RYAN VREDE rates the Proteas after their opening World Cup match against Australia.
Quinton de Kock (4)
Alongside Rassie van der Dussen, De Kock has been the Proteas’ most consistent batter this year. However, after two failures in the warm-up matches, he got a limp dismissal in the opener. The Proteas desperately need him to fire to stand any chance of progressing from their group.
Temba Bavuma (3)
In club cricket, the lads will banter with each other about missing straight deliveries that weren’t actually that straight at all. Well, the one that got Bavuma was. He just wasn’t good enough to keep it out. No opener at the tournament should get out to that delivery. His captaincy was OK under the circumstances.
Rassie van der Dussen (4)
Got a peach from Josh Hazelwood that he couldn’t do much about.
Aiden Markram (7)
In the buildup to the tournament, I wrote that his form would be central to the Proteas’ success. A score of 40 helped get the team something to defend. It wasn’t enough, but Markram reinforced the assertion that he is critical to holding things together.
Heinrich Klaasen (3)
The fascination with him is perplexing. He is so obviously not an international-standard player. He walked to the crease with the team in trouble, and walked out with them in deeper trouble. He was selected to bat at No 5 knowing that he either needed to finish the innings, or hold it together in the case of a top-order wobble. He failed at his job, as he has for the bulk of his T20I career. The Proteas need to move on from Klaasen.
David Miller (5)
South Africa’s nearly man underwhelms again. He needed to take the partnership with Markram deep. Instead, he tried to force the game and paid the price. Such poor tactical understanding from a player 90 T20Is deep into his career.
Dwaine Pretorius (4)
Criminal to get out in the same over as Miller, especially in the context of the nothing shot he played. He was ineffective with the ball, but could hardly be expected to defend a mediocre target.
Keshav Maharaj (6)
Excellent with the ball, his four overs costing just 23 runs. His contributions to choking the run rate will be critical going forward.
Kagiso Rabada (6)
Followed his cameo with the bat by out-thinking David Warner with the ball. Rabada bowled smartly and quickly, but had very little room for error given the target he was defending.
Anrich Nortje (7)
Outstanding performance by the speedster, who dismissed Aaron Finch and Steve Smith, en route to conceding just 21 runs in his four overs.
Tabraiz Shamsi (6)
The world’s leading T20I bowler showed all of his class, conceding 22 runs and bagging Glenn Maxwell’s wicket.
