South Africa Playing 11 vs Australia – ICC World Cup 2023, Semi-Final 2

South Africa takes on Australia in the second semi-final in Kolkata on November 16. They were the first team to make the semi-finals of the ICC World Cup 2023. Along with them, India, New Zealand, and Australia are the other three teams to make the semis.

The Proteas are set to play the semi-final at a venue where they were bowled out for just 83 against India. They lost two games but were dominant in the seven games that they won in the league stage along with the game against the Aussies.

South Africa qualified for the semis with seven wins and two losses. Both the loss came while chasing exposing the chink in their armor as far as strengths and weaknesses are concerned. The Proteas have been the dominant team batting first but have failed to cope with the pressure of chasing. Against the Netherlands they failed to chase 246 while chasing 327 against India, they were bowled out for 83. Against Pakistan, they managed a narrow victory by one wicket.

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It is almost given that Australia will ask South Africa to chase if they win the toss. In a high-pressure situation with a sight on their first-ever World Cup final, it will be interesting to see how the Proteas cop with the pressure.

As far as team news is concerned, Temba Bavuma who suffered a hamstring injury in the match against Afghanistan was seen practicing on Monday without any discomfort. The rest of the players are fit and South Africa is expected to play the same side that played Afghanistan. The only change might be Tabraiz Shami coming in for Andile Phelukwayo who played the last game. Any other change does not seem viable.

South Africa Playing 11 vs Australia – ICC World Cup 2023, Semi-Final 2

Quinton de Kock (WK)

De Kock will open the batting for South Africa. He will be the key player irrespective of South Africa batting first or second. He is the second-highest run-getter with 591 runs from nine games at an average of 65.67.

Temba Bavuma (C)

Bavuma will lead South Africa and open the batting. His role at the top has been to provide quick starts. He has yet to score a 50-plus score in the tournament. It will be interesting to see how he plays.

Rassie van der Dussen

Van der Dussen will bat at three for South Africa. He scored an unbeaten 76 to guide his team to a win against Afghanistan. RVD has scored 442 runs at an average of 55 in nine games. He can get to 500 runs in the tournament.

Aiden Markram

Aiden Markram will slot in at four for South Africa. He also has been key in the middle-order for South Africa. The right- is four short of 400 runs in the tournament at an average of close to 50. He led South Africa in a couple of games. He can be used as a third spin option.

Heinrich Klaasen

Klaasesn will slot in at five. He has scored 326 runs at an average of 40.75 at a strike rate of over 150 including a century. He plays spin well and will have to fight it out against Adam Zampa.

David Miller

Miller will slot in at six. He has been the hard-hitting finisher. He also has scored 255 runs at an average of 36.43. This is Miller’s fourth World Cup and he knows about semi-final losses.

Keshav Maharaj

Maharaj will bat at seven. He is a decent batter at that number. However, his role with the ball will be key. He has taken 14 wickets in nine matches at an average of 24.71 so far.

Kagiso Rabada

Rabada will lead the pace attack. He has not made a big impact in this World Cup yet having taken just 12 wickets in nine games. Overall he has just 23 World Cup wickets.

Lungi Ngidi

Ngidi will pair up with Rabada from the other end for South Africa. He has taken just 10 wickets in the World Cup so far at an average of 35.50. So far across two World Cups he has taken just 17 wickets.

Gerald Coetzee

Coetzee will be the third seamer in the South Africa playing XI. He has taken 18 wickets in just seven games at less than 20 and has been the best South African bowler on display.

Tabraiz Shamsi

Shamsi will replace Phelukwayo in the South Africa XI due to the venue and the conditions. He will be more useful on an Eden track supporting spin bowling. He has played three games and picked up seven wickets.

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