South Africa Squad 2024: After a nine-month layoff, Anrich Nortje will make a comeback at the T20 World Cup 2024, to be played in the USA and the West Indies from June 1-29. The South Africa squad will be led by Aiden Markram.
Opening batsman Ryan Rickelton and seamer Ottniel Baartman, who had outstanding performances in this year's SA20, have also been included in South Africa squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. Rickelton was the top-scorer in the SA20 and the second-highest run-scorer at the recent CSA T20 Challenge. He is expected to open with Quinton de Kock at the ICC event. De Kock, who has retired from ODI cricket, the T20 World Cup 2024 would be his last appearance in international cricket.
De Kock is no more a centrally contracted player and despite his poor returns in his last three series, South Africa's white-ball coach Rob Walter says that de Kock was picked in the squad for his historical performances. "Quinny, we've seen him do it time and time again for us," Walter said. "Reeza (Hendricks) has been a star performer for us in T20 cricket, was a standout in this domestic CSA T20 challenge again, and Ryan Rickelton has had two outstanding competitions really where he's played the brand of cricket that we're looking to play. And then we're going to have Aidan Markram and that'll be the top order. It's mostly a performance-based decision and from Quinton's point of view is just a real knowledge of what he's capable of."
Baartman, who was brilliant in the SA20, and was the second-highest wicket-taker, has been specifically chosen for his prowess in handling the death overs. According to Walter, Baartman's standout performance as a quality death bowler has earned him a well-deserved spot in the squad, emphasising his consistency and hard work over the years.
Nortje, another standout player, has caught Walter's attention due to his impressive performances in the IPL 2024, where he has exhibited raw pace and taken crucial wickets for Delhi Capitals. Despite a slightly high economy rate, Nortje's ability to bowl at speeds exceeding 150kph gives him an edge over others. He was included ahead of Lungi Ngidi, who missed the IPL 2024 due to injury.
The bowling department boasts a formidable lineup with frontline seamers such as Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee complemented by spinners Keshav Maharaj, Bjorn Fortuin and Tabraiz Shamsi. Allrounder Marco Jansen too has been included in the South Africa T20 World Cup squad.
In batting, the middle order appears robust with players like Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs. Notably, experienced players like Faf du Plessis have been excluded, while rising talents like Rassie van der Dussen and Matthew Breetzke have been overlooked, despite their strong performances in domestic tournaments.
A separate second string squad, including players like van der Dussen and Breetkze, will play T20Is against West Indies before the T20 World Cup. However, Walter runs the risk of facing criticism over reduced representation of players of colour in the squad, as it falls short of the required targets.
The South Africa squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, finalised in collaboration with Enoch Nkwe, South Africa's director of cricket, is geared up to start their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign on June 3 against Sri Lanka in New York.
South Africa T20 World Cup squad: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs.
Reserves: Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi.
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