South Africa confront conflicting priorities

Choice, as South Africa are discovering, can be a double-edged sword. After approaching the series against Bangladesh with experimentation on the agenda, they have found themselves under pressure, with too many options in the bowling department and too few in the batting line-up.

Batting is where South Africa may want to make adjustments, especially after the way they were strangled out of the contest on Sunday but they can't. There is no reserve batsman in the squad and none was called up even after AB de Villiers was withdrawn.

That is not a bad thing for Rilee Rossouw, who has slotted into the No.4 spot and done so fairly well - his slow-go and eventual succumbing to spin in the second ODI was not unique - or Farhaan Behardien, who is starting to show his ability to marshal the tail. But it means that the under-fire Quinton de Kock is not under pressure, although he should be.

De Kock does not face any competition for his spot, primarily because he performs the dual role of opening the batting and keeping wicket and should not need to be substituted too much. That in itself is a dangerous notion. South Africa need look no further than their struggles to replace Mark Boucher to know that hegemonies over position are best avoided and although de Kock remains the long-term future, he should still have to look over his shoulder, especially in a situation like the one he is in now.

Since making his comeback from an ankle injury, de Kock has played only one notable knock - an undefeated 78 in the World Cup quarterfinal against Sri Lanka - and has otherwise looked a little out of touch. His primary struggle is with his timing on slow surfaces but South Africa can only hope he snaps out of it for good on Wednesday, especially with the Tests looming.

At least in that format, South Africa have cover despite de Villiers' absence. Dane Vilas is in that squad and while it remains unlikely that he will play, he will be there. Just so de Kock knows. Vilas appears to be the man the selectors are identifying as an alternative to de Kock in all formats. He has played an international T20 and is part of the South Africa A squad that will tour India later this year. Perhaps he should have been with the ODI outfit as well but because he isn't, de Kock has the chance to contribute in Chittagong.

Morne Morkel should be given the same opportunity, after being the only member of South Africa's premier pace pack who was included in the ODI squad. Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander were allowed more time off before the Tests but Morkel was taken away from his pregnant wife, only to find himself carrying drinks. In his place, South Africa have blooded Kagiso Rabada and given Kyle Abbott an extended run - both valuable endeavours - which only increase the expectation that if Morkel plays the decider, he will have to make an immediate impact.

The same can be said of Ryan McLaren. His international career, which looked over after he was left out of the World Cup squad, seemed to be given a second life when he was recalled for this series. Now, that seems premature because he was benched for the first two games. Chris Morris, who sat on the sidelines of the T20 series, was preferred but may make way for one of McLaren or Wayne Parnell - both more experienced players - as South Africa search for a series win.

Parnell's penchant for inconsistency should mean McLaren is the man for the crunch situation, but that may depend on the make-up of the attack South Africa want. On a new surface in Chittagong, they could decide two seamers are enough and give Aaron Phangiso the remaining place in the attack, to work alongside Imran Tahir and JP Duminy. Phangiso, unlike the other three who have not featured in the ODIs, did at least play in the T20s so will go in to the match with some game time.

Ultimately, it's exactly that - game time - which South Africa wanted to give its players in Bangladesh. But now that the series is on the line, they will have to come up with a way to balance giving everyone a run with going for a win.