Five bowlers aiming their seams at Champions Trophy in England
WHEN a team is ranked No 1 in the world like the Proteas are in ODI cricket, there are often not many holes to fill.
The batting department is loaded with superstars, and in wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock they have one of the best glovemen in the business.
However, the Proteas will readily admit that the bowling department, particularly the pace-bowlers, are still a work in progress with the search continuing for Kagiso Rabada’s permanent new-ball partner.
With the One-Day Cup starting while the Proteas lay ghosts to rest in New Zealand, we take a closer look at a few veterans returning and a couple of young upstarts looking to fill that berth when the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy gets selected later this year.
Morne Morkel – Titans ODIs: 108, Wickets: 181, BB: 5/21, Eco: 4.95, Ave: 24.60, Five-wicket hauls: 2 Nobody was sure when the lanky paceman was actually going to make his return to competitive action after a lengthy back injury, least of all the fast bowler himself, who admitted this week: “There was a time when I was in doubt about my future. I was told that I would never be able to play cricket again and it was a mental thing to go to the gym. One doctor actually told me that my days as a player were numbered, which was not a nice thing to hear.”
Fortunately for Morkel and South African cricket, the prognosis was not accurate and he will be in action for the Titans during the OneDay Cup. His progress will be closely monitored, with the Proteas team management holding their collective breath that the 32-year-old gets through the competition unscathed.
Vernon Philander Cobras ODIs: 30, Wickets: 41, BB: 4/12, Eco: 4.62, Ave: 24.04, Five-wicket hauls: 0 Another national stalwart
– Cape on the comeback trail, Philander will be hoping to use the One-Day Cup to convince the national selectors that he should not be pigeon-holed as a Test bowler. Philander has only played two further ODIs since the 2015 World Cup semi-final selection debacle, but with the other half of that episode Kyle Abbott now plying his trade with Hampshire it has opened a way for a possible return.
It is believed that the Proteas are wary of exposing Philander’s fragile body to the hurly-burly nature of ODI cricket as he is such an integral part of the Test bowling attack. At the same time, though, they know the value Philander could add to the ODI bowling unit in the seamer-friendly conditions in England. How he shapes up at the backend of the innings for the Cobras will also be crucial to his recall.
Lungi Ngidi – Titans T20Is: 3, Wickets: 6, BB: 4/19, Eco: 5.50, Ave: 7.03, Five-wicket hauls: 0 The 20-year-old is meant to be over in New Zealand furthering his progress on the international stage after a stellar debut in the T20 series against Sri Lanka, but a hip injury has halted that momentum. It’s a real pity, as Ngidi showed great promise when terrorising the Sri Lankan batsmen with his pace – he consistently bowled in excess of 140km/h – and steep bounce. He will only return to action in the latter part of the One-Day Cup, but will now be eager to make up on lost time. The youngster will also benefit from having the experienced Morkel around for the competition and will look to learn from the experienced Proteas fast bowler at training.
Beuran Hendricks – Highveld Lions T20Is: 5, Wickets: 5, BB: 2/31, Eco: 8.94, Ave: 29.80, Five-wicket hauls: 0 Hendricks could easily be regarded as the forgotten man of SA fast bowling. The left-armer has always showed promise ever since smashing the national T20 domestic record, when he snared 28 scalps in 2014 that earned him five Proteas T20 caps and a lucrative IPL contract with the Kings XI Punjab. However a litany of injuries since, ranging from stress fractures and back ailments has seen the 26-year-old fall out of favour at his home franchise, the Cobras. This has forced Hendricks to look elsewhere to revive his ailing career and has subsequently opted for a loan move to the Lions.
The change seems to have inspired the big fast bowler as he is among the wickets again, having taken 14 – including 5/89 last weekend – in his three Sunfoil Series outings for Geoff Toyana’s team.
He was instrumental in the Cobras reaching last season’s final when he bagged 11 wickets in just six matches at 20 runs apiece and if he stays on the park, he could be one of the shrewdest signings of the summer for the Lions. Andrew Birch – Warriors Uncapped At 31-years-old it is unlikely that Birch will get a national call-up at this late stage, but the veteran Warriors seamer continues to put out impressive numbers. He was the second-highest wicket-taker in this season’s T20 Challenge with 17 wickets, but played two matches less than the leading bowler in the competition Hardus Viljoen (19 wickets).
An honest performer that never lets any team he plays for down, Birch will need to spearhead the Warriors attack with similar gusto if Linda Zondi and Co are to look his way. He can wield the willow with authority too, lower down the order, which could work in his favour.