ICC World Cup 2015: Quinton de Kock, fifth bowler – areas of major concern for South Africa

New Delhi: They might be one of the best teams in world cricket across all formats, but as South Africa take on Sri Lanka in the first quarter-final of ICC World Cup 2015, there are a few major concerns for the AB de Villiers-led side.

Quinton de Kock, the left-hander who slammed three consecutive tons against India when the Men in Blue visited South Africa earlier this year, has been in pathetic form right throughout the series. His scores of 7, 7, 12, 1, 0, 26 runs respectively from six games has been the reason why South Africa have missed out on solid starts early in the innings.

While the team continues to back the youngster, it's high time AB gets behind the stumps – a move which will let them play an extra bowler.

Another concern for South Africa would be the missing fifth bowler. Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Imran Tahir are all set to play in the first quarter-final. But even though the Proteas can play another seamer in Kyle Abott, from what we have seen in the tournament so far, AB has preferred playing seven batsmen.

JP Duminy was expected to play the role of the fifth bowler, but the all-rounder has picked just three wickets from six matches as a result of which AB has completed the rest of the quota with himself, Faf du Plessis and Farhaan Behardien.

AB would be happy with his own bowling effort in the tournament so far as he has scalped four wickets, but in knock out games, he needs to have another seamer who can provide the much-needed breakthroughs.

Sri Lanka have a lot of depth in their batting line up and if AB continues with his seven-batsman approach, the Angelo Mathews-led side can make the most of those ten overs which will be bowled by non-regular bowlers.