The unfortunate South African players who were left out of each World Cup squad.

1992: Jimmy Cook and the late Clive Rice were two of the most dominant cricketers in the 80s and were legends of the game, but both players were nearing the end of their careers by the time the 1992 World Cup came around. This saw a highly controversial snub. Rice went as far as bashing the convenor of selectors Peter van der Merwe, saying: ‘I was very pissed off not to go. I never saw eye to eye with our chairman of selectors. He was a total amateur when it came to playing the game and he was the same as a selector.’

Squad: Kepler Wessels (c), Tertius Bosch, Hansie Cronje, Allan Donald, Omar Henry, Andrew Hudson, Peter Kirsten, Adrian Kuiper, Brian McMillan, Meyrick Pringle, Jonty Rhodes, Dave Richardson (wk), Mark Rushmere, Richard Snell

1996: South Africa were considered one of the best sides in the world. There were no majorly controversial omittances besides Dave Richardson being left out due to a fractured finger he picked up keeping against England in East London.

Squad: Hansie Cronje (c), Paul Adams, Daryl Cullinan, Fanie de Villiers, Allan Donald, Andrew Hudson, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Craig Matthews, Brian McMillan, Steve Palframan (wk), Shaun Pollock, Jonty Rhodes, Pat Symcox

1999: Makhaya Ntini was dropped from the squad after being convicted on 23 April for a serious criminal offence. He was replaced by Alan Dawson. South Africa were the No 1-ranked team and were tipped as favourites to win the World Cup. Sadly, THAT run-out occurred between Lance Klusener and Allan Donald in the semi-final against Australia, which crushed South African hearts.

Squad: Hansie Cronje (c), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Dale Benkenstein, Shaun Pollock, Jonty Rhodes, Mark Boucher (wk), Allan Donald, Derek Crookes, Alan Dawson, Lance Klusener, Steve Elworthy, Nicky Boje

2003: Graeme Smith was initially left out of the World Cup squad. He was exceptional at the provincial level, and it surprised many when he missed out of the squad for the World Cup in his home country. He was, however, added to the squad after South Africa’s second game due to an injury to Jonty Rhodes. This saw a young Smith play three matches, scoring 23 against New Zealand, 63 against Canada and 35 against Sri Lanka.

Squad: Shaun Pollock (c), Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher (wk), Boeta Dippenaar, Allan Donald, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Lance Klusener, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Jonty Rhodes, Graeme Smith, Monde Zondeki

2007: Boeta Dippenaar missed out on selection despite being in the World Cup squad in 2003. He averaged 40 in 2006, but with South Africa favouring the brave cricket approach, they opted for a young AB de Villiers, who averaged 34 and fitted the attacking brand of cricket the Proteas were aiming to play.

Squad: Graeme Smith (c), Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, André Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Roger Telemachus

2011: Mark Boucher was left out of the side in 2011. The selectors opted for Morne van Wyk. The rumour around his selection came during a match in Nagpur against India. The 31-year-old dropped three catches and missed a stumping.

Squad: Graeme Smith (c), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers (wk), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morne van Wyk (wk)

2015: Before this World Cup, Jacques Kallis pulled the plug on his career. ‘I realised in Sri Lanka that my dream of playing in a World Cup was a bridge too far. I just knew on that tour that I was done’. There are many who believed that Amla should’ve done the same before the World Cup selection in 2019. Ryan McLaren was also a big casualty to miss out, with Wayne Parnell getting the nod ahead of him.

Squad: AB de Villiers (c, wk), Hashi Amla, Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir

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Photo: Duif du Toit / Gallo Images