Faf outlines how the World Cup lineup is shaping up
De Kock to open with Amla or Markram for opener against England
22 May 2019 - 13:57
byMahlatse Mphahlele
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - MAY 18: Faf du Plessis during the national men's cricket team squad departure press conference at Powerade Centre of Excellence on May 18, 2019 in Pretoria, South Africa. Picture: LEE WARREN / GALLO IMAGES
Proteas captain Faf du Plessis has given the strongest hint yet of how the side will line up at the Cricket World Cup in England.
Du Plessis and coach Ottis Gibson have not yet nailed down the specifics but they will go for a balance of six specialist batsmen‚ one all-rounder‚ three fast bowlers and a spinner when they open their account against the hosts at The Oval on May 30.
Quinton de Kock will open the batting with Hashim Amla or Aiden Markram‚ then it will be Du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen at either No3 or 4 and David Miller and JP Duminy at No5 and 6.
The No7 all-rounder spot is between Andile Phehlukwayo and Chris Morris and they will be followed by Kagiso Rabada‚ Dale Steyn‚ Lungi Ngidi and Imran Tahir.
“I played against Pakistan at No3 and myself and Rassie are both equipped to do three and four‚” Du Plessis said.
“You will have openers‚ me or Rassie at three or four‚ perhaps have David at five and JP at six and that is how we will be structured. Whether I am the one at three or it’s him [Rassie]‚ we are very similar players who can adapt to different positions in the game.
“Flexibility is a hugely important thing to have as a batting unit and I think you can see that because JP has batted at four and five at times. David has batted at four‚ five and six‚ so we have that flexibility. And don’t forget that everyone thought that Aiden was just an opener, but he has batted at four or five.
“You are going to find yourself in different scenarios in the game and you have to tap into your skillset to be able to do what is required.”
Du Plessis said the possibility of having Miller at five is to give him enough time to settle at the crease and finish off matches.
“I know with David he is someone who needs a bit of time because he is at his best when he has had time to knock the ball around and explode towards the end‚” he said.
“JP has been playing some good cricket and he can take the game on and that’s what’s you need. If you look at someone like Eoin Morgan of England‚ he plays a similar role to David by coming in and attacking. We will have an all-rounder at No7 and the bowling attack after that.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Faf outlines how the World Cup lineup is shaping up
De Kock to open with Amla or Markram for opener against England
Proteas captain Faf du Plessis has given the strongest hint yet of how the side will line up at the Cricket World Cup in England.
Du Plessis and coach Ottis Gibson have not yet nailed down the specifics but they will go for a balance of six specialist batsmen‚ one all-rounder‚ three fast bowlers and a spinner when they open their account against the hosts at The Oval on May 30.
Quinton de Kock will open the batting with Hashim Amla or Aiden Markram‚ then it will be Du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen at either No3 or 4 and David Miller and JP Duminy at No5 and 6.
The No7 all-rounder spot is between Andile Phehlukwayo and Chris Morris and they will be followed by Kagiso Rabada‚ Dale Steyn‚ Lungi Ngidi and Imran Tahir.
“I played against Pakistan at No3 and myself and Rassie are both equipped to do three and four‚” Du Plessis said.
“You will have openers‚ me or Rassie at three or four‚ perhaps have David at five and JP at six and that is how we will be structured. Whether I am the one at three or it’s him [Rassie]‚ we are very similar players who can adapt to different positions in the game.
“Flexibility is a hugely important thing to have as a batting unit and I think you can see that because JP has batted at four and five at times. David has batted at four‚ five and six‚ so we have that flexibility. And don’t forget that everyone thought that Aiden was just an opener, but he has batted at four or five.
“You are going to find yourself in different scenarios in the game and you have to tap into your skillset to be able to do what is required.”
Du Plessis said the possibility of having Miller at five is to give him enough time to settle at the crease and finish off matches.
“I know with David he is someone who needs a bit of time because he is at his best when he has had time to knock the ball around and explode towards the end‚” he said.
“JP has been playing some good cricket and he can take the game on and that’s what’s you need. If you look at someone like Eoin Morgan of England‚ he plays a similar role to David by coming in and attacking. We will have an all-rounder at No7 and the bowling attack after that.”
Time running out for Hashim Amla ahead of World Cup opener
NEIL MANTHORP: Secretive World Cup selection can backfire
How will SA handle England's red-hot batting unit at World Cup?
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
How will SA handle England's red-hot batting unit at World Cup?
NEIL MANTHORP: India wheedle their way back as head honchos
Aaron Finch tips fired-up David Warner to dominate the World Cup
NEIL MANTHORP: Confusion and anger as cricket fans wait for England tour dates
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.