Despite dominating previous tournaments courtesy of some of the best one-day players in history featuring in their ranks, South Africa have never qualified for a cricket World Cup final.
Although they have produced some indifferent performances, 2015’s edition of the tournament could be their year.
Leading the charge is the world’s most dangerous batsman, AB de Villiers. After the group stage he has bludgeoned 417 runs at an average of over 83, and has even chipped in with a few wickets.
Hashim Amla has 307 runs thus far, while Faf du Plessis and David Miller are also averaging over 50, with 277 runs and 275 runs respectively. South Africa have four of the top twelve batsman so far in the tournament.
In fact six South African batsman are averaging over 50, which is scary considering top order basher Quinton De Kock is yet to find any sort of form.
The South African bowling line-up also contains plenty of strike power. Morne Morkel has taken 13 wickets at an average under 17, while Dale Steyne, who is yet to hit full form, has 9 wickets at 28.
During the past few years, the South Africans have developed a reputation as flat-track bullies; recording huge scores on wickets that don’t offer much for the bowlers, but struggling on livelier pitches. My guess is that the MCG, which will host the final of the tournament, will be as flat as they come.
Unfortunately for fans of the South Africans, they have also developed a reputation as a side who can find a way to snatch a loss from the jaws of victory in World Cups.
Few Aussie fans will forget the finish to the 1999 cricket World Cup semi-final, where an incredible last over saw the South Africans fail to chase down a modest total. The stigma of losses such as these have stuck.
Never will they have a better chance to make – and win – a final than in 2015.
They’ll have to beat one of the host nations to qualify, so they’ll have to play extremely well from here, but with de Villers and Steyne in the side, nothing but an appearance in the final will do.
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