5 South African players to watch out for in the 2015 World Cup

South Africa go into this World Cup like they have done in every other edition as favourites. The most underachieving team in World Cup history, the Saffers would be tormented by their past memories in the tournament, losing every single knockout match that they have played at World Cups.They havent had the best of luck either, rain playing spoilsport a couple of times and pressure getting the better of them at other times. Under AB de Villiers, though, they would look to repaint their sorry canvas with brighter colours at this World Cup, given quite a few things are going their way.South Africa have probably the best all-round team for all conditions in this World Cup. World-class pace bowlers, a good legspinner, all-rounders, sloggers, solid top-order batsmen you name it, theyhave it. Most importantly, they will be playing on grounds and pitchesthat will be quite similar to what they have back home.Under their present skipper, AB de Villiers, South Africa have won 32 out of 58 matches and 22 out of 39 matches, away or in a neutral venue. In the last 12 months, South Africa have won 10 out of 16 games too, giving them a good win percentage, although, their win-loss record against Australia, probably their toughest competitor this World Cup,in the last 2 years is a mixed bag 3 wins and 4 losses.How South Africa fare though, will depend on how their best players rise up to the occasion. Most importantly, this is a team that has peaked and matured together, with most of their players in the XI, playing at least 30 ODIs in the last couple of years.We take a look at 5 South Africans we must watch out for at this World Cup.

#5 Quinton de Kock

There is a reason why Quinton de Kock features in this list ahead of JP Duminy, David Miller and Faf du Plessis.

De Kock is third behind AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla in runs scored over the last 1 year for the Proteas. He scores at a breathtaking strike-rate of over 90. He is one of the most exciting young players around the world and is also the wicket-keeper for South Africa, relieving his skipper of duties that the latter has always approached with caution.

Along with Amla, he forms a left-right combination at the start that mixes caution with aggression, ensuring that bowling line-ups around the world have plenty to deal with right from the start. De Kock is also a century maker, stacking them at will once he gets the starts. The 22-year-old could possibly be South Africa’s secret weapons while teams go about fearing the likes of de Villiers, Amla, Miller and the ever consistent du Plessis.

#4 Morne Morkel

Often over-shadowed by his senior partner, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel is South Africa’s third highest wicket-taker behind Ryan McLaren and Steyn, in the last 2 years with 49 wickets at 5.11. Interestingly, while Morkel’s career economy is remarkably close to Steyn’s, his average is even lower than Steyn, explaining how good he really has been in the ODI format.

Nearing 150 career wickets in ODIs, Morkel can consistently clock over 145kph and thanks to his height get steep bounce even on the most benign of pitches and that too from a good length. Along with Steyn, he makes for probably, the most potent new ball bowling attack in the world feared especially on fast bouncy wickets, with life and movement.

At times, like in the Test series against West Indies, the feared fast bowler, goes into a zone of his own, overtaking even Steyn in terms of menace and speed guns.

#3 Hashim Amla

1830 runs at an average of 45.75 and strike-rate of 83 make Hashim Amla one of the mainstays of the South African top order. He is only next to AB de Villiers in number of runs scored in the last couple of years. He has 7 centuries during that period, the most by any South African batsman, along with 7 half-centuries. He also features in the top 10 run-scorers from across the world in the last 2 years in a list mostly dominated by Indians and Sri Lankans.

Amla, opening the batting, complements his free-hitting partner Quinton de Kock perfectly. All classy and conventional, Amla more in the Rahul Dravid mould, shows that there is a lot of place for technically immaculate touch players in the ODI version.

The 31-year-old’s consistency is top-notch too, only Virat Kohli scoring more centuries (8) than his 7 amongst all batsmen with more than 1000 runs in the last 2 years. Amla is an amazing boundary hitter too, offering South Africa stability without hampering the scoring against the best bowling line-ups.

#2 Dale Steyn

South Africa go into the tournament boasting of the best batsman and the best bowler in the world. Of all bowlers who have taken at least 50 wickets in the last 2 years, Dale Steyn is the only one with a superhuman average below 20. Only Lasith Malinga and Mitchell Starc along with him have 2 or more 5-fers during this period, though Malinga goes at 5.6 per over, where Steyn goes for 4.37, only behind Saeed Ajmal.

Steyn is one of those rare talents, who has the numbers speaking for his talent and that too, over a period of 5 years. Capable of making batsmen hop on fast bouncy pitches, with a natural outswinger, he will be a handful at this World Cup, given this is the World Cup where he’ll be at the peak of all his skills.

52 wickets in 29 matches apart, he is also a very handy lower-order batsman. Over the last 5 years, he is the leading wicket-taker along with Shakib al-Hasan, with 97 wickets and he has done it with plenty of fire and aggression. South Africa’s campaign will really depend on how well Steyn combines with Morkel to hustle and intimidate batsmen in the opening overs.

#1 AB de Villiers

Captain, best ODI batsman in the world going around, South Africa’s best fielder, genius, talisman. Now, holder of the record for fastest 50 in ODI cricket.

South Africa’s fortunes will ebb and flow with AB’s performances even though they aren’t really a one-man team. With the ability to dominate any bowler in the world, a batsman even Dale Steyn fears (and is thankful he doesn’t have to bowl to him), AB is in the form of his life and lends spine to the South African middle-order, stacked with stroke-makers.

In the last 3 years, playing away from home, AB tops the run charts with 1663 runs. He also tops the charts playing anywhere, on both lists, last 3 years as well as last 2 years. In other words, de Villiers is as consistent as a batsman could get.

South Africa’s only batsman to score at least 500 runs in the last couple of years with a strike-rate of more than 100, the South African captain also averages a colossal 58.97 with 5 centuries and 14 fifties. Only Hashim Amla has more centuries than AB although, Amla opens the innings. What makes him dangerous is also his boundary hitting capability. His 180 fours and 35 sixers are more than any other batsmen in the South African batting line-up.