For a country that is ranked number one in one-day cricket, South Africa has been the subject of some surprisingly heavy criticism in the lead-up to this month’s World Cup in the Caribbean.
First it was former Australian captain Allan Border who labelled the Proteas as chokers who keep missing out in the big tournaments. Those sentiments were then backed up by former South African bowling great Allan Donald.
Donald made reference to the 1999 World Cup, where his former side failed to seize on the big moments on at least two occasions. There was the Super Six match at Headingley when Herschelle Gibbs celebrated prematurely and dropped then skipper Steve Waugh when he was on 56. The incident reportedly sparked the famous line from Waugh: ‘How does it feel to drop the World Cup?’ as the Australian skipper went on to make 120 not out and guide Australia to a five-wicket win. The Proteas had a chance to redeem themselves in the semi-final, but once again fell short as Australia and South Africa recorded the first tie in Cup history, allowing the Aussies to progress to the final and ultimately win their second World Cup.
Donald suggested that the Proteas were still haunted by their past failings against Australia.
However, of the side that faced Australia in those two matches in 1999, only four from South Africa in Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock will tour the Caribbean; while only three members of the victorious Australian team in skipper Ricky Ponting, vice-captain Adam Gilchrist and veteran paceman Glenn McGrath will be at the tournament.
So any demons from past failures should be a non-issue for the Proteas come March 24, with both sides fielding vastly different outfits. In their past 50 matches the Proteas have won 35 for a winning ratio of 74%, compared with Australia’s 69% success rate over the same period. Included in those 35 wins was an impressive five-nil series win over the West Indies in 2004/05.
While that result was a good two years ago, it should provide the South Africans with good memories and the confidence that they are able to play quality one-day cricket on pitches in the Caribbean. The South Africans deserve to be ranked as the number one side in one-day cricket, ahead of Australian at this point in time, an opinion that retired champion leg spinner Shane Warne doesn’t share.
Warne accused the Proteas of being predictable and regimented and incapable of winning the World Cup. His claims are unfounded when you cast your mind back to the fifth one-day international at Johannesburg during the 2005/06 season. The Australian’s had posted a then record total of 434 and had the Proteas at 1-3 in reply. South African sides of the past would have crumbled under the weight of such a total, but this one, led by Gibbs, who carved up the Australian attack on his way to 175 from 111 balls, went on to record a thrilling one-wicket win and secure a 3-2 series win in what was arguably the greatest one-day game in history.
Despite being touted as a perennial threat to Australia’s dominance of world cricket, the South Africans have failed to win the World Cup in four attempts, but this squad is as well placed as any to win the tournament. The Proteas are well led by skipper Graeme Smith, who since taking over the reigns from Shaun Pollock after the disastrous 2003 World Cup campaign has recorded 44 wins from 81 matches.
Smith’s reign as captain hasn’t been without its up and downs, with the run of 11 defeats in 12 one-day international matches during 2004 a low point for South Africa’s youngest ever captain. His resolve as leader to bounce back from such a poor run of form and become the first captain since 1977 to tour the Caribbean without recording a loss, before going on to beat Australia 3-2 in a thrilling one-day series will hold the Proteas in good stead during the World Cup.
Tournaments such as the World Cup sees sides go through peaks and troughs. The Steve Waugh led side of 1999 is a case in point. The Australians lost consecutive games to Pakistan and New Zealand and were in serious danger of being bundled out of the tournament in the group stage. As the record books show Waugh’s men rallied to win seven straight matches en route to their second World Cup.
The importance of Smith being able to kept his squad focused and lift them should they hit a hurdle such as Australian did in ’99 is crucial. Seven of the players in South Africa’s 15-man squad will be making their first appearance at the World Cup. In that 15-man squad is a batting line-up that is on par with any other side in the tournament.
The Proteas batting strength extends down to at least the number eight spot, with veteran all-rounder Shaun Pollock averaging a touch under 25 in one-day international cricket. Importantly, their three stars in the top order in Herschelle Gibbs, AB De Villiers and vice-captain Jacques Kallis are all in career best form, averaging well over 40 in their past ten one-day international appearances. Kallis has been the most impressive of the trio, having scored 377 runs at an average of 94.25, an unbeaten 119 against India being a highlight.
Class rises to the top in big tournaments such as the World Cup and the aforementioned trio have class in spades. However, while Gibbs, Kallis and De Villiers are the marquee players, it is the performances of the peripheral types such as all-rounder Andrew Hall and Justin Kemp which will determine how far South Africa progresses in the tournament.
The only major concern for the Proteas is while their bowlers are in good form at present, with all the front-liners, minus Kemp taking more than 10 wickets in their past ten matches, there is sameness about their attack. Should opposition batsmen get set on the small grounds on the Caribbean, the Proteas could find themselves chasing down large totals. The lack of a genuine spinner on pitches tipped to favour spin bowling may be the only chink in South Africa’s armour which prevents them from going all the way.
All the talk in the past couple of weeks when it comes to South Africa has been about the past. Past failures, apparent chokes and the inability to seize on big moments during major tournaments. Only four players remain from the disappointments of the 1999 World Cup. The 11 remaining players in South Africa’s squad shouldn’t be haunted by past failures against Australia come March 24 in St Kitts when the two sides meet for the final Group A match.
This is arguably the most open World Cup in recent memory and the Proteas are as well placed as any other nation to take the title of cricket world champions.
[left pic via Cricket.org; right pic via SMH.com]
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results. This quote is often attributed to Albert Einstein, but nobody knows if he…
This series’ twelfth and final team has a distinct West Indian flavour at the top of the order, and a domineering captain.
Mitch Marsh has been appointed as Australia's men's Twenty20 captain, set to lead a squad to the World Cup that does not include Steve…
Australia are set to turn their back on rising star Jake Fraser-McGurk’s whirlwind IPL form and drop Steve Smith in their T20 World Cup…
If people can lose their job, and clubs can face massive payouts, due to the behaviour of coaches, it will drastically change the way sporting teams in Australia will be run.
Australian fast bowling great Jason Gillespie has been named head coach of Pakistan's Test team, as the nation overhauls its coaching department ahead of…
