Can they shake off the ‘chokers’ tag?

It’s the same question that is being asked when South Africa enter any global tournament: can they shake off the ‘chokers’ tag and win? While South Africa prevailed in the 1998 ICC Knockout, the first Champions Trophy as it was called, they only had to win three games in a competition that lasted a week. In the big tournaments like the World Cups and Champions Trophys, South Africa have, somewhat ironically, failed to win a knockout fixture. Heartbreaking defeats have become the norm for the Proteas, but skipper AB de Villiers is hell-bent on eradicating that unwanted tag and winning a major trophy for his country before his international days are over. 

South Africa play England in a three-match ODI series beginning on Wednesday. In the greater scheme of things, it’s little more than a dress rehearsal for the Champions Trophy beginning next week, but that’s all the more reason to try to figure out what we might expect from South Africa in the ICC event. 

South Africa find themselves in a uniquely luxurious position. Not only do they have two warm-up games against county sides under the belt, but they get to play three oneday games against England before the big events takes off. 

None of the fixtures will be played at any of the Champions Trophy venues, but it’s a good chance for the players who have not toured the country before to get used to the conditions. 

Of South Africa’s 15-man squad, six have never played an international of any kind in England. A few have been on visits with the A-side and others have some experience in county cricket, but for a large chunk of the squad, this is an entirely new experience. 

That’s not a bad thing. The blend of youth and experience means there’s enough wideeyed awe to still get giddy about all this “tournament” stuff and the one-day series against England is merely an appetiser to the main course. 

England have won their last three home ODI series (against Ireland Pakistan and Sri Lanka), but have won just four out of their last 10 at home. It doesn’t mean that they can be written off, but it does mean that there’s no need to be overly threatened.

Over the last eight months or so, the South African oneday side has leapt to lofty heights. They’ve dug themselves out of crunch situations and engineered a 5-0 defeat over Australia. There were a few slip-ups against New Zealand, but overall, it seems this team has found its spark. That South Africa has a bunch of dynamic players is not in question; whether they can spark up that dynamism is a different matter entirely. 

Who is going to open the bowling alongside Kagiso Rabada? Morné Morkel is back. Chris Morris is useful. Dwaine Pretorius can hold a bat. Wayne Parnell is quick – and a southpaw. It’s almost as if Dale Steyn never existed in coloured clothing, so varied are South Africa’s options in the limited overs format.

SQUAD: AB de Villiers (c), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, David Miller, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Farhaan Behardien, Morne Morkel

The Champions Trophy might very well be Andile Phehlukwayo’s coming of age. He bowled more dot balls than any other bowler across the two warm-ups and the tedious English conditions are made for his foxy slower ball and cunning medium pace. And he is quite handy with the bat – especially lower down the order.

BEST RESULT: Winners – 1998 (ICC KnockOut)