Yorked!!! – By Chetan Narula.

Onto the World Stage: South Africa – My Favourites.

The very fact that South Africa are the team billed to win the World Cup 2007 goes to show how open this year’s tournament is. The biggest chokers in the game are the number one team in the world and given their reputation in the previous editions, all other teams can rub their hands in glee that they are going to have more than a decent shot at cricket’s ultimate prize.

Let us take a look at the team representing South Africa in the world cup: Graeme Smith (capt), Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Roger Telemachus. Yes this is the team which has displaced the Aussies from their perch for the first time ever since the ICC rankings were conceived. It is not only because Australia have fumbled in the recent past. No sir, because to even match the Aussies you have to play out of your skins. To beat them, you have to better even that effort.

It is actually a wonder, how the rise and fall of these two teams is totally co-related. We move back to the Hansie Cronje era for some flashback. They did very well in the group stages in 1996 while Australia were struggling. But as the knock out stage arrived, it was the Africans who were on the early flight back home. The Aussies reached the finals only to be denied by the Lankans. In 1999, their contrasting luck could not have treaded a more convergent path. Doing well again in the group stages, they were really upstaged by the Aussies, first in the super six (ask Gibbs) and then in the semi final (ask Klusener). The figure of Hansie Cronje staring out of the pavilion windows can still be seen at Edgebaston, some say. Coming back to the point, the Aussies had struggled in the group stages of that tournament too.

If there is something called luck in cricket (I believe there is), then the equation between South Africa and Australia started turning round in 2003. The Aussies did well throughout the tournament and lifted the crown once again, where as the Proteas could not even manage a super six place. But the real turn around came in what is termed as the best ODI ever. The one in which Australia scored 434 and lost. It is on that day, I believe, that the South Africans lost the “chokers” tag. Steve Waugh, you heard me right.

No team has had such an ideal run through to the world cup in terms of good performances and building players’ confidence. Defeating India and Pakistan back to back in ODIs could not have provided a better background. All their major players are in great form, have enjoyed a good hit in the middle and the bowlers have done well in the field. Herschelle gibbs is one of their most important players and his flexible performances all over the batting order can only boost the morale of the team. We all know that Kallis, Prince, de Villiers can bat. Add to that the fire power of Justin Kemp & Mark Boucher and a pretty decent batting line up is what you get.

The bowling has come into its own too. Shaun Pollock looks like ready to make amends for 2003. Ntini and Nel are bowling with venom and Charles Langeveldt can be a handful any day. Ask Australia. It is funny how I keep referring to them again and again. More so to the greatest ODI ever. Simply put, two individuals came to the fore that day. And may have removed South Africa’s scars forever. And maybe given the Kangaroos some.

I have already mentioned Gibbs. His coming of age was in this match. After coming in at one down, the way he waded into the opposition was simply mind blowing. But it was one other individual who made the difference. Who will make the difference in the West Indies too. Who like captains before him, will not allow them to choke. Graeme Smith is a boon to this team. His batting skills coupled with his sharp tactical acumen have brought those sunshine days back to the South Africans, along time after Cronje has been gone. However it is his never say die attitude that was so aptly highlighted in the match against Australia that lifted the team like no other occasion. It is that day, that performance, that win which will go a long way in determining this year’s winner.

They are not without weaknesses though. The one major point being that all their major successes have come on fast bouncy pitches at home. On slow tracks in India, in the Champions trophy, they were still struggling. Since the pitches will most probably be the same, they better adapt fast. And this is where players like Kallis and Prince will be the most handy as they are the best players of spin in their team. The other problem is that they have Australia in their group. Which makes that clash all the more interesting because of the rule of carrying points forward.

They are the team to beat in this tournament. But unlike the tournaments before this, they have it in them to finally lift the cricket world cup for the first time in their history.

My verdict: My money is on them. Don’t prove me wrong Smith & company.