• South Africa’s all-time World Cup XI

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    Several former and current South African cricketers have starred across seven World Cup campaigns, but none more than these 11. Warning: no room for batsmen Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith, or fast bowler Dale Steyn.

    1. Gary Kirsten (World Cup matches: 21; runs: 806; average: 47.41)

    • The veteran left-hander gathered 806 runs across three World Cup campaigns – and 1996’s 188 not out against the United Arab Emirates is still among ODI cricket’s 15 highest individual scores.

    2. Kepler Wessels (World Cup matches: 9; runs: 313; average: 44.71)

    • South Africa’s first World Cup captain, the steely left-hander ground out an average of 44 at the country’s maiden campaign when the whole world watched the newcomers reach the semi-finals.

    3. Jacques Kallis (World Cup matches: 36; runs: 1148; batting average: 45.92; wickets: 21; bowling average: 43.04)

    • The stalwart all-rounder’s 36 World Cup matches are the most for a South African. He also boasts the second most runs and was the country’s seventh-highest wicket-taker at the event.

    4. Faf du Plessis (World Cup matches: 14; runs: 539; average: 53.90)

    • South Africa’s captain keeps Hashim Amla out of this hypothetical XI. Du Plessis’ 539 World Cup runs are 100 less than Amla’s 639, but in two innings less, with an average of almost a dozen more.

    5. AB de Villiers, wicketkeeper (World Cup matches: 23; runs: 1207; average: 63.52)

    • South Africa’s leading World Cup run-scorer, the talismanic right-hander averaged a full 10 runs more at the global tournament than in regular ODI competition.

    6. Herschelle Gibbs (World Cup matches: 25; runs: 1067; average: 56.15)

    • Third only to de Villiers and Kallis among South Africa’s leading World Cup run-scorers, Gibbs struck six sixes in one over against the Netherlands in 2007.

    7. Lance Klusener (World Cup matches: 14; runs: 372; batting average: 124; wickets: 22; bowling average: 22.13)

    • Klusener’s World Cup batting average is a whopping 124 on the back of eight not-outs. He also took 22 wickets – and was named Player of the Tournament after the 1999 World Cup.

    8. Shaun Pollock, captain (World Cup matches: 31; wickets: 31; bowling average: 31.29; runs: 279; batting average: 17.43)

    • Pollock played under Graeme Smith at one World Cup, two with Hansie Cronje – and captained a fourth. He took 31 wickets in as many matches – and weighed in with some lower-order runs.

    9. Morne Morkel (World Cup matches: 14; wickets: 26; bowling average: 19.46)

    • Morkel keeps fellow fast bowler Dale Steyn out of this XI, having taken four more wickets at a significantly stronger average. Steyn, of course, can balance – or tip – the scales at this World Cup.

    10. Imran Tahir (World Cup matches: 13; wickets: 29; bowling average: 16.31)

    • The leg-spinner has secured 29 wickets in 13 World Cup events. If he takes 10 wickets this month and the next, he’ll be the country’s leading World Cup wicket-taker.

    11. Allan Donald (World Cup matches: 25; wickets: 38; bowling average: 24.02)

    • South Africa’s highest World Cup wicket-taker, Donald has 38 in 25 matches, but will likely be surpassed by Tahir soon enough.

    Photo: Gallo Images

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