GROUP OF DEATH? The Proteas might just have good reason to fancy their chances in Group B of the Champions Trophy. Seen here: Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma. Picture: Rodger Bosch / AFP
Image: Rodger Bosch/AFP
While the Proteas won’t be favourites in their ‘Group of Death’ at the Champions Trophy which begins on Wednesday, it’s certainly not beyond the realm of possibility that they could beat England, Australia and Afghanistan.
That’s not to say that’s the likeliest scenario, but while the Proteas have had their struggles in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) of late, so have the other teams in Group B.
South Africa’s first fixture in the competition is against Afghanistan in Karachi on Friday.
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South Africa will certainly need to be on their game though, as the only ODI series they’ve won in the last year came against minnows Ireland. The other two losses came against Afghanistan and Pakistan. They also recently lost both matches in their Tri-Nation series against Pakistan and New Zealand which ended last week.
In Afghanistan though, SA will face a team which bats strongly in the middle overs.
The Asian outfit, however, tend to start slowly in their innings (much like the Proteas) and that’s where the SA bowlers can take advantage with their superior pace attack which will include Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and any combination of Lungi Ngidi, Wiaan Mulder and Corbin Bosch.
The key then for the Proteas against Afghanistan will be starting well with the ball.
Against Australia in Rawalpindi on February 25, the Proteas will be facing an Aussie outfit missing the services of David Warner and Mitchell Marsh. Australia have also been struck by injury on the fast bowling front as Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have all been ruled out due to injury.
SA’s final group B opponents will be England on March 1 back in Karachi. While the Brendon McCullum-led ‘Bazball side are known for their attacking intent with the bat, they have recently lost seven of their eight matches on their tour to India which ended last week. That included a 3-0 whitewash to their hosts in the ODI series.
It’s clear then to see, that none of the teams in Group B are exactly confident outfits at the moment and instead it could be called the ‘Group of Life’. And for a change, the Proteas may actually benefit from lack of expectations coming into a major tournament.
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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