For the first time since 1996, South Africa enter a World Cup without the “favourites” tag being firmly on their back. For all of his charisma and statesman-like leadership, Faf du Plessis can never match with Hansie Cronjé’s flair, nor do with Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers’ aura. However, he has one thing with him that the previous skippers didn’t have - the status of underdogs and the resultant freedom that comes with it. It is in many ways the virtues of flying under the radar, a reflection of the kind of cricketer du Plessis is. Now, if they can go on and upset the applecart along the way, the narrative would flip and the world will see the magic.

After AB de Villiers’ retirement from international cricket, their batting order lacked that particular spark, but Quinton de Kock held the fort to regularly grow in stature to be one of the best and most consistent batsmen in the world at the moment. In the contemporary cricket, de Kock is as good as it ever gets and is in the same league as say a Shikhar Dhawan or Jason Roy. Although he starts in a circumspect manner more often than not, he can cut loose after getting his eye in. That aspect of his batting, coupled with his understanding of Hashim Amla’s game, will keep South Africa in good stead, come the World Cup.

Weaknesses

Hashim Amla has done well to score 65 and an unbeaten 51 in the two warm-up games, but that came on the back of a terrible run of form for Cape Cobras in the South African domestic cricket. Amla’s ability to exploit the space between cover point and mid-off against the long half-volley as well as deliveries pitched outside their own half was non-tradable equity for South Africa, but can the experienced campaigner justify his selection ahead of Reeza Hendricks’ promise. It was a question asked too many times, and if Amla fails in that count, South Africa wouldn’t have anyone, but their selectors to blame for.

Opportunity

When Aiden Markram was just five-ODI old in international cricket, he was made the captain of the South African team for the India series. Well, the team was depleted and didn’t have any captaincy material at that time, but the trust had much down to his ability and the irrefutable promise he has as a youngster. The roller coaster ride followed and after being excluded from the team on the ground of bad form, Aiden Markram is back. Back as Ottis Gibson’s consultant-in-chief about conditions in England after his stint with Hampshire, where he finished fourth on the Royal London One-Day Cup run-chart with 466 runs from eight matches at 58.25. Although he said that he is happy to be on the bench for the World Cup, his right usage will have South Africa in a better position. 

In cricket, teams often downplay the importance of history, as Faf du Plessis recently did, but it can never be ignored how big a physiological pressure it brings to the table. South Africa’s history as a cricketing nation might have littered with so many glorious moments, but the C-word for the World Cup will be a huge barrier to overcome. In the mind and maths of it, they had a realistic chance of making it to the World Cup semis, but well, one can’t be sure about what they would do after that. 

SportsCafe Best XI: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis ©, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Lungisani Ngidi, Imran Tahir