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South Africa, a cricketing powerhouse known for its consistent performance, have regrettably fallen short of clinching the prestigious ODI World Cup title in previous editions. Despite their formidable presence on the international cricket stage, they have yet to secure the ultimate trophy. This unfulfilled aspiration has been a lingering storyline in the Proteas cricket history, and it continues to motivate the Proteas as they prepare to once again vie for the elusive silverware in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023.
As South Africa undergoes a period of transition, it’s notable that seven players who played during the 2019 ODI World Cup will not feature in the upcoming edition. This significant turnover in personnel signifies a new chapter for South African cricket as they look to make their mark on the world stage.
6 South African cricketers from 2019 World Cup who won’t play in the upcoming event in India:
Faf du Plessis:
Faf du Plessis, a prominent figure in South African cricket, played a crucial role in the 2019 ODI World Cup. He contributed as a batter and as the team’s captain. In that tournament, he scored 387 runs in 9 matches at an average of 64.50, including one century and two half-centuries. Despite his leadership and individual performance, South Africa couldn’t make it past the group stage. Following the 2019 World Cup, du Plessis stepped down from captaincy duties, and as part of a transition phase in the team, he decided to step away from ODI cricket, which is why he won’t be featuring in the upcoming global showpiece event.
Imran Tahir:
Imran Tahir, known for his leg-spin wizardry, was a vital part of South Africa’s bowling attack in the 2019 World Cup. He picked up 11 wickets in 9 games at an average of 34.00 and an economy rate of 4.92. Tahir’s contributions were notable, but with age catching up and the team looking to invest in younger talent, he announced his retirement from ODI cricket after the 2019 World Cup. This decision made him ineligible for selection in the 2023 edition.
JP Duminy:
JP Duminy, a versatile all-rounder, failed to play a key role with both bat and ball in the 2019 World Cup. He scored 70 runs in 5 fixtures at an poor average of 17.50 and could chipped only one wicket . After the 2019 marquee event, Duminy decided to take retirement from the all format of the international cricket. Therefore, he won’t be part of the 2023 ODI World Cup squad as South Africa looks to groom new talent.
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Chris Morris:
Chris Morris, a fast-bowling all-rounder, played eight fixtures in the 2019 World Cup. He took 13 wickets and contributed with some quick runs down the order. Morris has been in and out of the national side due to injuries and other factors. Due to this, he took a retirement from International cricket in 2022.
Dwaine Pretorius:
Dwaine Pretorius is another all-rounder who featured in the 2019 ODI World Cup for South Africa. In that tournament, he played three games and scored just 3 runs while picking up 5 wickets. Following that abysmmal performance, Pretorius has faced stiff competition for his place in the side. Injuries and variations in team composition have impacted his consistency in the national squad. Therefore he took retirement from all forms of cricket this year to focus T20 leagues around the world.
Hashim Amla:
Hashim Amla, a legendary South African batter, was part of the 2019 ODI World Cup squad. Nevertheless, his form and performances began to decline in the latter part of his career. In the 2019 World Cup specifically, he featured in all nine matches, scoring 335 runs at an average of 47.85, with two half-centuries to his name. After the 2019 World Cup, Amla decided to retire from all forms of international cricket, which naturally excluded him from the 2023 ODI World Cup selection. His departure marked the end of an era for South African cricket as they transitioned to a new generation of players.
Special mention: Dale Steyn
One of South Africa’s greatest fast bowlers of all time, Dale Steyn, was part of the 2019 ODI World Cup squad. Nonetheless, much to the disappointment of cricket fans worldwide, he didn’t get an opportunity to showcase his skills in any of the fixtures during the tournament. Injury concerns and team strategies led to his exclusion from playing XI. Subsequently, Steyn announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket in 2021, marking the end of a glorious career that saw him become South Africa’s all-time leading wicket-taker in Test cricket and second in overall behind great Shaun Pollack.
