The greats are gone but a well-rounded Proteas team could surprise in the T20 World Cup

Some of South Africa’s greats have come and gone without winning a world trophy.

Could the 2022 T20 World Cup be the time that the Proteas shine?

Greats like Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers have come and gone, and while the current crop of players are very talented, they are not in the same bracket as their predecessors.

Despite this, the Proteas will forge towards the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia looking to ruffle some feathers and go as deep in the competition as they can. They will be keen to build on their performances at the last World Cup where they were pipped to the knockout stages by England and Australia.

An opening day loss to the Aussies by five-wickets was followed by an eight-wicket win over the West Indies. Next, they fought to a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka before they steamrolled Bangladesh.

They then took the competition by the scruff of the neck as they beat England by 10 runs in the final game in a phenomenal display. Despite this, England and Australia went through to the next round by virtue of their superior net run rate.

Ultimately, it was an impressive showing at the last World Cup, and South Africa will be keen to build on it and forget about their group-stage elimination.

As South Africa begin their preparations for the T20 World Cup, they will look to their senior players to lead them forward, while they boast an exciting crop of younger players that could be vital.

We expect to see Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock opening with Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram coming in behind them. South Africa’s top four is very strong and boasts players that can dig in and bat or score runs quickly.

The middle order is an interesting proposition, with Heinrich Klassen and Tristan Stubbs exceptionally exciting and explosive players. If the pair can come in with their side in a good position, allowing them to play their own way, carnage could ensue.

We are also excited to see the likes of Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi and Andile Phehlukwayo, all with the ball. While South Africa may not be seen as in the same category as England, Australia or India, they actually have one of the highest quality and most well-rounded teams in the world.

Questioning whether a side can win the World Cup is what each nation will be doing right now. Favourites Australia, India and England will fancy themselves, but any of the sides in the Super 12 can win the tournament, such is the competition between the teams.

It is clear then that South Africa’s chances of winning the World Cup both rest on how well they play, and the level the opposition can hit. If every side plays to their limit, then most would fancy England to win the competition, and leading betting sites make them favourites.

However, the Proteas will feel that they have done well to avoid England and Australia in their Super 12 group. Similarly, they beat England in a three-match T20 series in July 2022, while they defeated the same opponents in the T20 World Cup last year. If they can secure a victory over either India or Pakistan, then there is no reason why South Africa should fail to get out of their group and possibly shock the world, with this crop of South African players looking to make names for themselves.