Cricket World Cup 2007 Preview: South Africa

[This is the second in a series of collaborative articles assessing the merits and demerits of the teams competing for cricket's World Cup in March/April in the West Indies.]

Zainub Razvi

Few teams have been in a position to threaten Australia's position at the top of the One-Day rankings, but if South Africa beat Pakistan in the final one day match of that series on Wednesday (a very realistic possibility), South Africa could become the first side to topple Australia since 2002 when the rankings were introduced. That is just one of several indicators of how serious a contender Graeme Smith's side are for this year's Caribbean World Cup.

It could be argued that South Africa's all seam attack might at times prove to be too one dimensional on the slow, flat tracks of the West Indies. But if the likes of Pollock, Ntini and Kallis, gave or take a few overs from Kemp, Hall and Langeveldt, keep their line and lengths intact, and bowl with anything like the discipline with which they have of late, a spinner's absence might not be felt at all. And even if it does, Graeme Smith could himself turn his arm over.

The batting shouldn't be an issue either; DeVillers and Smith form an explosive partnership at the top, and Kemp, Boucher and Pollock match their explosive hitting skills at the bottom. Sandwiched between their aggressive firepower is the more circumspect yet equally reliable combo of Kallis and Prince and altogether you have a batting line up which should prosper on the wickets we're all expecting to see. Add in South Africa's livewire fielding, and you have, on paper, one of the strongest one day sides in world cricket.

If there's any question mark, it's South Africa's big match temperament. You think of World Cups and South Africa, and almost instinctively, mess ups are the very next word that comes to your mind. South Africa was an equally big pre-tournament favourite in the last two World Cups, but each time, they managed to display a spectacular capitulation under pressure, which earned them the unenviable tag of chokers. Their recent performances, including a win last year in a must win match chasing down a world record score of 435 against Australia, would suggest they might have overcome that weakness, but could it come back to haunt them again? Only time will tell.

Prediction: Losing Finalist

Aditya Kuber

They have been 'The Almost Team' of World Cups for far too long. Starting with the disappointment in 1992, they have underachieved on the world stage on all four occasions they have played. But their ODI form of late has been quite exemplary starting with the drubbing they handed out to India and especially their 10-wicket win on Sunday over Pakistan. They are peaking, but is it too soon?

At the risk of using clichés, they do seem to have a good blend of 'youth and experience' and with Captain Graeme Smith back to his best; they will start out well on most occasions. AB de Villiers has proved himself to be an able ally at the top of the innings, and the supporting cast to follow has some formidable performers too.

Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock may all be in their last World Cup, but they are just as hungry and talented as they were on previous occasions. In fact, I would think they are hungrier than before having failed to make an impact on all previous occasions. Makhaya Ntini has also come of age and is now one of the world’s premier quick bowlers. He could well be South Africa’s key to greatness this time around.

Unfortunately, South Africa does seem to depend a lot on this bunch. True, they form the crux of the team, but one off day for a couple of the main bowlers (as happened against Pakistan in the second ODI), could spell doom. For in the World Cup, one bad day in the latter stages and it's good night! They may be steady, but they become predictable. They don't have the enigmatic performers that Australia, Pakistan or even England possesses.

Much as I would like to see South Africa go all the way, something tells me they may not have it in them just yet. This is, however, their best chance since 1999 given the team composition. And one hopes there are no calculation errors this time around from the captain!

Prediction: Losing Semi Finalists

Sibin Mohan

I heard someone mention a while back, "If there is any justice in the world, then South Africa deserves to win the World Cup!" Very true, but cricket or any sport is not always about the proverbial justice or "divine intervention". It is about making sure that the last run is in place or the last wicket has been taken.

For a team that came to be recognised for their grit and determination, they always seem to fall through, sometimes for some of the silliest reasons. The funny thing is, they always have a valid excuse, but they are excuses nonetheless and excuses should not be tolerated at the highest levels of the game - be it the ridiculous rain rule in the '92 world cup where they had to make 22 runs off 1 ball, or the "miscalculation" by Pollock and Boucher in the '03 world cup. The point to note is that they should never have been in such a position in the first place.

To use the analogy of American Football, they are very much like the Indianapolis Colts - a complete team which has superstars (Graeme Smith for SA and Peyton Manning for the Colts), but are effective really, because of the way that the entire team is able to contribute. They are able to take down the best while breaking all sorts of records and may be the only force capable of stopping the juggernaut that is Australia. They will certainly require their skipper, Graeme Smith to perform well with the bat - once he takes off, there's very little that can stop the run fest, and he should get good support from Gibbs who is capable of both - getting his head down as well as hitting the big sixes. Jacque Kallis, though, will have to pull his socks up and perform - he has been enigmatic for the last few seasons with some slow batting at times.

South Africa also have the crafty Shaun Pollock - arguably one of the best pace bowlers (and all-rounders) of his generation - to me, he, along with Fanie de Villiers created and honed the strategy of bowling that niggling line outside the off-stump, which McGrath perfected. He is one of the most accurate bowlers in test and one-day cricket and also one of the most difficult to get away from. The Caribbean pitches should make him a dangerous character to deal with.

If I were to write in an impartial manner I hope that South Africa win the world cup - as I said once before, "If there is any justice in the world, then South Africa deserves to win the World Cup." (Oops! Did I give myself away?) But I'm human and not completely impartial, but I shall reserve the rest of that thought for one of the other teams in the review series.

Prediction: Semi Finalists and possibly Finalists.

The Enigma

Based on recent performances any biased non-South African cricket fan suffering from a bout of impartiality, would have to rate the Afrikaans and Zulu speaking mob as one of the favourites for the tournament in the Caribbean. They seem to possess enviable balance, with or without a spinner in the team and their electric fielding from the likes of Gibbs and de Villiers, backed up by the safe hands of Kallis, Prince and Smith make for a very accomplished side.

The only question the South Africans will need to answer is their middle order batting. They have found it reasonably easy to pile on the runs on their fast, bouncy pitches, however, we all know the pitches of the Caribbean will be entirely different. I have severe doubts that the South African batsmen can adapt to the alien conditions and although their bowling, led by Nel and Ntini, is on fire at present I do not believe it can make up for the shortcomings of the batsmen.

For this last reason, and that reason alone, I do not expect South Africa to progress beyond the semi finals.

Prediction: Semi Finalists

And finally...

Angshuman Hazra

Abydeevee is a free bee flying round the ground

Gibbsome takesome but be quietsome when the crowd's around

Kemp and Mark sprinkle the park thru' heaves with all their might.

Smith and Jacques toil in the muck - they stay there day and night.

The biggest mouth you'll find down south does not bowl crap at all

And when the pitch gives him a ditch they have Kallis and Hall

Speedy grinny Makhaya Ntini leads the pack with Polly

Barring the last they just bowl fast - and semis won't be a lolly.

This is the most difficult prediction of all. Since their re-entry into international cricket South Africa have generally done well at most big tourneys in all countries. When they have not, the reason has generally been wretched luck, individual brilliance from one of the opposition or the lack of variety in their own bowling.

If the ICC 'modifies' the pitches as they did in the ICC trophy last year then the added liveliness can take them to the semis. South African bowling is excellent in those conditions. Otherwise, the lack of slow bowlers and slower balls in their ranks can be a big disadvantage in the super 8's, even though they bat commendably on all surfaces.

Prediction: Likely to miss the semis bus

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Pakistan
West Indies
Sri Lanka
New Zealand
England
Zimbabwe
Bangladesh, Kenya
Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Bermuda, Netherlands