All rounders galore is the theme SA selectors seem to have gone for in the Champions Trophy

20 April 2017 - 17:41 By Khanyiso Tshwaku
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

South Africa's recent drought may have affected a lot of things‚ but not the recent production of all-rounders.

Such was the importance of players like Andile Phehlukwayo‚ Chris Morris‚ Dwaine Pretorius and Wayne Parnell‚ Proteas coach Russell Domingo and selection convenor Linda Zondi saw fit to pick all of them for June's ICC Champions Trophy.

It would be easy to wonder why the surfeit of ambidextrous cricketers was preferred over specialist traders.

The trick lies in their adaptability and their usefulness in different conditions.

A minimum of three matches in the group stages where India‚ Pakistan and Sri Lanka lie in wait is too short a time to play them all.

  • It's a waiting game for AB and PhilanderThe national selectors have named ODI captain AB de Villiers in their squad to tour England even though he has recently missed two IPL games because of a recurring back injury threatening to rule him out of the three-match series against England and the Champions Trophy. 

There are the warm-up matches and the three ODI's against England for them to prove their eventual worth but the fact they were all given a run in the New Zealand ODI series speaks volumes in terms of what Domingo wants from them.

From a death bowling perspective‚ Phehlukwayo has proved he is the real deal at domestic and international level.

His imperfect but nerveless batting has won matches for the national team and his age allows him to make mistakes before roughing out his edges.

Pretorius is probably the best batsmen of the lot and the steadier bowler to keep things tight in the middle overs.

  • Domingo selects ODI captain De Villiers despite recurring back injuryProteas selectors and coach Russell Domingo have picked ODI captain AB de Villiers despite a recurring back injury that is threatening to rule him out of the three-match tour to the UK next month and the Champions Trophy in June. 

Highveld Lions coach Geoff Toyana has used him effectively as a middle order pulveriser but at first-class level‚ he has shown the ability to build an innings.

This is a crucial quality in early season English wickets where the toss can influence the outcome of a match.

Wayne Parnell's left-arm swing could be a crucial component in a country he has excelled in a past tournament.

While he hasn't found his reverse swing groove - high quality left-arm pacemen don't come easily for South Africa - he seems to have got over his inconsistency to become an important gun in South Africa's bowling armoury.

  • Domingo quite keen to hang on to his Proteas coaching jobRussell Domingo may not have said it in as many words‚ but he still seems keen on continuing in his current role as Proteas coach. 

Chris Morris picks himself as a bowler first but his lusty hitting has pulled the Proteas from the mire on more than one occasion.

His bowling‚ especially in batting friendly conditions in the Indian Premier League‚ could be a harbinger of good things to come for the Proteas.

Domingo explained his decision‚ which was also backed up by Morne Morkel's selection as the other out and out strike bowler.

“At stages we've played two of them‚" Domingo said.

"At times we've played three of them where they batted in the lower order and I can think of the Christchurch ODI against New Zealand where they all batted from number seven to ten.

  • Vernon Philander uncertain‚ AB de Villiers outVernon Philander’s fitness remains uncertain in the wake of the groin injury he sustained while playing for Sussex at the weekend. 

"It will depend on the conditions and the opposition we play against.

“When we're up against teams whom we perceive to have batting as their strength‚ we'll play the seam bowling options and that could bring Morne Morkel back into the equation.

"The same could apply when there are good bowling teams in tricky conditions.

"A lengthened batting line-up could be a necessity.”

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now