Titans assistant coach Geoffrey Toyana says Temba Bavuma would be the first name on his Proteas teamsheet for the T20 World Cup.
Bavuma has made just 64 runs in seven T20I innings this year at an average of 10.66 and a strike rate of 82.05.
In the recent T20I series against India he was dismissed for nought off four balls, nought off seven and three off eight.
However, Toyana says the Proteas must continue to back their out-of-form captain and could consider moving him down the order to accommodate the red-hot Reeza Hendricks.
“Going into this tournament you need to know who your top six are,” he told the Sunday Times. “Reeza Hendricks has shown some good form, but he didn’t even play in India [as Bavuma was selected instead]. I’m sure that is something that they have spoken about as a group and everybody knows where they stand.
“Quinny [Quinton de Kock] is the type of a guy who is a match-winner and has the experience so he is required there. Temba, he is your captain. Temba, for me, is the first name on the list.
“Yes, I know he is not in good form. I know he is in a tough space, but Temba, for me, plays. They just have to look and see who fits in where. Whether Reeza opens and Temba goes at No 3 or No 4, that’s the conversation that is going to be the toughest for me.”
If Bavuma was moved down the order, Rilee Rossouw – who scored 100* off 48 balls in the third T20 against India – or Aiden Markram could fall out of the team.
