Should Farhaan Behardien be in the World Cup Squad

One of the more contentious selections in the South African World Cup squad has been Farhaan Behardien. It is safe to say that the Titan has not had the greatest of international careers, averaging 21 in as many matches. This, however, ignores the reality, which is that at domestic level, there has been no better batsman at #6-7. In fact, Behardien averages a rather significant 229 in five games, at a scarcely believable strike rate of 121.80. He is also a handy bowler capable of bowling five or six overs a game. This is a rather handy skill to have as captains love the idea of their front line bowlers not having to absolutely bowl ten overs. The presence of a viable contingency plan is possibly the greatest insurance a captain can have in the modern game. Eoin Morgan found this out to his detriment this past Sunday as Australia made a mess of Chris Woakes' figures to the tune of ten overs, zero wickets for eighty-eight runs. Because South Africa has JP Duminy and Behardien to bowl the fifth bowler role, I can guarantee that Woakes would not have bowled his allotted ten overs had he played for South Africa, or even Australia who have Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner to share about 15-18 overs worth of work. Why Morgan decided against giving Bopara an over or two while the siege was taking place is beyond me, but that's a matter for another day (or article). As a result of this need for insurance, players like Behardien, who can bowl a few overs to relieve the mental arithmetic which captains find themselves partaking in when one of the front liners have come under fire. Behardien isn't great, and in my opinion can count himself a little lucky to have made the plane to Australia, but he's got something of a proven track record in the domestic set-up, and there is definitely a vacancy for a guy like him, especially on the slower New Zealand decks, and the late Summer, early Autumn Ausralian pitches. I would also hasten to add that since Behardien is likely going to bat at seven, his role in the team is hardly going to be the deal breaker in a World Cup. If your number seven has to save a situation, then by all accounts, he's been handed a lost cause. South Africa are heading into this world Cup with quite possibly the greatest top six in their history, and almost certainly the two greatest One day International batsmen they have ever produced. Any World Cup triumph relies on the firing of that top six, not the finishing abilities of the lower order. We've tried that way. It does not work.