The Star Late Edition

Who will grab a late World Cup slot?

- ZAAHIER ADAMS zaahier.adams@inl.co.za

WITH the World Cup just under two months away, the Momentum OneDay Cup could be the ideal platform for any player from the six franchises competing to put their name up in lights and barge their way into the 15-man Proteas squad. Here we profile five players who could give the selectors something to think about.

CAPE COBRAS: JASON SMITH

There are many who believe that the 24-year-old is the answer to the problemati­c No 7 spot in the Proteas’ ODI team. Due to his long levers, Smith hits a long ball but is equally adept at batting with the tail, which is crucial to the role. He can also bowl useful medium-pace and is more than capable of contributi­ng five overs or more. At the moment he is down the pecking order below a few all-rounders, but if he is able to string a few consistent performanc­es together in the One-Day Cup, he might just be a late inclusion on the plane to England.

WARRIORS: ANRICH NORTJE

The “Uitenhage Express” was the sensation of the Mzansi Super League through his sheer pace until an ankle injury brought his participat­ion in the inaugural tournament to an early close. Despite the injury, Nortje was still picked up in the Indian Premier League auction by the Kolkata Knight Riders. Nortje has completed his rehabilita­tion and will test his fitness on Sunday in a provincial match for Eastern Province before being unleashed in the One-Day Cup next week. If he rattles a few batsmen again and goes on a wicket splurge, it may be tough to leave him at home.

HIGHVELD LIONS: BEURAN HENDRICKS

It would have been great to see 20-yearold Wiaan Mulder compete in the OneDay Cup for the Lions, but just to show how highly he is regarded by the national selectors, Mulder received a Test call-up yesterday for the Sri Lanka series. A close eye should therefore be kept on left-arm seamer Hendricks. At 28, Hendricks can no longer be regarded as a youngster, but he is still a rookie in terms of internatio­nal cricket. His stocks have certainly risen after a career-best T20I performanc­e at Centurion in midweek and with Proteas coach Ottis Gibson keen to add variety to the attack, the fact that Hendricks is a leftarmer could just sway the vote his way.

TITANS: AIDEN MARKRAM & HEINRICH KLAASEN

The Titans duo finds themselves in the same boat. Unfortunat­ely, they may both be left without a paddle if they don’t pile on the runs in the One-Day Cup. Klaasen has not made the most of his opportunit­ies with the national squad but remains the first-choice back-up wicketkeep­er. Markram, meanwhile, has had to look on while the likes of Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen have passed him by. He will need an enormous tournament for the selectors to look his way again.

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