Ottneil Baartman of Paarl Royals celebrated his 50th SA20 wicket this season but to many’s surprise, the fast bowler was left out from the Proteas T20 World Cup squad. Former Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn described is as “weird” and “strange” that fast bowler Ottneil Baartman did not make the ICC T20 World Cup squad, despite being the leading wicket-taker in the SA20. Baartman was a key player for South Africa in the previous edition of the ICC T20 World Cup, as he bowled a total of 19 overs in the five games he played, meaning it was only in one game that he didn’t go through his allotted four overs in a match.
The right-arm quick returned an economy rate of 4.94 runs per over, an almost unheard of rate in the shortest format of the game. In the SA20, he is one of two bowlers that have crossed the 50 wickets mark, alongside Marco Jansen who has been included in the Proteas squad headed for the tournament in India next month. In the recently concluded bilateral series in India, Baartman finished third on the top wicket-takers list, behind only Lungi Ngidi and Varun Chakravarthy, and ahead of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.
Former Proteas fast bowler, Dale Steyn, was commentating during South Africa’s tour of India and watched the series from the commentary box. Moreover, as bowling coach of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape for the opening three overs, Steyn had the front row seat to watch Baartman operate in his previous team and gauge the quality of the man. “Ottneil Baartman has been amazing throughout all four seasons.
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I know we’re not even halfway through this season, but all four seasons he’s been just phenomenal. I’m a little bit upset that he didn’t get the nod to go to the World Cup,” Steyn told. “I think when you’re playing in this SA20 tournament, it’s not like domestic cricket.
You are playing against four internationals very often, it’s two or three international batters, as well as all the Proteas batters. For him to be the leading wicket-taker in this competition tells you that he’s not gettingMickey Mousebatters out. “He’s getting the best in the world out.
He’s leading the pack, and yet for some weird reason we’ve decided not to take him. That’s a bit strange.” Steyn was a part of the Proteas squad the last time India hosted the T20 World Cup back in 2016. He has also played in the Indian Premier League for many years, a feat that has given him an acute understanding of the conditions in India.
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