\n<\/p>\n
The unanswered question about South Africa is what happens if the top order fails.<\/p>\n
Jansen appears a place too high at number seven. Will they feel free to go hard in a knockout game?<\/p>\n
The Proteas are also unique among the semi-finalists in that they do not have a wrist spinner in their XI, instead leaving their spin duties to left-arm finger spinner Keshav Maharaj and part-time off-spinner Markram.<\/p>\n
It has meant the Proteas have bowled the fewest amount of spin overs in the tournament \u2013 just 22.8%.<\/p>\n
In contrast, 53% of England’s overs have been from spinners.<\/p>\n
“You can only pretty much cut your coat according to your cloth size and we don’t have wrist spinners or mystery spinners,” Conrad said.<\/p>\n
“Our bowling attack was fashioned in such a way that we’ve got wicket-taking options and that’s something that we’ve driven, especially with guys like KG [Rabada] and Marco [Jansen] – their impact in the match will be through taking wickets.”<\/p>\n
South Africa’s gaps have been filled by Ngidi, who Conrad calls a “mystery seamer”, and seamer Corbin Bosch.<\/p>\n
Ngidi is known for his range of slower balls. <\/p>\n
He has only conceded 6.2 runs per over in the middle phase of the innings while the unheralded Bosch has taken six wickets in that period.<\/p>\n
“They’re all Test-match bowlers so bowling a Test-match length doesn’t come difficult to them so and I think that’s still a really tough length to hit consistently.<\/p>\n
“Bosch keeps it really, really simple, he trains smartly, he trains hard, he doesn’t give himself too many options.<\/p>\n
“We have Lungi that’s got a really deceptive slower ball and then Marco and KG are Marco and KG.<\/p>\n
“It’s nice to be able to have that sort of variety.”<\/p>\n
In 2024, India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup unbeaten. If South Africa are to win it, they will now have to do the same.<\/p>\n
“The South Africa side look ready,” said former England captain Michael Vaughan.<\/p>\n
“I do think that World Test Championship final victory at Lord’s has given them that boost.<\/p>\n
“India played the pure game to the [50-over World Cup] final in 2023 and had one blip in the final [against Australia]. That is the one fear I have for South Africa.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n