South Africa have a reputation in World Cups of being unable to finish things off.
In 1999, a last-ball run out against Australia left the Proteas with a tie when they needed a win to advance to the final.
In 2003, hosts South Africa didn’t read the Duckworth-Lewis figures properly, tied the game against Sri Lanka and failed to progress to the second round.
This time, Graeme Smith and his team go into the event ranked number one in the world after a string of notable victories — including chasing Australia’s world-record 434 at the Wanderers Stadium last year.
”It’s massive for us to be ranked number one, but we have to be realistic about the World Cup and remember we can be beaten by any one of a number of teams,” said Smith.
The anticipated slower pitches in the Caribbean have forced other teams to include multiple spinning options, but not South Africa.
That’s because opening bowlers Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini have taken a combined 50 wickets in the first 20 overs of matches since 2006 — more than any other combination in the world.
The batting is just as strong because of Smith, AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis at the top of the order. While Herschelle Gibbs and Mark Boucher lower down have shown they can average more than 10 runs an over.
South Africa’s strength is also built on its all-rounders.
Kallis is not just a great batsman. He is also a quality out-swing bowler with an ability to move the ball in the reverse direction in the latter overs.
Justin Kemp is one of the game’s biggest hitters who is also a useful medium-pacer with a good change of pace, while Andrew Hall is a bustling type of player who bats aggressively and whose bowling has proved invaluable.
Mark Boucher can also be considered an all-rounder. He has taken 335 one-day catches and has completed 18 stumpings, while his batting down the order makes him an automatic selection.
The Proteas have one other asset. Their fielding is supervised by Jonty Rhodes, widely regarded as the best cover-point fielder of his generation.
Under his tutelage, South Africa’s fielding has improved from an unhappy 2005 tour of Australia where they dropped numerous catches to become among the world’s best exponents. — Sapa-AP