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Rossouw-Amla debate in South Africa’s problem of plenty
- Updated: October 4, 2016
Rilee Rossouw was called up to South Africa’s ODI squad as a replacement for the injured AB de Villiers, ahead of the match against Ireland at the end of last month. He ended up replacing an ill Hashim Amla at the start of the Australia series last week. To say that Rossouw had big boots to fill is not an understatement. But try two fifties in two matches on for size, and it seems Rossouw could be a perfect fit.
So, why the in-house handwringing from captain Faf du Plessis, who said he wanted Amla back in the XI but the selectors decided otherwise? “Hashim averages 52 in one-day cricket, so, for me, you can never replace that,” du Plessis said. “And if you miss one game for the flu, then it’s always the respect that you’re given to come back into the team. So, if it was my decision, I would definitely bring him back, and the same with the coach, but the selectors felt the combination at the top was working really well.”
Perhaps, the stand-in captain just wants protocol to take precedence, and it seems he is not the only one. Television and social media commentators were aghast at Amla’s omission on Sunday, and there is every indication that he will be back for the third ODI. And where will that leave Rossouw, mentally and literally? “When we had our team culture camp, we spoke about our playing bubble. People can say what they want to say, as long as it doesn’t affect how we are going about our proceedings and how we play,” Rossouw said. “If Hashim comes back and I am playing, I will probably slot into the middle order.”
Rossouw has batted at Nos. 4-7 in 18 of the 33 ODIs he has played, and come out at …
