The Proteas feel their strength in the batting department at the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup will be in the middle order.

The Proteas have Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks to open the batting, and while the Proteas wicketkeeper didn’t have the best IPL, he likes big competition. The former Knight, Hendricks, has become one of the most consistent batters around.

A solid middle order is something the Proteas lacked during the three-match T20 International series against the West Indies, however, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Tristan Stubbs are all back with the team.

‘This is where they will have an upper hand’

In addition, the tall and lanky left-arm seamer, Marco Jansen, has developed into a serious all-rounder and he too is a welcome return. They will no doubt give the Proteas batting a big boost.

The Proteas coach, Rob Walter, feels that this is where they will have an upper hand. 

“As far as the middle order goes, of course, who wouldn't be excited by Markram, Klaasen, Miller, Stubbs, and Jansen?

‘Those performances are not by luck’

“We just need to keep those guys hungry, keep them fresh, climb on the back of the momentum they've built up with their games.

“I mean, you know, those performances are not by luck, but a lot of hard work developing their games to play that way.”

The T20 World Cup begins on Sunday, and the Proteas will face Sri Lanka on Monday in New York.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh