Effect of Brexit on Cricket: South Africa's possible XIs including Kolpak returns

In one of the biggest talking points post the 'Brexit', cricket in South Africa may receive a massive boost as all Kolpak players will more than likely become eligible to represent the Proteas once again, some after a very long time and some after a short period in exile.

Following the UK's decision to leave the EU, it is expected that the Kolpak rule will be changed for any new players, but the existing players might also have the option or be forced to abandon their status as local players and become a club's second overseas player. This is because some players are on temporary deals, which dominates the deals players have taken in the past, especially players using European passports.

We will look at which players will become available and which of these players may return in the three formats, while also touching on who is out of the running due to various factors. Having experienced veterans who would return to the fold in and around the newer players in South Africa's domestic circuit would be invaluable but the more tempting question to examine is which ones could actually return to playing for the nation and make the most use of their second chance.

For most of the players, we will never know the reasons for committing to a Kolpak deal, so some 'returning' players may have no interest in ever representing their nation again, with Simon Harmer and Rilee Rossouw potentially being prime examples, but we will assume, unless clearly told otherwise, that a player would be open to a comeback if the opportunity arose.

While most of the Kolpak players are more senior in age and are pretty old to be picked for the XIs, the challenges of the T20 format do not consider age as a barrier when spaces are open and with two T20 World Cups just around the corner, one could expect quite a few players to claim a spot in the squads.

On that note, here's how South Africa's past could define their future in Test, ODI and T20I cricket.

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Test XI: Simon Harmer, Kyle Abbott big names to consider

Kyle Abbott took 17 wickets in a game for Hampshire earlier this season.

Test cricket could be the format that South Africa improve the most in following potential Kolpak returns.

Two wicket-keeper batsmen who could potentially return to the South African domestic fold are Kent's Heino Kuhn and Lancashire captain Dane Vilas. While neither player would be likely to play for South Africa in future, there aren't many wicket-keepers jumping out for selection with Rudi Second the deputy to Quinton de Kock at the moment.

One can assume that a comeback is not outside the realms of possibility for Stiaan van Zyl. The all-rounder, who is currently plying his Kolpak trade for Sussex used to be a regular for South Africa in this format, averaging a respectable 26.33 with an unbeaten hundred in the bank against West Indies on his debut in 2014 at Centurion, also the venue of his last appearance against New Zealand two years later.

As Faf du Plessis is rumoured to be retiring from the Test format fairly soon and will likely no longer be playing ODIs by the time the Kolpak players would return, it is fair to exclude him from the potential Test and ODI teams, although he could possibly play both T20 World Cups in 2020 and 2021.

The bowling is an exciting prospect after the Kolpak window is slammed shut. Duanne Olivier only made his move last year despite being offered a two year contract by South Africa, and took a decent 43 wickets for Yorkshire in the County Championship in 2019 at an average of 32.32. He probably wouldn't walk back into the team but would contend for a place with the fringe pacers.

The pacer all South Africans want back in the test team is Kyle Abbott, who made the switch in 2017 to play for Hampshire, because his County Championship form has been simply irresistible, easily becoming the best pacer plying his trade in the competition. He claimed 71 scalps at a ridiculous average of 15.73 with stunning bests of 9/40 and 17/86, all coming in just 13 matches and 21 innings.

Simon Harmer's declaration of 'being the best off-spinner in the world' has been written about endlessly but he is certainly the best in England. 83 wickets in the 2019 County Championship saw him top the bowling charts with ease, with bests of 8/98 and 12/61 at an average of 18.28 showing why South Africa could do with him back.

The issue, however, is his previous statements about a willingness to represent England if wanted and his untimely signing of the Kolpak deal, which would make a return unpopular. South Africa fans would still likely have him back though, as his skillset make up for his tepid past.

Test XI after returns

Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma (C), Zubayr Hamza, Quinton de Kock (WK), Dwaine Pretorius, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abbott, Anrich Nortje.

Bench Players: Pieter Malan, Stiaan van Zyl, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier / Lungi Ngidi.

ODI XI: Rilee Rossouw could solve the middle order issues

Is it too late for David Wiese to make an ODI comeback?

On the flipside to Test cricket, the ODI format stands to gain the least in terms of returning players, but one can still analyse the potential South Africa side come early next year, assuming no retirements spoil the combination.

Out of the contenders, only two potential ODI players for the future are considered. Rilee Rossouw is a classy stroke maker and extremely consistent, having made runs wherever he has journeyed to. Most recently, he was in full flow in the Bangladesh Premier League, where he topped the run-scoring charts for a second successive year, ahead of the likes of regular internationals Mushfiqur Rahim, Shoaib Malik and Tamim Iqbal to name a few.

Cameron Delport, who has never played international cricket, is potentially a problem solver at the top of the order in the limited over formats, after Reeza Hendricks and Janneman Malan haven't really sealed their places. The swashbuckling opener has made quite an impact whenever given an opportunity, despite slight inconsistencies.

