

Rob Walter’s unwavering faith in Anrich Nortje
Rob Walter is South Africa’s white-ball coach
South Africa’s white-ball coach, Rob Walter, remains confident in Anrich Nortje. While Nortje’s bowling figures haven’t been stellar since recovering from his six-month stress fracture layoff, Walter feels the fast bowler is close to regaining his top form.
Anrich Nortje’s return from injury hasn’t been a fairytale. After a six-month absence due to a stress fracture, he missed the World Cup and South Africa’s home season. He also opted out of a central contract for 2024.
Despite returning for 11 T20 matches across various tournaments, his figures haven’t been red-hot. In 40 overs, he’s taken only nine wickets at an economy rate of 11.22, with his T20I outings exceeding 12 runs per over.
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However, South Africa’s white-ball coach, Rob Walter, maintains his faith in Nortje’s ability to peak in time for the T20 World Cup.
“They’ve been tough conditions for a fast bowler and [Nortje was] coming up against a side who were pretty brutal if you were off the mark. He probably experienced the exact same thing having come off a break into his first four games at the IPL. So he probably landed himself in a perfect storm, which in many ways can harden you and get you even more ready,” Walter told a press conference on Tuesday. “I still don’t believe he’s very far away. A world-class performer finds a way and I don’t doubt that he will as well.”
The World Cup selection saw Anrich Nortje get the nod over Lungi Ngidi. While Ngidi impressed upon his return from a back issue, taking eight wickets at a miserly 8.30 runs per over in the CSA T20 Challenge, Nortje’s experience was ultimately favored by the selectors.
Walter says he opted for Nortje for his raw pace abilities.
“The idea is to use every person’s x-factor to the best of our ability. His x-factor is his pace so we are always looking to use that 150-plus speed that he has,” Walter said.
Nortje showcased his trademark pace against the West Indies, firing some deliveries past the 150kph mark. However, these express deliveries were sometimes dispatched with ease. He also displayed variation, dropping his pace down to 110kph.
“He is more than that (pace), really, and he has developed a good set of skills from a slower ball point of view,” Walter said. ” So I do believe he can bowl on different surfaces and in different positions of the game. But his main job is to strike, really, and break the game open, and then finish it, and then close it up.”
South Africa will play their first match of the T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka on June 3.
They are grouped with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands, and Nepal in Group D of the tournament.
South Africa’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024:
Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs.
South Africa’s schedule for the T20 World Cup 2024:
3 June 2024 – SOUTH AFRICA v SRI LANKA, New York
8 June 2024 – SOUTH AFRICA v NETHERLANDS, New York
10 June 2024 – SOUTH AFRICA v BANGLADESH, New York
14 June 2024 – SOUTH AFRICA v NEPAL, St. Vincent