2023 Cricket World Cup South Africa Squad Breakdown (The Definitive Guide): Which 15 players will make the final XI?

Time for the 2023 Cricket World Cup South Africa Squad edition.

South Africa have released their squads for the series against Australia. Although this is not the official World Cup squad, it gives us a glimpse into their preliminary squad (especially since World Cup is only two months away now).

Let’s jump right in.

Key Takeaways from South Africa’s ODI Squad Announcement

• The average age of South Africa’s 2023 Cricket World Cup squad is 29.9. South Africa is going with a healthy mix of youth and experience. They have youngsters Coetzee (23) & Jansen (23) as well as experience international players like Miller, Rabada, Quinton de Kock, Markram, Parnell, and Shamsi.
• The 15-member South Africa’s preliminary World Cup squad has average ODI match experience of 55 ODIs (823 among 15 players). David Miller (160), Quinton de Kock (145) & Kagiso Rabada (92) are their most experienced players, while the likes of Dewald Brevis have yet to debut in international cricket.
• South Africa’s squad composition is as follows: 7 proper batters (with one part-time bowling option), 2 all-rounders, and 6 proper bowling options. In total, South Africa has 9 bowling options (1 off spin, 1 left arm pace, 2 left arm spin, and 5 right arm pace) in their squad if absolutely needed.
• South Africa have 2 left-handed batting options (QDK, Miller) and two wicketkeeping options.

South Africa Cricket World Cup Team at a Glance

Player	Role	Age
Quinton de Kock	Batter/Wicketkeeper	30
Reeza Hendricks	Batter	34
Temba Bavuma (C)	Batter	33
Aiden Markram	Batter/part-time off-spin	29
Dewald Brevis**	Batter	20
Rassie van der Dussen	Batter	34
Heinrich Klaasen	Batter/Wicketkeeper	32
David Miller	Batter	34
Tristan Stubbs**	Batter	23
Marco Jansen	All-Rounder/Medium Pace	23
Kagiso Rabada	Fast Bowler	28
Wayne Parnell*	All-Rounder/Fast	34
Tabraiz Shamsi	Left Arm Spin	33
Anrich Nortje*	Fast Bowler	29
Lungi Ngidi	Fast Bowler	27
Gerald Coetzee	Fast Bowler	23
Sisanda Magala*	Medium Pace	32
Bjorn Fortuin**	Left Arm Spin	28
Andile Phehlukwayo	Right Arm Pace	27
Keshav Maharaj	Left Arm Spin	33
Lizaad Williams	Right Arm Pace	29

*withdrawn from the World Cup due to injury

**not picked in the Final World Cup Squad

Also Read:

• Quota System in South African Cricket and Transformation Policy – The Complete Guide: Official Policy, Myths, Stats, and the 2015 World Cup Controversy
• Faf du Plessis & AB De Villiers’ Friendship: Broken Dreams of Faf and ABD
• 17 South Africa World Cup Chokes and Heartbreaks: The Complete List (Men’s & Women’s Combined)
• 48 South African Born Cricketers Who Play for Other Countries: Can You Guess Them All?
• 49 South African Cricketers Who Left Their Country for Kolpak Deals
• 85 Cricketers Who Left Their Countries and Moved to Play Cricket in the USA: List of American Cricketers Who Were Born in Other Nations

South Africa Cricket World Cup 2023 Potential XI

1. Quinton de Kock (WK
2. Temba Bavuma (C)
3. Aiden Markram
4. Rassie van der Dussen
5. David Miller
6. Heinrich Klaasen
7. Marco Jansen
8. Andile Phehlukwayo
9. Lungi Ngidi/Keshav Maharaj/Gerald Coetzee
10. Kagiso Rabada
11. Tabraiz Shamsi

Injury News

• Keshav Maharaj suffered from Achilles injury earlier this year but is fit for the World Cup. Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, and Sisanda Magala have all been ruled out due to injuries.

