Proteas, West Indies start new ODI era
SOUTH Africa have a new coach and the West Indies a new captain as they start a three-match one-day international series at Buffalo Park tomorrow.
Proteas coach Rob Walter and West Indian captain Shai Hope will both be seeking a winning formula at the beginning of a crucial period for both teams in the lead-up to the World Cup in India in October and November.
SA and the West Indies aren’t guaranteed a place at cricket’s showpiece event as they languish in eighth and ninth places on the ICC World Cup Super League.
The top eight teams qualify automatically for the World Cup – the rest will have to survive a qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe in June and July.
The Proteas can overtake the West Indies – and both could be trumped by Sri Lanka – as the Super League comes to an end early next month.
The series starting tomorrow will not count towards qualification as it falls outside the Super League programme.
Both teams will be much-changed from the sides that played in a Test series won 2-0 by the Proteas.
Only four of the South Africans played in the Tests, including captain Temba Bavuma.
The other three, fast bowler Gerald Coetzee and batsman Tony de Zorzi – who both made their Test debuts in the recent series – and Ryan Rickelton, have yet to play in an ODI.
Injuries kept out all-rounder Wiaan
Mulder and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who were originally selected.
Walter will take charge for the first time since being appointed last month. He has worked with the SA team as a strength and conditioning coach, but has spent the past seven years coaching in New Zealand.
He has made changes in the support staff, including the appointment of former national players JP Duminy and Rory Kleinveldt as batting and bowling coaches.
Hope, 29, was appointed West Indies captain after Nicholas Pooran resigned from the white-ball leadership after the T20 World Cup last year. Pooran is still part of the squad.
Hope has an impressive ODI record, with an average of 48.95 from 104 matches. He captained Barbados in the regional 50-over competition last year.
Roston Chase, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alazarri Joseph and Kyle Mayers played in the Tests.
The first two matches will be played at Buffalo Park, which has not hosted an ODI since Bangladesh played there in October 2017. Since then there have been two T20 internationals, the most recent against England in February 2020. | AFP
Squads:
Temba Bavuma (captain), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Sisanda Magala, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Lizaad Williams, Rassie van der Dussen.
Shai Hope (captain), Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Keecy Carty, Roston Chase, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith.
Fixtures:
16 March, East London (day-night) 18 March, East London (day-night) 21 March, Potchefstroom (day)