South Africa announce 15-man squad for World Cup; Chris Morris, Reeza Hendricks miss out
Veteran batsman Hashim Amla on Thursday pipped Reeza Hendricks in an otherwise expected South Africa squad picked for the World Cup beginning May 30 in the UK.
Amla, a South African great who has scored more than 18,000 runs international cricket, was not a certainty in the team this time due to his inconsistent form. In the end, the selectors decided to go with the 36-year-old over the much younger Hendricks, who has played only 18 ODIs.
The rest of the selection is on expected lines with Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje forming a potent pace attack.
The Fad du Plessis-led squad has two specialist all-rounders in Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius while Imran Tahir and Tabraiz Shamsi are the two wrist spinners in the 15-member team.
Opener Quinton de Kock is the sole specialist wicketkeeper in the squad with middle-order batsman David Miller expected to do that job in his absence.
Perennial underachievers of the game, South Africa are aiming to win their maiden World Cup trophy. They open their campaign against hosts England on May 30.
Experienced pacer Steyn, who is playing in the IPL, said on Wednesday that South African can end their World Cup jinx with a "bit of luck".
"We are going with good expectations," said Steyn, who plays for IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore.
"If you are not going to the World Cup expecting to win, then you probably shouldn't go. But I'm not going to lie, we have some fantastic players," said the 35-year-old, who has taken 196 ODI wickets and 439 Test scalps.
Squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Rassie van der Dussen.
