Proteas bowlers prove they can rise to the occasion at World Cup

Heading into the Cricket World Cup, the biggest question around the Proteas squad was hanging over an under-strength bowling unit, particularly in the pace department.

While the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi both have the experience to lead the front-line attack, in terms of sheer pace, the team lost a key player when Anrich Nortje withdrew injured.

This left the youngest member of the squad, Gerald Coetzee, to fill the gap in terms of speed and intensity – a role which is challenging to fill for any bowler, let alone a 23-year-old who had played only six ODI matches before the start of the World Cup.

It was already clear that the Proteas batting line-up were in form when they clawed their way back to secure a 3-2 series victory for the hosts against Australia last month.

And by racking up four centuries between them (including two by Quinton de Kock) in their first two matches of the showpiece in India, they cemented their place as one of the strongest batting units in the tournament.

With the ball, however, they have been criticised for failing to put pressure on the opposition.

But even without consistent raw pace, they proved against Australia on Thursday that they have sufficient firepower to perform as well with the ball as they have been doing with the bat.

Fortunately, Indian conditions can be unpredictable, and the variety in the Proteas attack looks to be playing into their favour.

With Coetzee sidelined from their latest fixture, Rabada and Ngidi throttled the Australian top order and were well backed by all-rounder Marco Jansen.

Spin bowlers Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi were equally useful in restricting the middle and lower order batters.

All-round consistency

After making a spectacular start to the World Cup with two massive victories, the Proteas need to be consistent for the rest of the round-robin stage, but they are already looking good for a place in the semifinals.

To go all the way, however, they need to deliver all-round performances. There will be games when the batters don’t come off, and the bowling attack needs to be ready to stand up when that happens.

Even without all-out pace up front, they have shown they have the skills and ability to do just that.

After their 134-run win over Australia this week, Proteas captain Temba Bavuma lauded his team for a superb all-round effort.

And he was right to do so. It’s that sort of performance which will carry them to their maiden World Cup title.

Modern limited overs cricket might be a batter’s game but you can’t lift trophies unless you have quality bowlers too.