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Fantasy Preview: Pack the team with batters and pacers

article_imageFANTASY PREVIEW
Last updated on 24 Mar 2023 | 07:20 PM
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Fantasy Preview: Pack the team with batters and pacers

Here are a few tips that could help you create your fantasy XI for the first T20I between South Africa and West Indies

Despite the wash-out in the first ODI, the series turned out to be an action packed one. West Indies had the better of the hosts in the second ODI. But, the home team came back with an annihilation in the third to level the series.  

West Indies’s tour to South Africa will end with three T20Is, starting from 25th. The men in Maroon, haven’t played a T20I in South Africa post the 2015 series. The series ended on a happy note as the visitors won the series 2-1.

On the other hand, South Africa in their last four T20I bilateral series at home, haven’t won a single one. They were white-washed by England in November 2020, and then Pakistan won the four-match series with a 3-1 timeline.

Ground details

Prepare for a run fest. The SuperSport Park, Centurion, hasn’t been a ground favorable for the bowlers in recent times. In T20Is since 2019, teams have scored at a run rate of 9.2 at this venue. Among venues that have witnessed five or more matches, the run rate is the fourth highest.

The last T20I that was played at this venue was in 2021. But, in the inaugural edition of the SA20 in 2023, the conditions weren’t different. In the six matches played at this venue, teams scored at a run rate of 9.5, the only venue in which the run rate was above nine. The average first innings score at this venue was 198. Despite that, teams had chosen to field first in all six matches in SA20.

SuperSport Park was a venue that was least conducive for the spinners. Only 17.6 percent of the overs were bowled by spinners as compared to 82.4 by pacers. Evidently, the pacers bagged the larger chunk of wickets (88.6%). Both in terms of wickets and overs percentage, no other venue was dominated by pacers as SuperSport Park.

Suggested Team    

While you could go for the above team, you can also choose your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.

Captaincy suggestion

For small leagues: Quinton de Kock (capt), Aiden Markram (vice-capt)

For grand leagues: Rilee Rossouw (capt), Alzarri Joseph (vice-capt)

Stats that matter

-SuperSport Park might be a fortress for South Africa in Tests, but their T20I record here, has been horrendous off late. In their last five matches at this venue, they have lost four. In back-to-back matches, one against England (2020), and another against Pakistan (2021), they failed to defend 200+ total.   

-In T20Is since 2020, South Africa played 13 home matches with a win/loss ratio of 0.300. Among teams that have played 10+ home matches in this time, their win/loss ratio is the worst.

-In T20Is since 2022, among the Test playing nations, South African bowlers have the worst economy (8.43) and West Indies have the second worst (8.35). In any case, South African bowlers have the best strike rate (16.6). Costly, but effective may be.

Grand league punts

-Rilee Rossouw has been in scintillating form. In all T20s since 2021, he has scored over 400 runs at a strike rate of 155+ in each of the years. In the aforementioned time, among players who have scored 1000+ runs, his overall strike rate of 164.8 is the fourth highest. Adding to that, he has hit four centuries.  

-Alzarri Joseph had a great year with the ball in 2022. In all T20s, the lanky bowler picked up 46 wickets at an economy of 7.7 and a strike rate of 15.3. The year 2022, was his most productive year. He has bowled 15+ overs in a year five times, and his strike rate of 15.3 in 2022, was the best.

Top Criclytics predictions

Probable XI

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram (c), David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Wayne Parnell/Marco Jansen, Bjorn Fortuin, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi

West Indies: Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Shamarh Brooks, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Rovman Powell (c), Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy

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