Proteas hope risks bring rewards in WTC final, as both XIs revealed

The Herald

a day ago

Ngidi, who has had his differences with Conrad in the last two years, certainly won't be lacking motivation this week. He has a point to prove to the coach, his captain and himself about his value to the Proteas and in this format.
Since making his first class debut for Northerns in 2016, he's played only 33 first class matches and in those — which include 19 Tests — he's bowled 20 overs or more in an innings just four times and never in the same match.
His stamina has long been a question mark as has his work ethic. But Conrad, when naming the WTC squad last month, praised Ngidi's fitness adding he was impressed by how strong he looked.
The Mulder decision is another that carries significant risk. Even more so than Australia deciding Labuschagne will open and Cameron Green will bat at 3, Mulder in the top order is a gamble. He's not batted there for his province, the Lions, and only did it in two innings last season — once to manage a broken finger.
' Mulder is quite young, obviously, in that position. But having played with him provincially, and [with] how he's kind of grown in the last two years within the red-ball family, it's about giving him a lot more confidence, to keep backing him and just allowing him to do what he does best,' Bavuma said.