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Cricket World Cup 2023: South Africa

South Africa have reached the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup on three occasions, most recently in 2015, but are not fancied to lift the trophy in India with several teams ahead of them in the outright market.

It has been a tumultuous year for the Proteas, who have struggled in recent series with Australia and who are under the stewardship of a relatively inexperienced coach in Rob Walter.

South Africa World Cup squad

Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams.

South Africa World Cup coach

While Shukri Conrad oversees South Africa's Test exploits, it is Rob Walter who coaches the limited-overs side.

Walter previously worked as South Africa's strength and conditioning and fielding coach between 2009 and 2013 and only took charge of the Proteas in January this year.

South Africa World Cup record

1975 Not eligible
1979 Not eligible
1983 Not eligible
1987 Not eligible
1992 Semi-finals
1996 Quarter-finals
1999 Semi-finals
2003 Group stage
2007 Semi-finals
2011 Quarter-finals
2015 Semi-finals
2019 Quarter-finals

Possible XI

1. Quinton de Kock
2. Temba Bavuma
3. Reeze Hendricks
4. Aiden Markram
5. Heinrich Klaasen
6. David Miller
7. Keshav Maharaj
8. Gerald Coetzee
9. Tabraiz Shamsi
10. Lungi Ngidi
11. Kagiso Rabada

Strengths

When it comes to bowlers, few nations heading to this year's Cricket World Cup can boast a more varied attack than South Africa.

In Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, who have more than 200 ODI wickets between them, as well as Anrich Nortje and youngster Gerald Coetzee, the Proteas can boast a fearsome pace attack.

But their spin department is also not short of quality, with Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj at their disposal.

Spinners are expected to play a key role in the subcontinental conditions of host nation India and the Proteas have the tools to capitalise.

Weaknesses

South Africa have dangerous operators with bat and ball, but tying it all together can often be a problem and the group's cohesion has to be questioned.

Eight of the 15 players called up for this year's ODI World Cup have not played in the tournament before, but they are blended with some experienced figures in the game from Quinton de Kock to Aiden Markram to David Miller.

The group has struggled to click recently and heads into the tournament on a pretty poor run of form, having struggled in T20I and ODI series with Australia, having drawn March's ODI series with the West Indies.

Key Players

Quinton de Kock

Having confirmed he will retire from ODIs after this year's World Cup, wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock will be looking to go out with a bang for South Africa.

The 30-year-old left-hander has established himself in all three formats of the game for the Proteas and will go down as one of their all-time greats regardless of the outcome of this World Cup.

His fearless striking at the crease has seen him rack up more than 6000 runs in ODI cricket and he will be crucial in setting the tone of their innings.

Kagiso Rabada

South Africa's spin options will be paramount in India, but that should not overshadow the world-class pacemen they have at their disposal.

One of them is Kagiso Rabada, who has more than 140 ODI wickets to his name and regularly clocks around 150kph with the ball.

A leader of the South Africa attack since the age of 21, Rabada knows how to get the most out of a challenging surface and could shine in the coming months.

Aiden Markram

It has been a strong year from Aiden Makram, who is worth keeping an eye on at this year's World Cup.

Markram made his mark back in 2014 when he captained the South Africa Under-19s to World Cup glory, finishing as leading runscorer on the way to the title, and he has since evolved into a powerful top-order option.

Among this year's achievements were scores of 51 not out and 175 against the Netherlands in March and April - knocks which earned him the player of the series award - and an unbeaten century against Australia in Potchefstroom in September.

Odds

To win outright - 10/1

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