ICC World Cup | South Africa pick Anrich Nortje as Wiaan Mulder misses out
The South African national selection committee have selected Anrich Nortje in their 15-man squad for the 2019 World Cup while all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has missed out from it. Even though Hashim Amla has been out of form, the selectors decided to stick with him, with the faith that he will fire.
Since February 2018, Amla has been able to score just three half-centuries and a hundred, and the confidence has been shaken to the core. However, the speculation that South Africa would do away with him never came to fruition as the selectors named him in the 15-man squad for the World Cup in England and Wales. While they have retained Faf du Plessis as the skipper, David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen will be the back-up wicket-keepers in the team lest any injury happens to Quinton de Kock.Â
Aiden Markram, who has been in exceptional form in the domestic one-day competition, has sent Reeza Hendricks down the pecking order and has been picked in the squad. Markram was at the top of the batting charts in the South African franchise one-day cricket with 542 runs in five innings at an average of 108.40, he had already sent a strong statement.
While Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn will be the two prime pace bowlers in the team, Lungi Ngidi will be the third pacer in the team. Imran Tahir and Tabraiz Shamsi have been picked as the two spinners, with JP Duminy will be South Africa’s equivalent of Kedar Jadhav thanks to his part-time off-spin.
"We are very happy with the squad we have been able to put together and have every confidence in their ability to do our country proud at the World Cup," CSA National Selection Panel convener Linda Zondi said.
"The fact that we have managed to win our last five series in a row in this format against Zimbabwe, Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka twice underlines the quality of the team that Faf will lead into the contest.
"The final selection is also the result of a very rigorous search we have conducted, leaving no stone unturned, to make sure that we have made the best use of the options available to us."
South Africa will play their first match against tournament hosts England at the Oval on May 30 to kick start the 2019 World Cup.
Squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), JP Duminy, David Miller, Dale Steyn, Andile Phehlukwayo, Imran Tahir, Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pretorius, Quinton de Kock (wk), Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Hashim Amla, Tabraiz Shamsi