Ruck & Maul Column, by Ashfak Mohamed
Here’s an oldie but a goodie regarding SA cricket: The Proteas have won an International Cricket Council tournament, despite their nightmare history in ICC events over the years.
The very first incarnation of the ICC Champions Trophy – which begins this week in Pakistan and the UAE – was as the ICC KnockOut Trophy in Bangladesh in 1998.
South Africa had a depleted team, due to injury and resting protocols even at that time, which saw virtually their entire bowling attack missing out: Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and Roger Telemachus, as well as left-handed opener Gary Kirsten.
Only off-spinner Pat Symcox remained from the usual specialist bowling line-up, along with batting all-rounder Jacques Kallis.
But that was no problem for master tactician, coach Bob Woolmer. He came up with the strategy of using No 4 batter Daryll Cullinan as an opener alongside the hard-hitting Mike Rindel.
Not only that, but in two of the three South African matches, Symcox opened the bowling with success, recording figures of 1/45 and 1/29 in 10 overs each.
Alan Dawson was a newcomer who opened the bowling against England. Then Steve Elworthy took over against Sri Lanka and in the final against the West Indies, which SA won by four wickets – with major contributions from Kallis (5/30 and 37), captain Hansie Cronjé (2/44 and 61 not out) and Rindel (49).
Woolmer even used three specialist spinners in two games: Symcox, Nicky Bojé and Derek Crookes.
So, perhaps the Proteas Class of 2025 can take inspiration from the 1998 champions. Coach Rob Walter and his team, despite reaching the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final, have battled in the 50-over arena since then.
They have lost 2-1 to India in SA, lost 2-1 to Afghanistan in the UAE, beat Ireland 2-1 in the UAE, lost 3-0 to Pakistan in South Africa this season, and lost to both New Zealand and Pakistan in the Tri-Nation Series last week.
That indicates they are far from a well-oiled machine, and there are some major selection calls Walter and his management have to make for the Champions Trophy group-stage encounters against Afghanistan, Australia and England.
I think it is worth trying something different, especially in a place like Pakistan, where the pitches are unforgiving for the fast bowlers – if the results at the National Stadium in Karachi in the Tri-Nation Series are anything to go by.
The Proteas are unable to defend 304/6 against New Zealand and a whopping 352/5 against Pakistan.
They are already missing top fast bowlers such as Anrich Nortjé, Gerald Coetzee, Ottniel Baartman and Nandré Burger to injury, while in the Tri-Nation Series, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Aiden Markram didn’t feature as they had just competed in the SA20.
The same goes for Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen and Tristan Stubbs, who will strengthen the batting in Friday’s Champions Trophy opener against Afghanistan in Karachi.
But should the Proteas go with a ‘traditional’ batting line-up, with the likes of Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, Van der Dussen and Markram as the Top 4?
I’m not so sure. I would like to see Heinrich Klaasen, in particular, bat higher than his usual No 5 slot.
He has the ability to take the game away from the opposition, and in batting conditions like Pakistan, Klaasen – who also boasts the highest SA ODI strike-rate of 117.44 – needs to face as many balls as possible and ‘launch’ from early on.
How about Bavuma and Markram as the openers against Afghanistan, with Klaasen at No 3?
All three are also fine players of spin, and can counter the likes of Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad.
On the bowling front, Markram provides a useful right-arm off-spin option, and hopefully the Proteas field both specialist spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, and are not shy to open the bowling with the tweakers too.
In that way, the South Africans can avoid being predictable and not allow Afghanistan’s top-order of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal and Rahmat Shah of just hitting through the line against the pace of Rabada, Jansen, Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder.
Let’s hope that the Proteas are not shy to think out of the box, as they try to emulate the Class of 1998.
Ashfak Mohamed is Independent Media's deputy sports editor. He is a veteran of sports journalism with over two decades of experience