Following South Africas embarrassing loss to Afghanistan in the first One-Day International ( ODI ) in Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday, many are asking: Is this the worst Proteas team ever?
Thats a little harsh though, as the more prudent question is - Whats happened to the depth in South African cricket?
The ODI squad selected for the three-match series is a largely inexperienced and experimental side picked by coach Rob Walter and his selection panel.
If you look at the top seven of the Proteas batting lineup, excluding skipper Aiden Markram and opener Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi (6), Tristan Stubbs (2), Kyle Verreynne (13), Jason Smith (1) and Wiaan Mulder (16) have 38 caps between them. Thats including the match against Afghanistan, in which Smith was making his debut.
First to fallIn fact, the two experienced batsmen in the Proteas lineup were first to fall as Hendricks made nine and Markram only managed two runs.
