It’s Cricket World Cup time and since their return to the international arena for the 1992 event, this prestigious tournament has more often than not forced South Africa to go into a cold sweat.
In six World Cups they’ve often been the favourites to raise the cup pre-tournament, but have disappointed on numerous occasions.
They have yet to make the final, although they have four semi-final appearances caused by a mixture of bad luck and bad management and even that dreaded ‘c’ word, choking under pressure at a crucial stage.
In 1992, they were obviously an unknown quantity considering they had only just started playing international cricket again after more than two decades, although they had some fine players and ended up having a great tournament. South Africa got to the semi-finals, but they were unlucky to miss out on the final.
They lost to England in the semis at the SCG, when the rain came and the rules often favoured the team that had batted first. At one stage in that match, South Africa’s target during the last rain delay near the end of the match was 22 runs off 13 balls, but then got adjusted to 21 off one delivery.
They were dudded somewhat, but to make the semis, without much international cricket behind them, was a sensational performance.
In 1996, they were disappointing and missed the semis. 1999 was the one that got away, as they stumbled at the last hurdle in one of the most memorable matches in the World Cup’s proud 40 year history.
They took on Australia and were chasing just over 200, but looked beaten with less than two overs to go with Shane Warne again dominant. But some powerful hitting by Lance Klusener in the 49th and final overs saw South Africa on the brink of their first final with the scores level with four balls left.
Klusener had been so cool and calculating with his beautiful timing and power and looked likely to be the hero of a nation, but all of a sudden panic set in and there were two horrible mix-ups when trying to run to win the game.
The first one saw Alan Donald survive only because Darren Lehmann missed the stumps from point blank range, but the next time, Klusener ran blindly after hitting the ball to mid-off, leaving Donald in his wake and well short of his ground.
A tie was enough to get Australia in the final. Even though the personnel has changed over the years, you could argue that South Africa mentally has never recovered from that semi in ’99.
In 2003, they were one of the hosts but didn’t even make it past the group stage with a miscalculation by them in another rain delayed match against South Africa.
They had to make 229 to tie, which they thought was enough for them to stay in the tournament. Mark Boucher hit a six to get them to that target with one ball left, and then didn’t score off the next one, only for the team to be told they had made a blunder.
It would have been a tough press conference for then captain, Shaun Pollock.
2007 saw them lose in the semis after again going in as one of the favourites and in 2011 they dominated the group stages finishing on top before batting badly when chasing New Zealand’s total in the quarter finals.
So, the moment of truth and redemption for the Proteas has arrived. They have an excellent team with some of the best players the game has ever seen, especially in AB de Villiers, who can turn matches in a blink of an eye with destructive hitting and improvisation.
Hasham Amla is a model of consistency, Faf du Plessis is in the same model, while Quintin de Kock and David Miller have the potential to add the icing on the cake at the end of innings.
They have an outstanding bowling line-up in Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander, who are generally difficult in any conditions to handle, but how will they cope mentally with the expectation to again make a final?
There are no excuses left for the Proteas. Their time is now. Australia obviously has tremendous momentum and are playing at home, although the record of host nations winning the World Cup in their own backyard is not great.
Anything less than being there for the finale won’t cut it again for South Africa. If they again fall short then expect a tough time back home for AB and his boys.
Chris Pike
Expert
Australia have a chance, yes of course. Sorry I should have mentioned that! South Africa, New Zealand and Australia in my opinion the only three who could win. I'm guessing in that order, but it's all a guess at this point!
South Africa simply do not have the right mix, firstly our bowlers concede runs, so we must go in with 7 recognised batsmen and allow Duminy to bowl his ten overs. My batting line up would be. Amla de Kock Faf AB Miller Rossouw Duminy Philander Steyn MOrkel Tahir. If they want any chance of winning this thing, then that is the only selection that might do it. Parnel and Behardien must not come close to selection.
Adam
Guest
South Africa are probably one bowler and an all rounder short of winning the whole thing
SP
Guest
You don't think Australia have a chance?
Chris Pike
Expert
If South Africa can't win this World Cup, then I'm not sure they ever will. Steyn, de Villiers, Morkel, Amla, du Plessis will all be gone or nearing the end for the next one. This is their time. But the same can be said for NZ. I would be staggered if anyone but South Africa or New Zealand wins
Rollaway7
Roar Guru
Yeah thats what I am worried about :) We are currently losing to NZ by some margin in the warm up match
Jo M
Guest
They are 4/32 against NZ. They are going to have to play a bit better than that if they want to win.
Swampy
Guest
Wow - South Africa often favourites? They have been in 6 world cups. Only the world cup which South Africa hosted were they ever favourites - and even before it much was made of their ability to stand up under pressure in their home country. They have always been rated a chance as they are consistently a good team. Australia have been consistently better though and deservedly favourites at nearly every world cup other than the last one. It grinds my gears when people talk about the near miss in '99 vs Australia. Absolute tosh. Australia (& more to the point Paul Reiffel) did their utmost to hand that contest to South Africa. I remember almost smashing the tv when Reiffel dropped Klusener over the boundary for six. It came on top of him dropping an absolute sitter earlier. Anyone that only thinks back to the last two balls of that match are being largely deceived by the 'unlucky' result. Australia should have won in a canter.
SP
Guest
No pressure? Didn't the SA sports minister say "don't be losers" or words to that effect? I was watching the ICC preview the other night and they had a montage of the current SA players talking and everyone one of them referred to "the choke". I think SA could be in danger of it (the choke) becoming a self fulfilling prophecy if they think about it too much.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I saw something with a bunch of WC stats on the ESPN Cricinfo site and obviously with Australia's World Cup record they dominated most of the positive stats. One key one for South Africa was 0 from 5 in knock-out matches in World Cups. That's right. Zero. They've never won a single knock-out match in a World Cup. In a lot of World Cups in the past the only knock-out matches have been the semi's and final, with the super-six in between the main group stage and the semi's. You'd have to think that unless either Australia or South Africa stuffs up a bit in the group stage and ends up facing each other in the Quarter finals that they should surely, finally break that duck here. Australia showed earlier this summer how to beat South Africa: 1. Have the skill to take down their fast bowlers 2. Get AB out. Despite all the talk about the great batting lineup they have with all those other names listed, in those ODI's at the start of summer it still came down to AB. While he was at the crease SA looked the goods, once he was out Australia was able to get on top of the rest of the SA batsmen. That could change, this could be the tournament where some of the lesser batsmen stand up and are counted, but in reality, it will probably take an AB masterclass to win the WC for SA.
Brendon
Guest
I was at the SCG for that semi final between England and South Africa and South Africa were not unlucky to win that. England played better even before the rain. But like so many things time clouds the memory.
Rollaway7
Roar Guru
The only difference this time is that most saffers, are expecting them to choke, we have no expectations. There is no pressure on the proteas, just go out and play the game. :)
Sideline Comm.
Guest
I obviously want Australia to win to, but failing that I would love to see the Kiwis get up. It would be great for cricket in New Zealand if they won this tournament, and they're genuinely exciting to watch.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Waiting for South Africa to win a WC is the same scenario as waiting for Liverpool to win a Premier League title. You just hope that come the end of it, they come out on top. Before then, you don't really say too much in fear of what can go wrong. As Liverpool showed last season, plenty can.
E-Meter
Guest
I hope Australia get up, but the South African side looks awesome. I know they've had their problems in the past, but it's exactly that - in the past. They have quality in all the right places. They've got the best batsman in the world, and probably the best bowler in the world (Steyn). Plus they are backed up by Amla, Du Plessis, Morkel and Duminy.
Dan, I am not one that embrace fate, I believe we are masters of our own destiny as individuals, but just sometimes the Universe has a say in things. That exit in 1992 was the "Nostradamus" moment for South Africa. It spelled out to them in no uncertain teams, anything that can go wrong during a ICC world cup will happen to you, be it rain, reading Duckworth Lewis incorrectly, catching and dropping a ball in a split second, running for that last single when you don't have to, panic, choke, or whatever else the cricket gods can muster.