Watch VideoCorbin Bosch v George Linde: Proteas face selection dilemma for India Super 8 clash

The Proteas head into their opening Super 8 fixture against India with a massive selection headache. Do they stick with the raw pace and form of Corbin Bosch, or opt for the tactical spin and lower-order power of George Linde? Photo: AFP The Proteasbrainstrust had been very consistent in their team selection at the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, except for the deadrubber fixture against the UAE earlier this week, where they made four changes to the playing XI.

Heading intoSouth Africa’s opening Super 8 fixture, the tough decision will be who to play between all-rounders Corbin Bosch and George Linde. Cricket reporterOngama Gcwabediscusses who South Africa should select inSunday’s fixture. Realistically,Bosch is probably the favouriteto play the fixture against India for two reasons.

Firstly, the fixture is a night game, which means the spinners, including Linde, tend to have very little impact. Moreover, when South Africa played New Zealand last week, their only night game in the group stage of the tournament, they chose Bosch, with Markram highlighting the dew factor as the reason behind their selection. Secondly, Bosch is in really good form, having blown the UAE batting line-up away earlier this week, registering figures of 3/12 and walking away with the Player of the Match award in the process.

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Against Canada and New Zealand, the right-arm quick returned figures of 1/27 and 1/34, as he proved his worth as a genuine pace bowler for the Proteas. It is safe to say that Linde brings more to the team with the bat than Bosch does. With the bat, the left-handed batter is a handful and is a powerful batter in the lower-order.

With the ball, Linde is a quality spinner, having taking 1/39 and 1/17 in the two games he has played thus far in the World Cup. Moreover, India’s batters seem to have a serious problem with spin at the moment. Off the 31 dismissals that the hosts have had in the tournament thus far, 15 of them have been because of spin bowlers, a piece of data that the Proteas team analyst will certainly run by captain Aiden Markram and coach Shukri Conrad.

The statistics will certainly bring Linde into the conversation even more The fixture between South Africa and India is scheduled to start at 3.30pm at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Ongama Gcwabeis a prominent sports journalist. Writing for Independent Media as a senior contributor, and is recognised for his expertise in SA cricket.

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