Lance Klusener on his haunches at Edgbaston and a completely shattered AB de Villiers in Auckland are some of the most poignant pictures of South Africa’s World Cup semi-final heartbreaks but come Thursday, Temba Bavuma’s warriors would be determined to shed their eternal chokers tag against five-time champions Australia.
As the defending ODI world champions, Australia would want to rub it in as best they can, but every South African cricketer worth his salt despises the term “C.”
When it comes to the 50-over World Cup, Australia generate a feeling of dread and anxiety among their competitors, having won five of the 12 championships so far — of which four have come in the previous six editions — as they are renowned for prospering in big situations.
It’s been the opposite narrative for South Africa who have reached the semi-finals four times from nine editions, but it’s always been a tale of being so close but so distant.
Whether it was their error in calculating the rain rule in their first World Cup semifinal match against England in 1992 or the draw in 1999 that allowed Australia to go to the final on superior run-rate, the Proteas have never been able to get beyond the round of four for whatever reason.
In 2015, Grant Elliott played the only major innings of his international career at Eden Park.
“As a South African team, we know we’re going to have that chip on our back, or that narrative that we have to get over,” South Africa captain Bavuma said, constantly being questioned about the storyline.
But such has been the anger exhibited by South Africa this time in the process of reaching the semi-final that the Proteas appear likely to overcome it.
That will remain in place until we are awarded a trophy. Though, to be clear, I haven’t heard that phrase spoken in the training as of yet,” he cautions.
Barring their batting failure against India at the same site here when they collapsed for 83 in the group round and the defeat against the Netherlands, South Africa have looked menacing in the batting department.
Four of their top-six batsmen have struck hundreds with wicketkeeper-batter Quinton De Kock leading the way in the opening position with four to his record in his swansong campaign. He is the tournament’s top run-getter with 591 runs.
It just continues to grow more devastating as the batting order goes down.
Rassie van der Dussen has been able to give the steadiness at No 3, averaging 55.25 — their second-highest in this event after De Kock’s 65.66.
On spin-friendly conditions, Heinrich Klaasen has been at his ruthless best, while Aiden Markram has been able to deliver powerful finishes, as South Africa have managed to move above 300 six times and recorded the World Cup’s highest total of 428/5 against Sri Lanka.
It’s just David Miller who has received limited chances and is poised for a huge hit, while Bavuma is the only weak link in their power-packed batting.
Struggling with a terrible record, Bavuma has 145 runs from seven innings with his best being 35 against Australia while he is also fighting against time to recuperate from a hamstring problem.
If unfit for the encounter against Australia, Bavuma will likely be replaced Reeza Hendricks who would then begin alongside De Kock.
Hendricks has participated in two games so far in this tournament and has scored 85 against England.
“Bavuma seems to be close in every training session and every innings. A good score is just around the bend.
“Now as far as being undroppable, nobody is bigger than the team. The same applies for everyone,” the South African coach Rob Walter has said.
This time, the Proteas are also gifted with a left-arm fast in Marco Jansen who has been their second best wicket-taker (17) as he would aim to provide them early breakthrough, sharing the new ball with Lungi Ngidi.
Add left arm spinner Keshav Maharaj’s cunning in the middle overs along with wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi and South Africa have the horses for courses on tough Eden surface.
With the wicket likely to be dry and spin-friendly — due of being under covers for the rain danger — the Proteas assault appears to be threatening.
South Africa, who have lost both their matches while chasing, would hope that they win toss and bat first something they have done with distinction in this tournament.
After a difficult start that saw them lose to India and South Africa, Australia have begun doing what they do best — collecting seven victories on the run and have peaked at the ideal moment.
The squad has received much-needed momentum from Glenn Maxwell’s logic-defying 201 not out, primarily batting on one leg, as he single-handedly chased down 292 after falling to 91/7 against Afghanistan.
Maxwell sat out their previous group phase games because of the hamstring pain, as he is poised to return in place of all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, who is having a bad World Cup.
Veteran David Warner, who slammed back-to-back hundreds against Pakistan and the Netherlands, may have slowed down at the business end, but the left-hander will be a danger up front.
Having missed the first part of the competition, left-hander Travis Head has made a remarkable comeback with a blazing 109 against New Zealand.
He hasn’t spoken much since, however, with scores of 11, 0 and 10 in his previous three games. He would want to make apologies, particularly to see through the powerplay.
With 426 runs at 60.85, Mitchell Marsh has been the backbone of their batting as he and Maxwell would be the key to carry them to a huge score.
Australia will also hope that veteran Steve Smith returns to form.
The former captain has been spectacular in ODI World Cup knockouts, with 311 runs from four innings, and averages close to 104 with three fifties and one century.
Squads
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen and Lizaad Williams.
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis (wk), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa and Mitchell Starc.
Match begins at 2pm IST.
