On November 10, 1991, South Africa, which had been reinstated as a Test nation by the ICC in 1991, played their first sanctioned international game since 1970 and their first-ever ODI against India in Calcutta. Despite having developed a wealth of cricketing talent, the Proteas have always struggled in ICC competitions. South Africa has the record for the most successful run chase in One-Day Internationals, even though they have yet to win a World Cup. On March 12, 2006, they defeated Australia in a fifty-over match, chasing down 438 in 49.5 overs.Take a peek at the top ten openers for South Africa, the world's deadly international squad, during the last 26 years.
Role of Opener
Batters who bat first in an innings are the opening batters or openers (no. 1 and 2). The openers must get the innings off to a solid start, so this position is crucial. Ball’s condition improves as it gets older, favoring the hitting team.
1. Quinton De Kock
Quinton de Kock, the ICC's 2016 ODI Cricketer of the Year, made his fifty-over format debut in January 2013 against New Zealand and has opened the innings in 85 matches for South Africa since then. As an opener, he amassed 3,722 runs at an average of 46.52, making him the fastest South African and joint most rapid in the world to score 1,000 ODI runs.In 2016, against Australia in Centurion, he got his best score of 178 at the top of the batting order, becoming the fastest batter in the world to reach his 4th, 5th, 10th, and 12th ODI hundreds.
2. Herschelle Gibbs
Herschelle Gibbs, a hard-hitting opening batsman who made his ODI debut against Kenya in October 1996, scored 6,103 runs in 183 appearances at an average of 35.69. Gibbs was the second South African after Jacques Kallis to score more than 1,000 runs in World Cups as an opener, with 18 tonnes and 24 fifties. Gibbs' highest ODI score of 153 came in a match against Bangladesh at Potchefstroom in 2002, when he became the first player in ODI history to hit six sixes in a single over.
3. Hashim Amla
His worst weakness was an awkward back lift from his days playing cricket in a crowded courtyard. However, he has demonstrated that a player's technique does not have to be flawless to order to be successful. Amla's light shines so brightly that you need shades—and he still has a few years left in him. Astute, elegant, and with a flawless cover drive, Amla's star shines so brightly that you need shades—and he still has a few years left in him.
4. Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith, who took over as South Africa's captain after the 2003 World Cup at 22, was an assertive and outspoken ball-attacker. Smith played in 195 One-Day Internationals for South Africa between 2002 and 2013, scoring 6,974 runs at an average of 38.31.The tall, left-handed opener scored 10 ODI hundreds, the greatest of which was 141 against England in Centurion in 2009.Graeme Smith always provides a good and furies start to their team.
5. Faf Du Plessis
South Africa's quest for a big prize has a new flag-bearer in Faf du Plessis. At multi-team events, Hansie Cronje, Graeme Smith, and AB de Villiers led the Proteas admirably, but none of them could lead South Africa past the last-four stage of a World Cup or Champions Trophy.
6. Boeta Dippenaar
Between 1999 and 2006, Hendrik Human Dippenaar, better known as Boeta Dippenaar, scored 1,708 runs at an average of 50.23 as South Africa's opener. At the top of the order, the right-handed batsman, who focused more on first-class cricket than his international career, hit four centuries and 13 half-centuries.
7. Herbert Taylor
When Herbert Taylor was just over 24 years old, he became the president of South Africa. As a captain, he averaged 47.96, significantly higher than his career average. In 1922/23, Taylor made 582 runs against England, the second-highest total by a South African captain in a single Test series.He is a legend player who use to open for proteas at immemorable times.
8. Kepler Wessels
After electing to represent his natal country, South Africa, Kepler Wessels, who made his ODI debut for Australia, has opened the innings in 42 ODIs.Between 1991 and 1994, the former Proteas captain amassed 1,297 runs at an average of 32.42. Despite an ODI century, Wessels' best score as an opener is 90, which he achieved against India in Delhi in 1991.
9. Mike Rindel
Mike Rindel opened the batting for South Africa in 16 One-Day Internationals, scoring 480 runs at an average of 30.00. Riedel earned a century and two fifties for the Proteas between 1995 and 1999, despite being run out five times in his first seven innings. Rindel's highest ODI score of 106 came against Pakistan in a fifty-over match in Johannesburg in 1995, where he was named Man of the Match.
10. Gary Kirsten
Gary Kirsten, who is now retired, is regarded as one of the greatest Proteas players of all time. He is the fourth-highest run-scorer in one-day cricket and the third-highest in Test cricket. He is the fourth-highest run-scorer in one-day cricket and the third-highest in Test cricket.He was a part of many memorable partnerships due to his persistent commitment, and he will be remembered for his match-winning 76 in the final innings of his career. He was also the first player in Protea’s history to appear in 100 games for his country.
