Twenty20 World Cup / Andrew Hughes / 02 June 2009 /

Once again South Africa are amongst the favourites for a major cricket tournament, but will they let their supporters down again?

Not for the first time, South Africa approach a major international tournament in good shape. Their line-up is formidable and pretty much settled; they won their last two Twenty20 games against Australia and many of their key players performed well in the recently completed IPL. At odds of [5.6] they surely represent outstanding value in the tournament winners market, don't they? Well yes, on paper. But we've been here before. South Africa's disappointing exit from the first World Twenty20 tournament on home soil in 2007 was just the latest example of their infuriating capacity to let their supporters down at international tournaments.

Key Batsman

I'm going to cheat and nominate two. Whilst Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs will resume their opening partnership and Jacques Kallis will presumably slip in at number three, all eyes will be on A B De Villiers and J P Duminy. Both were in blistering form for their IPL franchises, both are talented, ambitious cricketers hungry for success and together they could form the most potent middle order outside India.

Key Bowler

They have a balanced attack with Kallis, Dale Steyn and Albie Morkel supported by the economical spin of Roelof van der Merwe and Johan Botha. But it is the form of Yusuf Abdulla that could be most critical. The young swing bowler made his name for the Kings XI Punjab in the IPL, where his late swing was devastating. Muggy early summer in England should offer ideal conditions for him to repeat his IPL feats and if he does so, South Africa could prove irresistible.

Captain

Smith is not the most inspirational figurehead you will ever see on a cricket field. But these days he is more of an avuncular captain than the frowning scowler who first took charge of the team at the tender age of twenty-two. He will be a reassuring presence and drop anchor at the top of the order, allowing the other stroke makers to flourish.

Conclusion

With an easy opening group featuring Scotland and New Zealand, South Africa's path through this tournament looks reasonably straightforward. They bat deep, they have varied bowling options and with de Villiers, Gibbs and Duminy in the team, they are easily the best fielding team in the tournament. They are justifiably second favourites and anything short of a place in the final should be regarded as a failure.

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