Picking the Proteas: This squad can win the World Cup

The Proteas will head to India in September for another tilt at ending the Cricket World Cup heartache that has beset South Africa since readmission.

This time, however, they have a chance to take a world-beating squad, if they follow our suggestions.

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After naming a 19-man squad to face Australia, the Proteas will have to slash that group to 15 players that will make the trip to India.

There are some tough calls to make, but there is a definite ideal 15.

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Proteas leaders

Temba Bavuma will skipper the side but ultimately this team is packed full of leaders of different types, from T20 skipper Aiden Markram to lead fast bowler Kagiso Rabada.

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The Proteas should have a good idea of their ideal top six which includes Bavuma opening the batting with Quinton de Kock.

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Rassie van der Dussen and Markram will hold down the middle order.

Meanwhile for finishers, you cannot go wrong with in-form Heinrich Klaasen and No 5 and David Miller as the safety net at No 6.

The reserve batter is a man who keeps knocking on the Proteas XI door in Reeza Hendricks.

Allrounder question

A pair of allrounders with a bowling slant is par for the course in the Proteas setup and here there is a tough call to make.

Contending for those places are Marco Jansen, Imaad Fortuin, Wayne Parnell and Gerald Coetzee. Even with Fortuin’s spin the inclination here is to turn to potential match-winners Jansen and Coetzee.

The Proteas best spin options are clear and Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi will slot neatly into the group.

Frontline fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala all have IPL experience and should know what to do with the white ball on the subcontinent.

Markam’s improving spin provides another slow bowling option to offset the pace dominance of the South African attack.

Selectors must avoid being tempted into taking a spinner not quite up to snuff over an in-form quick who could still turn a match in India.

This 15-man group has everything the Proteas need to match and better the best sides in the world.

Proteas squad selection

Please note this is not the actual Proteas Cricket World Cup squad, even if it should be.

Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Reeza Hendricks, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Sisanda Magala.

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