5 reasons why South Africa failed at the World T20

#4 Team Selection Woes:

Last season, Morkel had led the depleted pace attack with lots of promise

No discussion about South Africa’s poor performance can end without discussing about the team selection, which looked dubious at times.

They chose to field a relatively inexperienced pace attack, with no Morne Morkel to support the off-color Steyn. Last season, Morkel had led the depleted pace attack with lots of promise, picking 35 wickets in 13 matches (all formats included) since October last year.

He also has a lot of experience on Indian pitches, having toured the country thrice since his Test debut against the Indians in 2006. He has also represented the Kolkata Knight Riders, the Rajasthan Royals, and the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL.

In his absence, apart from Steyn, the other pacers comprised of Rabada, Abott, and all-rounders Morris and Wiese. They could have opted for either Morris or Wiese, and could have given Aaron Phangiso, the left-arm spinner, a look-in along with Imran Tahir, given the conditions in India.

Yet, they kept switching between Abbot, Wiese and Morris. Instead of fielding so many pacers, they could have given the Tahir-Phangiso partnership more importance, and should have given Behardien the role of the extra medium pacer.