10 South African Players Who Were Unlucky to Miss Out

• Anrich Nortje, Sisanda Magala, Wayne Parnell, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Bjorn Fortuin, Janneman Malan, Donovan Ferreira, Faf du Plessis, George Linde

3 Surprise Picks for South Africa’s World Cup Squad

• Lizaad Williams, Gerald Coetzee, Andile Phehlukwayo

South Africa Cricket World Cup 2023 Squad – Complete List of Players

1. Quinton de Kock (WK)

Role: Left-handed bater (opener)

• Matches/Innings: 145/145
• Runs: 5966, Best: 141*
• Average/SR: 44.85/96.08
• 100/50: 17/29
• Catches/Stumpings: 183/14

Recent ODI Form: 37, 31, 48, 9, 8

Last ODI: April 2, 2023

Age: 30

Also Read: Top 17 Greatest Wicketkeepers in Cricket History (Men’s): Which Keepers Have the Most Dismissals Across Formats?

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2. Reeza Hendricks

Role: Right-handed batter (opener)

• Matches/Innings: 29/29
• Runs: 694, Best: 102
• Average/SR: 27.76/77.62
• 100/50: 1/5

Recent ODI Form: 1, 6, 74, 3, 52

Last ODI: February 1, 2023

Age: 34

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3. Temba Bavuma (C)

Role: Right-handed bater

• Matches/Innings: 30/29
• Runs: 1150, Best: 144
• Average/SR: 52.27/91.63
• 100/50: 4/3

Recent ODI Form: 109, 35, 144, 90*, 6

Last ODI: April 2, 2023

Age: 33

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4. Aiden Markram

Role: Right-handed batter/Right arm off spin

• Matches/Innings: 55/52
• Runs: 1440, Best: 175
• Average/SR: 33.48/93.87
• 100/50: 1/6
• Wickets: 16, Best: 2/18
• Economy: 5.58

Recent ODI Form: 49, 39, 25, 51*, 175

Last ODI: April 2, 2023

Age: 29

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5. Rassie van der Dussen

Role: Right-hand bat

• Matches/Innings: 49/43
• Runs: 1757, Best: 134
• Average/SR: 60.58/89.68
• 100/50: 4/11

Recent ODI Form: 5, 8, 14, 31, 25

Last ODI: April 2, 2023

Age: 34

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6. Heinrich Klaasen

Role: Right-hand bat/Wicketkeeper

• Matches/Innings: 41/38
• Runs: 1080, Best: 174
• Average/SR: 41.34/111.64
• 100/50: 3/5

Recent ODI Form: 27, 80, 119*, DNB, 28

Last ODI: April 2, 2023

Age: 32

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7. David Miller

Role: Left-Hand Bat

• Matches/Innings: 160/137
• Runs: 3888, Best: 139
• Average/SR: 42.26/102.93
• 100/50: 5/21

Recent ODI Form: 58*, 13, 17, DNB, 91

Last ODI: April 2, 2023

Age: 34

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8. Marco Jansen

Role: Left Arm Fast, Right-Hand Bat

• Matches/Innings: 14/14
• Wickets: 18, Best: 5/39
• 4-fer/5-fer: 0/1
• Economy: 6.23
• Runs: 306, Best: 59

Recent ODI Form: 2/43, 1/77, 2/46, 1/27, 1/39

Last ODI: April 2, 2023

Age: 23

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9. Andile Phehlukwayo

Role: Left Arm Fast, Right-Hand Bat

• Matches/Innings: 76/71
• Wickets: 89, Best: 4/22
• 4-fer/5-fer: 3/0
• Economy: 5.77
• Runs: 781, Best: 69*

Recent ODI Form: 1, 38* & 1/50, 1/44

Last ODI: September 17, 2023

Age: 27

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10. Kagiso Rabada

Role: Right Arm Fast/Left-Hand Bat

• Matches/Innings: 92/90
• Wickets: 137, Best: 6/16
• 4-fer/5-fer: 6/2
• Economy: 5.01

Recent ODI Form: 0/37, 2/36, 1/59, 2/46, 0/33

Last ODI: March 31, 2023

Age: 28

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11. Tabraiz Shamsi

Role: Left Arm Wrist Spin

• Matches/Innings: 46/43
• Wickets: 57, Best: 5/49
• 4-fer/5-fer: 1/1
• Economy: 5.51

