South Africa needs series whitewash vs England for automatic ODI World Cup qualification
The HinduSouth Africa goes into a three-match One Day International series against England this week in a precarious position, needing to secure a whitewash if it is to make sure of automatic qualification for this year’s World Cup. South Africa is languishing behind in the World Cup Super League standings and left chasing the last available automatic qualifying berth for the tournament in India later this year - along with Ireland, Sri Lanka and the West Indies. It sits in 11th place in the standings, having forfeited three ODIs against Australia this month in order to make room on the calendar for Cricket South Africa’s new Twenty20 league, but can make 100% sure of qualification if it beats England 3-0 and then win its last two qualifying ODIs in March and April at home to the Netherlands, who are bottom of the 13-team table. If both Ireland and Sri Lanka do not win all their remaining three games, then South Africa’s task is made easier but they still need to win a minimum of three victories to ensure automatic qualification to the World Cup, which will be held in October and November and comprises of 10 teams. South Africa go into the series against England with a new coaching line-up after Mark Boucher quit following November’s T20 World Cup Shukri Conrad, who was named as South Africa’s test coach earlier this month, will take charge of the ODI squad against England while new white-ball coach, Rob Walter, finishes his commitments with the Central Stags in New Zealand.