Dale Steyn questions Ottneil Baartman's exclusion from South Africa's T20 World Cup squad

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Baartman, who was part of the 2024 group that lost to India in the final of the T20 World Cup in Barbados, has only played in 11 of South Africa’s 29 matches since then and finds himself on the outside as they hope to go one better next month. Though the squad was finalised a week after the fourth edition of the SA20 started, and convener Patrick Moroney argued that it was too early in the tournament for it to influence World Cup selection, it’s clear South Africa had decided to go pace-heavy. There are six quicks in their squad in Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kwena Maphaka and Anrich Nortje, which means South Africa are laden with genuine speed but are perhaps short of variation.

They have Ngidi for slower balls and cutters, but Baartman offers a skiddiness that can surprise batters, and if it were up to South Africa great Dale Steyn, he should have made the cut. Steyn, who was Baartman’s bowling coach for the first three editions of the SA20 at Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC), said he needs to be looked at as “one of SA’s best white-ball bowlers.”

Steyn made reference to Baartman’s record at the SA20, which is as good as Jansen’s and significantly better than anyone else’s, as well as the circumstances under which he has performed. The next highest wicket-taker is Rabada, with 34, while Baartman has played in three finals and is currently with Paarl Royals, the team that sits second on the points table. Among the batters he has dismissed are Matthew Breetzke and James Neesham (three times each), and Heinrich Klaasen, Ryan Rickelton, Jonny Bairstow, Dewald Brevis and Rashid Khan (twice each).

“He’s the highest wicket taker in SA20, won the league twice and made a final, let me remind you, that’s a comp that has 4 INTERNATIONAL players (often batters) plus all the PROTEAS! He’s number 1,” Steyn tweeted. “Thats TOP quality, but he’ll be sitting home for this years 20/20 WC.”

Baartman’s latest achievement came at Newlands, where Paarl Royals bowled MICT out for their lowest SA20 score on Sunday. Baartman removed Nicholas Pooran at a crucial time with MI struggling at 55 in the 11th over. Pooran tried to slog but was done by lack of pace and sliced the ball high in the air. Baartman finished with 2 for 8 in 2.4 overs, a remarkable return that only underlined Steyn’s point and will lead to more questions about how the squad was selected.

Most of the discussion centres on the batters and specifically the inclusions of Jason Smith and Tony de Zorzi, but those who are watching the wicket-takers’ list will ask about Baartman, who seems to be taking it in his stride. Asked how his premier seamer responded to the snub, Paarl captain David Miller was sympathetic and also seemed to offer Baartman some hope.

“It’s obviously hard on guys,” Miller said. “I’ve been in that position back in the day, not making a World Cup [2011 ODI World Cup and 2012 T20 World Cup], being a part of the team and then missing out, and it’s a bit of a blow. You feel for them. Unfortunately, there’s only a squad of 15. At the end of the day, it is what it is.

“The response is, for me, the biggest thing. How guys come back. It’s a big tournament and you never know. There’s potentially injuries. There’s a lot of external factors that can make a play. So you always want to keep your head up and keep doing the right things. He’s definitely done that. He’s come out and really performed, put all that aside.”

Baartman has led a Paarl attack that entered the tournament with few superstars, especially in the bowling department. Apart from him, they have unearthed a gem in 19-year-old Nqobani Mokoena, who Baartman has taken under his wing. “I know that he loves the game of cricket and contributing, regardless of whether he makes it or not,” Miller said of Baartman. “He still loves the game. That’s the space that he’s in.”

Baartman and Mokoena will have more of a chance to make an impact later this week when the Royals travel to play Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers on Thursday.

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