South Africa and World Cups have a history of disappointment.
After seven wins from seven at this T20 World Cup, coach Shukri Conrad is happy to carry the tag of “favourites” going into a semi-final against New Zealand in Kolkata on Wednesday.
“I’m glad that we’re favourites because I always felt that as a South African team, you want to be able to play as a favourite because it’s easy being an underdog,” Conrad said.
Markram’s Form and Leadership
It is 612 days since captain Aiden Markram was asked to put into words their defeat in the 2024 final.
Eight of the players from that final are in the squad here, including Markram who remains an impressive and calm leader.
“The guys are richer for that experience,” Conrad said.
“They have learned so much about themselves and Aiden has been fantastic both with bat in hand and as a leader, as well as a captain.
“But you’re only as good as your troops and he’d be the first one to admit that.”
At the 2024 tournament Markram struggled personally with only 123 runs across nine innings and a strike-rate of just 100.81.
This time he is the tournament’s third-highest run-scorer with 263 runs at a strike-rate of 175.16, something Markram’s former captain Faf du Plessis puts down to his development in the Indian Premier League.
“He opened for Lucknow Super Giants and the IPL almost demanded you needed to play in that way in order for you to keep your place,” Du Plessis told Cricinfo, external.
“It was obviously the Impact-Sub [rule] and the way the game was moving. As an opener, you couldn’t play the old-school way anymore.”
South Africa’s Strengths
South Africa’s performances have been well-rounded to this point.
Led by Markram, they have the highest batting run-rate across the tournament and the highest number of balls per dismissal.
Their run-rate in the middle overs is the highest of all teams.
It has not been all about the batting.
- They have the best bowling economy across the tournament.
- Through the skill of Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, they have taken three more powerplay wickets than any other side.