):
- Role: Middle-order batter, Captain
- Strengths: Leadership qualities, calmness under pressure, ability to build and finish innings, and tactical acumen.
Matthew Breetzke:
- Role: Middle-order batter
- Strengths: Promising young talent, sound technique, ability to rotate strike, and build partnerships.
Patrick Kruger:
- Role: All-rounder (Batting, occasional bowling)
- Strengths: Power-hitting in the lower-middle order, handy off-spin bowling option, and athleticism in the field.
Wiaan Mulder:
- Role: All-rounder (Batting, bowling)
- Strengths: Medium-fast bowling with good control, ability to contribute with the bat in the lower order, and athleticism on the field.
Andile Phehlukwayo:
- Role: All-rounder (Batting, bowling)
- Strengths: Seam bowling, particularly in the death overs, lower-order hitting capabilities, and athleticism in the field.
Tabraiz Shamsi:
- Role: Specialist spinner
- Strengths: Left-arm wrist-spin, ability to take wickets in the middle overs, and deceive batters with variations.
Gerald Coetzee:
- Role: Fast bowler
- Strengths: Raw pace, ability to generate bounce, and swing the ball at good speeds, especially in the early overs.
Anrich Nortje
- Role: Fast bowler
- Strengths: Express pace, ability to generate steep bounce, and accuracy with the new ball, making him a potent weapon in the opening overs and at the death.
Lungi Ngidi
- Role: Fast bowler
- Strengths: Ability to move the ball both ways, pace variations, and accuracy, making him effective in all formats of the game and at any stage of an innings.