The all-time South Africa men’s ODI XI, as based on the ICC rankings

The composition is simple: five batters (including one wicketkeeper), two all-rounders, and four bowlers, with one of them being a spinner.

Numbers mentioned are ODI statistics for South Africa.

Gary Kirsten

ICC all-time batting ranking: 11 (October 1996)

185 ODIs, 6,798 runs @ 40.95, 13 100s, HS: 188*

A run-accumulator of high pedigree, Kirsten brought stoicism and dependability to South Africa’s top order through the late Nineties and early Noughties. In the one-day format, he was fluent without being flashy. His highest ODI score – 188* in 1996 – the year he achieved his career-best ODI ranking – is still the top score by a South African batter in ODI cricket.

Hashim Amla

ICC all-time batting ranking: 10 (September 2012)

181 ODIs, 8,113 runs @ 49.46, 27 100s, HS: 159

A modern-day great, Amla reinvented himself to be a powerful ODI force, despite a conventional and graceful technique. Playing along the carpet, Amla rapidly punctured infields during the powerplay, combining textbook strokes with unwavering determination to notch big scores. He is the fastest-ever to 2000 ODI runs, and every subsequent multiple of 1000 runs until 8000.

Faf du Plessis

ICC all-time batting ranking: 41 (July 2019)

143 ODIs, 5,507 runs @ 47.47, 12 100s, HS: 185

Apart from the obvious charm of his strokeplay and the player himself, Faf du Plessis’ batting is special for his versatility in switching roles and changing gears. At No.3, he was especially prolific, averaging over 55 from 80 innings, although he could bat anywhere in the middle order. Alongside all that, he’s a strong leadership presence, as well as a gun fielder.

Jacques Kallis

ICC all-time all-rounder ranking: 7 (May 2001)

323 ODIs, 11,550 runs @ 45.11, 17 100s, HS: 139; 269 wickets @ 31.85, 2 five-fors, BBI: 5-30

Shifting down a place from his usual spot at three, Kallis slots in as one of the all-rounders, one of the greatest the game has seen. A defensive wall in Tests, Kallis’ batting had more verve in the one-day setup, and remains the only South African so far with 10,000 ODI runs. His seam bowling was nagging and nippy, perfectly complementing the frontline quicks.

AB de Villiers (wk)

ICC all-time batting ranking: 9 (March 2015)

223 ODIs, 9,427 runs @ 54.17, 25 100s, HS: 176

Bringing panache and unorthodoxy into this lineup, de Villiers – as great an impact player as there have been – sits in comfortably at No.5. The country’s second-highest run-maker in the format, and the record holder for the fastest ODI century, de Villiers’ attacking capabilities grew to legendary proportions as the years progressed. No batter has scored more centuries (21) in the middle order (No.4 to 7). He also acts as the wicketkeeper in this XI.

Hansie Cronje

ICC all-time batting ranking: 34 (December 1994)

188 ODIs, 5,585 runs @ 38.64, 2 100s, HS: 112; 114 wickets @ 34.78, 1 five-for, BBI: 5-32

Before his reputation took a hit, Cronje was known to be a streetsmart player who evolved with the changing needs of the game. Cronje was a sturdy presence in the middle order, capable of floating around and closing innings with a flourish. With the ball, he was a canny, niggling operator, chipping away in the middle overs. More than anything, though, his aggressive leadership stood out, all of it combining to make a formidable package.

Lance Klusener

ICC all-time all-rounder’s ranking: 3 (June 1999)

171 ODIs, 3,576 runs @ 41.10, 2 100s, HS: 103*; 192 wickets @ 29.95, 6 five-fors, BBI: 6-49

The quintessential multi-skilled cricketer of the modern age, Klusener left an impact few all-rounders have been able to match since. A big-match player, Klusener is renowned for his brilliance in the 1999 World Cup, the year he reached his highest rating points and became the fifth-best all-rounder of all time. Specialising in delivering under pressure situations with the bat, he was also a combative quick, transforming into a cutter-bowling seamer as the years passed.

Shaun Pollock

ICC all-time bowling ranking: 3 (February 2007)

294 ODIs, 387 wickets @ 24.31, 5 five-fors, BBI: 6-35

With the ball in hand, Pollock’s accuracy was almost machine-like, mixing it with his skilful swing bowling to deliver telling results. Among South African bowlers, he has, by far, the most one-day wickets, also delivering the most maiden overs in the format. Only Richard Hadlee and Joel Garner have a better ICC all-time bowling rating.

Allan Donald

ICC all-time bowling ranking: 31 (January 1998)

164 ODIs, 272 wickets @ 21.78, 2 five-fors, BBI: 6-23

Fierce, unrelenting and rapid, Donald was every fast bowler’s dream. The menacing scowl was merely an after-effect of the torment batters used to face against his fiery pace. Donald took the most wickets for South Africa barring Pollock, and was especially lethal with the new ball in hand. Among all bowlers with 200-plus wickets, Donald’s average is the joint-best.

Imran Tahir

ICC all-time bowling ranking: 35 (February 2017)

107 ODIs, 173 wickets @ 24.83, 3 five-fors, BBI: 7-45

The only spinner in the team, Tahir, despite a late entry into international cricket, became a formidable weapon in a pace-heavy attack. Having developed a world-class googly, Tahir is extremely difficult to pick, mixing it well among his other neatly crafted set of variations. No spin bowler has taken more ODI wickets for South Africa.

Makhaya Ntini

ICC all-time bowling ranking: 35 (January 2004)

172 ODIs, 265 wickets @ 24.53, 4 five-fors, BBI: 6-22

Ntini wasn’t ferociously fast, neither was he especially reliant on swing, but built a lasting reputation by creating sharp angles, steep bounce, and using the pitch to the maximum, ending as the fourth-highest wicket-taker from South Africa in the format.