A seriously good squad… but what about the allrounder?

HERE’S the South African squad for this year’s World Cup.

Some feel that this squad is the strongest South Africa has had in some years.That may be true. We have some serious stars in AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn.

However, the number 7 spot is one in which we are nowhere near as potent as in World Cups past.

Our allrounder cupboard is bare. Consider some of the past players who could bat and bowl: Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and Brian McMillan could all have made the team as a batsman or a bowler.

Then there were lesser allrounders like Nicky Boje, Pat Symcox, even Hansie Cronje.

Now our best allrounder would not make the team as a batsman or a bowler.

Farhaan Behardien’s biggest asset is probably his fielding.

But he may surprise.

The likely team, considering everyone is fit, will look as follows:

1. Hashim Amla

2. Quinton de Kock

3. Faf du Plessis

4. AB de Villiers

5. David Miller

6. JP Duminy

7. Farhaan Behardien

8. Vernon Philander

9. Dale Steyn

10. Morne Morkel

11. Imran Tahir

Wayne Parnell could push for Behardien’s spot, especially if the track is spicy, although the argument could be made that an extra batsman is therefore a better option.

Kyle Abbott is there as replacement if one of the quicks break down.

Rilee Rossouw is also there supposedly as backup for a top order batsman, but the way he has been playing, the selectors may be tempted to find a place for him.

Aaron Phangiso is backup for Tahir, or if the track looks like it could take spin, as a second spinner.

But with Duminy there to bowl off-spinners, it’s unlikely that this will be the case.