This would make him similar to South African internationals like David Miller, who can fire to secure a win but are given time when they are out of form, although a good comparison to an international opener would be the spectacular but inconsistent Chris Gayle.

Older players like Colin Ingram, who have clear quality, would likely only be trialed in the shortest format as South Africa look to build towards the 2023 Cricket World Cup, whereas in the T20 format, two World Cups in 2020 and 2021 are both realistic to make for any age player, even AB de Villiers.

All-rounders Wayne Parnell, Hardus Viljoen and David Wiese could all technically make ODI appearances in future, but the one clear area of strength for South Africa in ODI cricket at the moment is pace bowling.

With players as good as Chris Morris, Beuran Hendricks, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje on the fringes at the moment, it seems extremely unlikely that the selectors would want the Kolpak returns back in the 50-over format.

ODI XI after returns

Quinton de Kock (C & WK), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rilee Rossouw, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bjorn Fortuin, Kagiso Rabada, Lutho Sipamla, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Bench Players: Cameron Delport, Jon-Jon Smuts, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje.

T20 XI: Colin Ingram could be in for a return to the side

Colin Ingram has been a T20 star for a while but hasn't played a T20I since 2012.

The T20 internationals are the best hope for most of the returning players if they are to attempt an international comeback, aside from the trio of big name Test hopefuls.

A T20 journeyman and regular run-getter worldwide is Colin Ingram, who has a fantastic temperament and match awareness in the shortest format. A career average of over 30 in T20 matches with a strike rate of 139.77 and best of 127 not out in the Pakistan Super League make him an ideal candidate for a national team return.

To add to previously referenced statistics, Rilee Rossouw had a fantastic year in 2019 as a T20 globetrotter, managing 1301 runs across the year at an average of 40.65 with a strike rate of 144.39, playing for Hampshire, Khulna Tigers, Quetta Gladiators and Rangpur Riders. He finished 6th on the list of most T20 runs in 2019 behind Babar Azam, AB de Villiers, Kieron Pollard, James Vince and the next man on our list.

While Cameron Delport is also tipped for a potential ODI debut, that could be overshadowed by his franchise T20 record. He bettered Rossouw by 80 runs and although his average was 26.55, his strike rate was higher and he scored two T20 centuries in comparison to Rossouw's one.

At age 30, Delport has never represented South Africa in any format, but he has matured significantly and has secured T20 contracts in every major league bar the Big Bash at some point.

Even Worcestershire's Riki Wessels surely wouldn't rule out a return. Shockingly, he went the Kolpak route all the way back in 2005 when he was a teenager, later using an Entrepreneur Visa to sign for his county, but has had no success when it comes to an England call-up.

A stunning partnership with Martin Guptill in the T20 blast last year saw the home side chase down 181 in just 12.1 overs when Wessels scored an insane 74 from 29 with eight fours and five sixes while his Kiwi partner managed 86 from 31 with 10 sixes. Surely he wouldn't be out of place in the South Africa squad after such a stellar year?

A T20 revelation has been the burly fast bowler Hardus Viljoen, who is a pretty unique pacer. He has never played ODI or T20 cricket for South Africa, but he played a single test match for the Proteas in 2016 against England. His breakthrough-style bouncy fast bowling earned him stints in the PSL, CPL and the IPL, where he represented Kings XI Punjab in 2019 and has been retained for 2020.

Two more unlikely T20 representatives are Wayne Parnell and David Wiese. Parnell has grown more and gained more expensive in his worldwide T20 appearances, but his skills provide an interesting angle. This same angle saw him earn a call-up for the 2017 Champions Trophy, which was his last appearance for South Africa in ODIs, before a match against England in a T20 later that month was his last in any format.

David Wiese may end up being too old for a run in the side, but his big stage comeback in the PSL last year, mainly with the bat, at least means he deserves some recognition in this format.

T20I XI after returns

Quinton de Kock (W/C), Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Rilee Rossouw, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Bjorn Fortuin, Hardus Viljoen, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Bench Players: Cameron Delport, Jon-Jon Smuts, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo.

The ultimate question: Who's coming back and who's not?

Could Riki Wessels make a shock declaration for South Africa?

So, how realistic are each of these possible returns? How many are we going to see represent South Africa again?

The trio of Kyle Abbott, Simon Harmer and Duanne Olivier, who would be looking to make a splash once again in the longest format, appear the most likely to play for South Africa again. However, it absolutely cannot be ruled out that players have had second thoughts and this would provide the perfect opportunity to put it right again.

Players such as Rilee Rossouw, Colin Ingram and Hardus Viljoen undoubtedly have enough quality to have a run in the limited-overs team, but the coaching staff have already started rebuilding, so we will just have to wait and see when it comes to welcoming the players back into the fold.

The rebuilding process hasn't come too late for most of these players, although many of them could be seriously out of favour with selectors, despite their clear talent. Whatever happens, expect a serious shake-up in South African cricket pretty soon!