ICC World Cup 2019 | Imran Tahir has had a phenomenal career for South Africa, states Daniel Vettori
Daniel Vettori heaped praise on Imran Tahir and stated that he should be proud of the career he has had ahead of the leg spinner’s final game in national colours on Saturday. He also talked about the future plans for South Africa cricket with Rassie van der Dussen as a possible centrepiece.
Having made his international debut for South Africa in ODIs in the team’s opening game of the 2011 World Cup against the West Indies, life has come a complete circle for the 40-year-old as he bids adieu to the format against Australia in the final match of the 2019 World Cup.Â
The late bloomer has 108 caps for the country in the format and 172 wickets to his name at an excellent average of below 25. His tendency to bowl frequent googlies along with the occasional sliders have made him a ringing success in the white ball format in recent years and he will go down in history as one of the greatest ever spinners to have played for the Proteas.
“He has been a fantastic servant and he obviously came into the South African team pretty late in his career. He has played for a lot of teams around the world, played a lot of franchise cricket but every time he has turned up for South Africa in the fifty overs format, he has been fantastic,” Daniel Vettori said in pre-match program for ESPNCricinfo.
Tahir surpassed legends of the game such as Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, and Dale Steyn to become the country’s leading wicket-taker in World Cups at an outstanding average of 20.2 when he got Imam-ul Haq out in the match against Pakistan. His tally of 39 wickets included five four plus wicket hauls in the mega event.
“To be the highest wicket-taker for South Africa in World Cups when they have got such a great history of bowlers such as Donald and Pollock, as a spinner for South Africa in World Cups it has been phenomenal. He has been used in so many different ways and as an attacking weapon by every South Africa captain that he has had, he can look back on his career with pride because of the success that he has had,” Vettori added.
South Africa end a disastrous campaign against Australia having won only a couple of the\eir games and were one of the first teams to get knocked out. Never before had they had such a poor start to a World Cup campaign and though a win against the table toppers might boost their morale, they need to seriously plan ahead for the future. One of the positives in the tournament for them has been Russie van der Dussen’s form as the newcomer has 216 runs at an average of 54 in the tournament including two half-centuries at an impressive strike rate of 87.45.
“I think that’s the formula for every cricket team. When you get knocked out, you look at the younger guys to build towards the next World Cup. Rassie van der Dussen has had a very good tournament and he has been consistent throughout. He has been playing in that tricky role of four and five and those players that can handle the pressure under different circumstances are very important. If he can slot him in there and Faf continues in his role, maybe a change in the openers depending on what Amla does but the solid nature of their middle order is something they can really capitalize on going forward,” Vettori concluded on the matter.
