World Cup 2023, Semi-Final 2: South Africa Predicted XI Against Australia

image-lozzlijbSouth Africa finished number 2 on the points table (AP Photos)

The 2023 World Cup is only a couple of matches away from crowning its new champion. We've reached the knockout stages, and the second semi-final will pit South Africa and Australia against each other at Kolkata's historic Eden Gardens. The game will commence at 2:00 PM IST.

The Australian team did not get off to a good start in the World Cup. They were overshadowed by two strong forces, India and South Africa. However, Australia, being Australia, responded in style, as they always do in major events. Since then, the Pat Cummins-led team has gone on to win seven consecutive matches. Despite amassing 389 runs, they came very near to defeat against New Zealand. However, the Kangaroos were able to avoid the heavy rolling by a margin of five runs. South Africa, like its opponents, concluded the league stage with 12 points from nine games.

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The Proteas appeared to be a dominant side until the hosts steamrolled them in the same venue, Eden Gardens. They started the campaign on a positive note, smacking 428 runs in a World Cup match against Sri Lanka. A pair of victories were followed by distress when the Netherlands defeated South Africa for the second time in 365 days. They recovered, however, and went on to triumph over England, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. They also defeated Afghanistan in their last game to finish second in the points standings.

There's been a lot of stories looming around the availability of South Africa captain, Temba Bavuma. So let us figure out what could be the probable playing XI of South Africa against Australia.


Openers: Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma

South Africa is likely to start with Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma at the top of the order. The Proteas skipper was suffering from injury and was not hundred percent fit. But he is expected to get better and play the semi final against Australia. Bavuma was the leading run-getter for South Africa in the calendar year 2023 before the World Cup. But he has been going through a lean patch since the onset of the coveted tournament.

De Kock is featuring in his last ODI World Cup as he is set to retire from the format. He stormed in the tournament with four centuries under his belt. He has racked up 591 runs from nine innings that includes tons against Sri Lanka, Australia, Bangladesh and New Zealand. His 174 against Bangladesh is the second highest individual score of the World Cup 2023.

Middle Order: Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller

The South African middle order has been one of the best in the tournament after the hosts. Rassie has been scintillating at no.3 and brought up some important numbers for his nation. He has smashed 442 runs in nine innings that includes two hundreds and as many fifties.

Aiden Markram earlier brought up the second fastest century of the Cricket World Cup against Sri Lanka and backed it up by three fifties. He can also chip with the ball in hand.

Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller are the lower-middle order masterminds for the South African side. Klaasen has

played some astounding knocks in the tournament that includes a century and 90 against England and Bangladesh. Miller has been a little off-colour with the bat in the mega-event and the Proteas will want him to fire well.

All-rounders: Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj

Marco Jansen has been one of the premier all-rounders of South Africa in the tourney alongwith Keshav Maheraj. Both players have bad incredible contributions for the team. Jansen has snapped 17 wickets from nine matches while Maharaj has bagged 14 wickets from the same number of matches as Jansen. Maharaj showed valiance with the bat against Pakistan while Jansen stormed a fifty against England earlier. Maharaj has also bowled with great economy, conceding runs less than 4.5 per over.

Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Tabraiz Shamsi

South Africa has made slight moderations in bowling throughout the tournament with respect to the conditions. They kicked off with Gerald Coetzee and at times replaced him for Shamsi. In this case, the wicket could be on the slower side and speculations suggest the left-arm wrist spinner is going to play.

Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi could be the other two bowlers for South Africa in this knockout fixture. The former has been brilliant, offering runs at the rate of 4.83 in the competition. Ngidi hasn't been at his absolute best but the conditions of Eden Gardens may help to get some bounce and lateral movement with the new ball.

South Africa Predicted XI against Australia

Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma ©, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi