Popularly known as The Proteas, the South African Cricket Team is one of the stronger teams of the world. This cricket team is administrated by Cricket South Africa. The South African cricket team is a full member of the International Cricket Council with participation is test and one day matches.
South Africa is currently ranked 2nd in one day internationals according to ICC ratings. South Africa has not won a single major tournament so far; in fact it has the uncanny knack of doing everything right till the final, before finally losing out steam. In spite of such failings, no one has any doubts about South Africa supremacy, next to Australia, in world cricket.
South Africa Cricket Team Recent Performances
It was simply the clash of the titans when Australia came to South Africa for a series against them in February 2006. The ODIs, as expected, were evenly contested and ended 3-2 in the favor of the hosts. The Australians swept the tests matches, much to the disappointment of the home crowd. The tests debacle notwithstanding, the ODI results showed that, if at all, only a thin margin separates the one-day sides of Australia and South Africa.
Due to some unfortunate reasons of grave security concerns, South Africa pulled out of the tri-series in Sri Lanka. India was to be the third team in the tournament. The tri series, which ultimately got called of, would have been an acid-test for the South African side, where its ability to adapt under different conditions would have been sorely tested.
South Africa Players to Watch Out For
Some of the South African players shouldering the aspirations of the team are:
Herschelle Gibbs
Herschelle Gibbs is an attacking batsman and a brilliant one on his day. Australians will not forget in hurry Herschelle Gibbs’ onslaught against them in the historic one-day in Johannesburg, where he guided South Africa to victory with 111-ball 175.
An extremely exciting player to watch when in full flow, Herschelle Gibbs inning of 175 runs in 122 balls has gone down in cricketing history as one of the best one-day innings. Being an aggressive opener, Herschelle Gibbs is counted upon to give a quick start to the side. Herschelle Gibbs is also an excellent fielder.
Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis is one of the best all-rounders in business. A lot of South Africa’s fortunes will be resting on the broad shoulders of this gifted player.
Jacques Kallis is an elegant batsman and an accurate pace bowler. His worth in the South African cannot be measured. He missed the Sri Lankan tour due to elbow injury. He will most probably feature in the South African team that plays the Champions Trophy. When Jacques Kallis is in the South African side, its batting looks all the formidable and its bowling more potent.
Shaun Pollock
Shaun Pollock has to lead the new ball bowling attack with Makhaya Ntini, who too is an impressive seamer. The former, being more experienced and accurate will be expected to provide early breakthroughs to the South African side.
South African fans will be hoping that Shaun Pollock regains his form before the world cup. He missed the first test against Sri Lanka and finished with only a single wicket in the second test. When in form, Shaun Pollock can tire even the most composed of batsmen with his tight bowling.
Besides they above named players, the other player to be watched is the South African skipper Graeme Smith. Cricketscorelive.com gives information on South Africa Players to Watch Out For and other Team Profiles.
South Africa Team World Cup History South Africa started its World Cup campaign in 1992. Since then it has reached semi-final twice and is yet to win the world cup.
South Africa Team’s Chances in the 2007 World Cup
South African side abounds in talent, what they could do with more is a little bit of luck. South Africa is the only side that has been beating the Australian side consistently and looks the most likely of the teams to quash Australia’s hopes of winning the world cup thrice in a row. Cricketscorelive.com gives information on South Africa Cricket Team Profile and other Team Profiles.
South Africa has a wonderful record in West Indies. Its last tour to the islands in March 2005 saw them making a clean sweep of the test matches and the one-day matches. In the recent days, South Africa won the one-day series against Australia by 3-2.
South Africa Cricket Team Recent Performances
South Africa has been successful in perpetuating its excellent run in the one-day matches. The series against Australia in February 2006 was in many ways rewarding. South Africa won the well-contested series 3-2 and affirmed its super- power status in world cricket. South Africa had a disappointing test series in Sri Lanka, where it lost both test matches. The decision to withdraw from the tri-series tournament due to security reasons came as a difficult one and in a way hampered South Africa’s preparation for 2007 World Cup.
The forthcoming Champions Trophy, which many regard as a mini-World Cup, will be most exciting since South Africa looks most determined to break the jinx of faltering at the last minute. Cricketscorelive.com gives information on South Africa Cricket Team Recent Performances and other Team Profiles.
South Africa Team World Cup History
South Africa was banned indefinitely from international cricket in 1970, owing to the apartheid policies of its government. The ban was lifted in 1991 and South Africa entered the Cricket World Cup for the first time in 1992.
1992 World Cup
The world was still a stranger to South African team’s abilities when the latter entered the World Cup in 1992. Whatever must have been other teams’ estimation of the South African side, nobody expected it to reach the semi-final like it did.
South Africa effected major upsets to build its way into the world cup; it defeated teams like Australia, India, Pakistan and West Indies. The semi-final was a beginning of a jinx that still surrounds South Africa. The match was between South Africa and England. A target of 252 runs was set by England before South Africa. Going into the chase, South Africa needed 22 runs off 13 balls when rain stopped play. Since Duckworth-Lewis method was not introduced yet, South Africa was left with a ridiculous situation of scoring 21 runs of 1 ball.
1996 World Cup
South Africa made a spirited start in the. It topped Pool B, without a single defeat. The was set against the much weakened West Indies; things look propitious for South Africa to repeat the 1992 World Cup entry into the semi-final and even beyond. All such expectations were incinerated by the rage West Indies was in after an ignominious defeat against Kenya. South Africa lost against West Indies by 19 runs- a sad end to an impressive start.
1999 World Cup
In this World Cup too, South Africa topped the Group A table in the league matches. In the semi-final, South Africa was to play against Australia. Given to bat, Australia was bundled out by some wonderful bowling by Allan Donald and Pollock, to a total of 213. South Africa too was stopped exactly at 213. The match was awarded to Australia by the virtue of the fact that it had beaten South Africa in the super-six matches.
2003 World Cup
The World Cup turned out to be a disappointing one for South Africa. Perhaps such are the gestures obligated by the duty of being the host nation, South Africa made a graceful exit in the first round itself and let the stage open for the visiting teams to vie among themselves for the World Cup. Cricketscorelive.com gives information on South Africa Team World Cup History and other Team Profiles.
Most of South Africa’s players look to be in a good form and the team looks determined to make amends for its mistakes in the previous world cups. Certainly, South Africa is a top contender for the World Cup 2007. Cricketscorelive.com gives information on South Africa Team’s Chances in the 2007 World Cup and other Team Profiles.