Recent ODI Form: April 2, 2023

Last ODI: 1/55, 0/61, 2/62, 3/25, 1/38

Age: 33

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12. Lungi Ngidi

Role: Right Arm Fast

• Matches/Innings: 48/47
• Wickets: 73, Best: 6/58
• 4-fer/5-fer: 3/1
• Economy: 5.73

Recent ODI Form: 1/66, 4/62, 0/76, 1/45, 1/33

Last ODI: April 2, 2023

Age: 27

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13. Gerald Coetzee

Role: Right Arm Fast

• Matches/Innings: 6/6
• Wickets: 5, Best: 3/57
• 4-fer/5-fer: 0/0
• Economy:5.50

Recent ODI Form: 3/57, 2/53

Last ODI: March 21, 2023

Age: 23

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14. Lizaad Williams

Role: Right Arm Fast

• Matches/Innings: 1/1
• Wickets: 1, Best: 1/62
• 4-fer/5-fer: 0/0
• Economy: 7.75

Recent ODI Form: 1/62

Last ODI: July 16, 2023

Age: 30

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15. Keshav Maharaj

Role: Right Hand Bat/Left Arm Spin

• Matches/Innings: 31/30
• Wickets: 37, Best: 4/33
• 4-fer/5-fer: 1/0
• Economy: 4.69

Recent ODI Form: 1/38, 2/37, 1/27, 4/33

Last ODI: September 17, 2023

Age: 33

16. Sisanda Magala**

**ruled out of the World Cup

Role: Right Arm Fast

• Matches/Innings: 7/6
• Wickets: 14, Best: 5/43
• 4-fer/5-fer: 0/1
• Economy: 6.32

Recent ODI Form: 1/69, 3/46, 1/76, 3/37, 5/43

Last ODI: April 2, 2023

Age: 32

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17. Anrich Nortje**

**ruled out of the World Cup

Role: Right Arm Fast

• Matches/Innings: 21/20
• Wickets: 36, Best: 4/51
• 4-fer/5-fer: 0/0
• Economy: 5.68

Recent ODI Form: 0/15, 4/62, 2/64, 2/24

Last ODI: April 2, 2023

Age: 29

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18. Wayne Parnell**

**ruled out of the World Cup

Role: Left Arm Fast/Left-Hand Bat

• Matches/Innings: 73/69
• Wickets: 99, Best: 5/48
• 4-fer/5-fer: 3/2
• Economy: 5.60
• Runs: 574, Best: 56

Recent ODI Form: 1/44, 0/42, 1/54, 0/53, 1/30

Last ODI: March 21, 2023

Age: 34

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19. Dewald Brevis*

*did not make it into the Final World Cup Squad

Role: Right-hand bat/Right arm part-time leg break

*has not debuted in international cricket yet

List A Record:

• Matches/Innings: 8/8
• Runs: 247, Best: 98*
• Average/SR: 35.98/95.00
• 100/50: 0/1

Age: 20

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20. Bjorn Fortuin*

*not picked in the World Cup

Role: Left Arm Orthodox/Right-Hand bat

• Matches/Innings: 5/4
• Wickets: 6, Best: 2/46
• 4-fer/5-fer: 0/0
• Economy: 5.64

Recent ODI Form: 1/52, 1/20, 2/57 2/46

Last ODI: March 21, 2023

Age: 28

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21. Tristan Stubbs*

*did not make it into the final World Cup squad

Role: Right-hand Bat

• Matches/Innings: 1/1
• Runs: 6
• Average/SR: 6/60 (List A Average/SR: 42.16/86.34)
• 100/50: 0/0

Recent ODI Form: 6

Last ODI: March 18, 2023

Age: 23

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Final Thoughts

I have a good feeling about South Africa’s squad this time around, do you?

Klaasen, Markram, Rassie, & Nortje are in their form of their lives, Miller-Rabada-Quinton de Kock-Shamsi are some of the best cricketers going around, and the exciting youth talent of Brevis-Stubbs-Jansen-Coetzee is just the cherry on top.

Can they keep their cool and finallly lift the World Cup trophy?

Only time will tell. But in the mean time, I would love to know what your thoughts are on this. Comment Below with a ‘Yes’ if you think they can win the world or ‘No’ if you think they cannot.

Related ODI World Cup Articles

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