/ Editor / 26 February 2007 /

Despite entering the tournament as the top ranked team in the world, South Africa remain second favourites to win the trophy behind Australia, at 5.4. As well as the Proteas have played recently - they have won seven of their last eight One Day Internationals - their rise to the top of the rankings has been as much due to Australia's recent slump in form.

The two sides meet on March 24 in the final Group A clash and the South Africans will be desperate to prove that they are the team for the others to beat. That match is also important as points are carried forward to the Super Eights stage.

South Africa's resurgence in ODIs can be traced back to their momentous win over the Aussies in March 2006. That one wicket win, when they successfully overhauled Australia's 434 for four, clinched a 3-2 series win that restored confidence after a disappointing tour of Australia that winter.

Graeme Smith's men failed to reach the triangular series finals, being edged out by the hosts and Sri Lanka, but they have since won 15 and lost five. As well as that win over Australia, the Proteas also won series' against Zimbabwe, India and Pakistan.

However, the only One Day cricket they have played overseas in that time came in the Champions Trophy, where they lost out to the West Indies in the semi finals. South Africa's supporters must hope that they can adjust quickly to the Caribbean conditions in their warm-up matches with Ireland and Pakistan.

South Africa's recent record in the West Indies is excellent. After losing all three games on their debut ODI tour in 1991/92, they have won 10 and lost two. Their last visit, in 2004/05, went their way by a 5-0 scoreline.

The Proteas might have fond memories of the Caribbean, but they will recall less happily their previous World Cup campaigns. They were robbed of a final appearance in 1992 by rain and an inefficient runs required calculation and suffered a narrow quarter-final defeat in 1996.

Things have gone from bad to worse since then. They were edged out by the Aussies and the infamous Allan Donald run out in the 1999 semi finals, and experienced more rain induced heartache last time around.

As hosts in 2003 they were expected to go far, but crashed out in the first round after losing to the West Indies and New Zealand and miscalculating the runs they needed before the heavens opened in the must win game with Sri Lanka. Once again a tie ended their hopes of World Cup glory.

Doubts therefore might linger about their temperament in the biggest matches, but their squad is full of experience and, crucially, is well settled. They have six players in their squad with over a century of ODI appearances and unlike Australia, they are free from injury. They could even afford to leave Boeta Dippenaar at home, their top runscorer on their last visit to the West Indies.

Despite the team's good recent form, South Africa's batsmen have not been firing. Their top runscorer last year was Mark Boucher, who scored 713 runs at an average of 41.94, although it should be noted that batting talisman Jacques Kallis was missing much of the time with injury and that their home series were often played on bowler friendly pitches.

Skipper Smith averaged just 28.05 with the bat last year, but has bounced back with three half centuries in five knocks this year and goes into the tournament ninth in the ODI batting rankings. Herschelle Gibbs has only batted once in 2007, but will hope to rediscover the form he showed in the last World Cup. Despite only playing six matches, he finished as the fifth highest run scorer with 384 runs at an average of 96.

The Springbok bowling unit looks to be their strength. Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini are first and third respectively in the ODI bowling rankings and they have been instrumental in restricting opponents' totals - the average total scored by India and Pakistan in their recent series was 189.5.

Pollock - the fourth highest ever wicket taker in ODIs - has rediscovered his form after a relatively barren spell. In 2004 and 2005 he took 45 wickets from 45 matches, at an average of 33.09 and economy rate of 4.01. Since then he has claimed 41 wickets in 26 matches, at an average of 17.63 and economy rate of 3.06.

It is no surprise that those statistics are the best of any bowler in the world in that time, and his accuracy and experience with the white ball might mark him out as the Proteas' key man in their campaign.

Pollock took five for 23 in his last match, against Pakistan this month, although he will want to improve on his record in the Caribbean. In his 12 appearances in the West Indies, he has taken 11 wickets at 32.9. He is currently trading as fourth favourite to be the tournament's top wicket taker, at 14.5.

South Africa look set to rely on their pace attack, as they do not have a high quality spinner in their squad. Robin Peterson is the only specialist slow bowler and his career statistics of 16 wickets in 33 ODIs, at an average of 58.18 and strike rate 73.75, does not suggest he will be a wicket taking option.

Peterson is a capable batsman and fielder, which is typical of a South African team that is full of genuine all rounders. Kallis, Pollock, Justin Kemp and Andrew Hall are all capable of being match winners with both bat and ball and their long batting line-up gives freedom to the batsmen at the head of the innings.

Coach Mickey Arthur has made a great impression in his two years in charge, leading his team from fifth in the rankings when he took over, to top as they go into the World Cup. However, he, his team and of course Australia, will know that will count for little if the Proteas freeze on the biggest stage once again.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: