Comment by Ashfak Mohamed
Anrich Nortjé last played for South Africa in June.
That was in the ill-fated T20 World Cup final against India in Bridgetown, Barbados, which the Proteas lost by seven runs in controversial circumstances.
Nortjé produced an excellent four-over spell under the most intense scrutiny of a major title decider, with figures of 2/26 – claiming the wickets of Shivam Dube (27) and Ravindra Jadeja (two).
He ended the tournament as the joint-second-highest wicket-taker on 15, and breaking Dale Steyn’s SA record of 30 for most scalps in the history of the tournament.
But the 31-year-old ‘Uitenhage Express’ hasn’t worn the Proteas badge since.
Injuries have seldom been his friend during his career, and a nine-month spell on the sidelines with a stress fracture in 2023 saw him only return to the field for last year’s IPL.
Nortjé then opted out of a Cricket SA contract so that he can manage his body better, and ease back into things before making himself available for national duty.
That was supposed to be in the Pakistan white-ball series late last year, but then he picked up a fractured toe during practice and was ruled out again.
But he is back, and was scheduled to feature for the Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 at the weekend, and then the match was rained out.
He wasn’t part of the Capitals side for yesterday’s clash against Sunrisers Eastern Cape, after being included in the Proteas squad for next month’s ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE on Monday.
But was it the right call, considering his injury issues?
Proteas coach Rob Walter remarked this week that he “trusts” Nortjé, and that the speedster was “super fit and super energised to be playing for South Africa again”.
Nortjé is the only South African paceman to bowl regularly at speeds of over 150km/h, although others such as Nandré Burger (injured) and Gerald Coetzee (returned from injury for the Joburg Super Kings yesterday) can cross that mark on occasion as well.
Walter’s statement that Nortjé was “bowling really quickly” at a camp in Pretoria before the Pakistan series is arguably the main reason why he made the Champions Trophy cut.
The romantic selection would have been teenage sensation Maphaka, of course, who made his Proteas debut last year in the T20 format and featured in his first ODI against Pakistan recently.
There is no doubt that he will be a superstar soon, but he isn’t one right now, and needs the time to develop his game accordingly – which shouldn’t be at a world event like the Champions Trophy.
The pitches may be expected to be low and slow in Karachi and Rawalpindi, where the South Africans will face Afghanistan, Australia and England in the group stage from February 21, which necessitated the selection of two specialist spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi.
Of course, Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs can also turn their arms over in that regard.
But while Kagiso Rabada is the absolute spearhead of the attack, Nortjé’s thunderbolts can be the point of difference for the Proteas on sluggish pitches.
His ability to mix up his deliveries will be vital, as a 150km/h bouncer can be followed up by a 120km/h back-of-the-hand slower-ball cutter.
A first-choice bowling line-up of Rabada, Nortjé, Marco Jansen and Maharaj is well-equipped to make inroads into any batting line-up.
Walter also mentioned the experience aspect when looking at the overall SA squad, which is also an important element in Pakistani conditions, which saw Lungi Ngidi also edging out Maphaka. | Independent Media Sport
Proteas Squad
Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortjé, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen.