West Indies v South Africa T20I Series: Player Ratings

West Indies v South Africa T20I Series: Talking Points

Quinton De Kock 9/10

Runs 255 Average 51.00 Strike Rate 141.66 Highest Score 72                  6’s 10 – 4’s 19

de Kock has been magnificent with the bat throughout the series averaging close to 51 with a strike rate of 141.66. It is fair to say he could not have done any more in this series. His most impressive innings came in the third T20I when he made 72 off 46 balls. He may say he could be captain and it was not a strain on him, but he does look a lot more comfortable not having to do those extra duties. The de Kock in this series was the de Kock of old and it was lovely to see.

Reeza Hendricks 7/10

Runs 78 Average 19.50 Strike Rate 139.28 Highest Score 42                  6’s 2 – 4’s 10.

Hendricks came back into the side after good performances by Malan and Markram against Pakistan with some pressure to perform and he has done that. He may have faltered in the last couple of games but in the main, has got South Africa off to good starts in the powerplay, which has been important. I am not sure about him as a T20I cricketer for the World Cup, especially with that career strike rate, but it cannot be denied that he has answered some critics in this series.

Rassie Van Der Dussen 7.5/10

Runs 97 Average 24.25 Strike Rate 129.33 Highest Score 75                 6’s 3 – 4’s 6.

Not all T20 teams need an anchor, the West Indies do not have one. However, South Africa does and van der Dussen is undoubtedly that anchor in all the formats. He was particularly solid in this series if not flashy. Twitter might not like him much but without his performances, South Africa definitely would have lost more games in the series.

Aiden Markram 8/10

Runs 113 Average 37.66 Strike Rate 131.39 Highest Score 70              6’s 5 – 4’s 6.

Markam took time to get accustomed to how one should play in the Caribbean in this format and the idea of using him as a sixth bowler option cannot be deemed a success. He did, however, save his best for the final game which went some way to getting the series win for the Proteas. He made an excellent 70 off 48 balls and he did this in his preferred position, effectively as an opener when Bavuma was dismissed in the first over.

Temba Bavuma 5.5/10

Runs 76 Average 15.20 Strike Rate 108.57 Highest Score 46                 6’s 1 – 4’s 9.

Bavuma did not have a good series with the bat and did seem unsure about what his role was in this team in the batting order. It was rather strange that he was not asked to open with Quinton De Kock as he has had success there. He did make it up in the field with some very impressive catches and captaincy. The way he used the Proteas spin bowlers was very impressive.

David Miller 3/10

Runs 52 Average 13.00 Strike Rate 108.33 Highest Score 18*                         6’s 1 – 4’s 2.

David Miller had a terrible series with the bat which is a huge concern for South Africa. While West Indies bowled well to him, restricting his favoured shots, it was disappointing to see him perform this poorly. With just a handful of T20Is before the World Cup, he will need to find his form again very soon because the Proteas do not have a like for like replacement.

George Linde 6.5/10

Runs 9 Average 2.25 Strike Rate 64.28 Highest Score 6 6’s 0 – 4’s 1.

Wickets 6 Average 20.83 Economy Rate 7.81 Strike Rate 16

George Linde was exceptionally good with the ball when you consider the batting lineup he bowled to and the fact that he bowled both in and out of the powerplay. He bowled with a good variety of pace, making sure the Windies batters could not attack him constantly, but his batting, after performing well in previous series played, was rather disappointing.

Heinrich Klaasen 2/10

Runs 17 Average 8.50 Strike Rate 73.91 Highest Score 10                         6’s 0 – 4’s 0.

This has been a tour to forget for Klaasen and it may well have closed the door on whether he will make the World Cup squad. He will hope that the fact the World Cup squads will be bigger because of the Covid-19 might work in his favour though. That said, he has looked a man well short of any form and struggled to time the ball at any time in the series.

Wiaan Mulder 8.5/10

Runs 9 Average – Strike Rate 100.00 Highest Score 9*                                                  6’s 0 – 4’s 1.

Wickets 2 Average 15.50 Economy Rate 7.75 Strike Rate 12

It took South Africa five T20Is to play a proper all-rounder and boy did it work. Wiaan Mulder only played one game of the series but his dismissals of Pollard and Russell when WI were well-set shows just how much of an impact cricketer he is. It was clear to see that Wiaan should be playing more in this format. His 2/31 in the last game was a standout performance.

Kagiso Rabada 6.5/10

Runs 33 Average – Strike Rate 126.92 Highest Score 16*                                               6’s 1 – 4’s 2.

Wickets 7 Average 24.28 Economy Rate 9.44 Strike Rate 15.4

He is easily South Africa’s best bowler but outside of the third T20I when he bowled beautifully in the final over to Fabien Allen, he was not at his best in this format and in the main relied too heavily on the short or shorter ball when the right option was a full-length slower ball or cutter. South Africa should not be too worried because class always comes out in the end.

Bjorn Fortuin 5/10

Did Not Bat

Wickets 0 Average- Economy 11 Strike Rate–

Not much to say as he only bowled one over in this series. He should have played more this series as three spinners might be needed for the World Cup.

Tabraiz Shamsi 9.5/10

Wickets 7 Average 11.42 Economy Rate 4 Strike Rate 17.1

He is not the World’s best T20I bowler for nothing and Shamsi showed that in this series. Tabraiz bowled beautifully and at times very differently throughout the series.  The WI batters batted poorly against him, but Shamsi was magnificent. Whether he was asked to keep things tight or go full-on attack, he responded in the affirmative. His series economy of 4 RPO is quite extraordinary against Gayle and co. South Africa need to make sure he is fit and ready for the World Cup because without him they have no chance. 

Lungi Ngidi 3/10

Wickets 5 Average 39.40 Economy Rate 10.94 Strike Rate 21.6

Halfway through this series Ngidi was the most expensive bowler in the world, including non-test nations for those having bowled 20 overs or more over the last two years and it did not improve after that. Lungi has struggled since those injuries in 2019 and although he had been getting wickets in T20s they have masked the more important factor in T20s as a bowler, economy rate. Lungi bowled very poorly in this series and should be a huge concern. He can bowl in this format, but he needs to be a lot tighter in line and length.

Anrich Nortje 8/10

Runs 4 Average 4 Strike Rate 36.36 Highest Score 4*

Wickets 4 Average 24.50 Economy Rate 7 Strike Rate 21

Anrich just goes about his game quietly without the fireworks or exuberance of a Rabada or Shamsi, but he is amazingly effective and he was just that in this series. At no time did he go for more than eight an over and his 2/29 in the third T20 was magnificent. He also showed he is not just a one-trick pony bowling some particularly good slower balls in the four matches he played.