ICC World Cup 2019 | They really did not have a plan B, says Jonty Rhodes about South Africa’s World Cup campaign

07/08/2019

Jonty Rhodes believes that the South African team went to the World Cup with just one plan - to bowl fast. Although they ended the tournament with two wins, lack of ideas, an unsettled playing XI and under-performing players were the key factors in a disappointing campaign for South Africa.

Despite a poor run of results over the last 12 months, South Africa came into the World Cup ranked third in ODIs. However, the team failed to live up to even the lowest of expectations. At the end of the round robin stage, the Proteas return home with just three wins from nine outings, out of which two were dead rubbers against Sri Lanka and Australia. Rhodes blamed the team for the lack of a plan B in their approach to a match.

“They really did not have a Plan B. Plan A was to bowl fast. But England has two summers. One is cold and swinging conditions while others one is flat and hot. You can’t just have Plan A here. You cannot just expect to bowl people over with sheer pace. So, in my opinion, they need different approaches to the game,” Rhodes told Hindustan Times.

South Africa began the tournament in the worst possible fashion, losing to England, Bangladesh, and India. Despite winning their next game against Afghanistan comfortably, they then lost to New Zealand and Pakistan to ensure their exit from the World Cup with three games to spare. Other than their poor planning, Rhodes believes that the team management failed to identify their best playing XI prior to the tournament. The former cricketer added that the ones who were picked didn’t perform their roles well either.

“The last twelve months have not been that pretty when it comes to their domestic results and they did not know their best XI. When you go to a World Cup and you are not even sure about your playing XI, I think you are in trouble. Also, the players who were expected to perform did not work out in the tournament,” Rhodes said.

South African captain Faf du Plessis took full responsibility for his team’s ‘embarrassing’ performance. However, the team did spring something of a bounce back at the back end of the tournament. With wins against Sri Lanka and Australia, the Proteas boys can go back home with their heads not entirely down cast.

Beating Australia by 10 runs in the final game of the league phase meant that Australia finished second in the points table, and will play England at Edgbaston on Thursday. India, who finished top, will play New Zealand at Old Trafford on Tuesday in the other semifinal. Rhodes had his say on which two teams will qualify for the final on 14th.

“Australia are going to play India in the final. But, no one is a favourite,” Rhodes said.