South Africa has been a dominant force in the ongoing Champions Trophy, showcasing a lethal bowling attack that has dismantled opponents with ease. Their bowlers have been in red-hot form, taking all ten wickets in both of their group-stage encounters against Afghanistan and England. Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble weighed in on what makes the Proteas’ pace trio so effective, highlighting the unique attributes that set them apart.
“I think one good thing about South Africa is that all three of their fast bowlers that played today (against England) bring something different to the table. Of course, Mulder is the one who bowls in the middle overs, but if you look at their three tall quicks, each of them has a distinct style. Rabada is classical in his approach, Ngidi has a rather awkward action that makes him tricky to face, and Marco Jansen’s height gives him a unique advantage,” Anil Kumble explained while speaking to ESPNcricinfo.
He emphasized how the variety in their bowling attack makes them a nightmare for opposition batters, even on flat pitches. “That’s the kind of variation you want in an ODI side. It’s difficult for batters to line them up because of the different angles they create. Heading into the knockout stage, this variety will be one of South Africa’s biggest strengths,” he added.
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Kumble also reserved special praise for Marco Jansen, hailing him as a complete all-rounder who has added immense value to the Proteas’ lineup. He particularly highlighted Jansen’s ability to generate steep bounce, making him a handful on any surface.
“He’s still quite young but has matured significantly. These three wickets today will give him even more confidence. His fielding has also improved immensely, as we saw with his catches, and his batting contributions have been crucial for South Africa. He provides the perfect balance at No. 7 or No. 8,” Anil Kumble stated.
With the ball, Jansen’s ability to extract bounce and movement makes him a dangerous prospect. “With the new ball, he can get it to swing back in. And because of his height, it’s hard for batters to get underneath him. We saw that with Phil Salt—he simply couldn’t control the bounce, and the ball climbed on him unexpectedly. This is the kind of variety every team craves in their bowling attack, and South Africa has it in abundance,” he concluded.
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With an unbeaten run in the group stage, South Africa topped Group B with five points and an impressive net run rate of +2.395. They now await the winner of the India-New Zealand clash for a high-stakes semi-final battle on March 2.
