Opinion

Proteas have a great chance of winning

The Proteas have the quality to win the Champions Trophy, but they didn’t need to pick two spinners.

The selectors made the right call by including Keshav Maharaj and Morné Morkel, as they don’t affect the continuity of the side.

Domestic T20s are driving cricket’s shortest format, so there’s no need to put bilateral T20 series on the international schedule.

Aiden Markram will play for the Proteas, but there’s no need to rush.

Can we fault the selectors for giving De Bruyn a go at opening? Based on the other options available, no.

No 1 in the ODI rankings. No 2 in the Test rankings. The Proteas can reflect on a very successful season.

The top-order failings throughout the series means the Proteas were fortunate to have won the series against New Zealand.

A dearth of substantial top-order partnerships continues to limit the Proteas’ potency.

Keshav Maharaj’s arrival and Morné Morkel’s return bode well for a Proteas side with grand ambitions.

Imran Tahir would have been a good horses-for-courses inclusion for the third Test against New Zealand.

Stephen Cook, Hashim Amla, and Temba Bavuma need to find form ahead of a series in England where big team scores will be paramount.

The three-match Test series should be a chance for the Proteas to have a look at the fringe players in the squad.

The Proteas have found the right combinations to challenge for the Champions Trophy.

The ODI series finale in Auckland should provide the South African attack with a shot at death-bowling redemption.

Defeat to New Zealand in Christchurch showed that the Proteas still have much to rectify in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy.