teams-sa sport cricket-world-cup Virgin Media
The Proteas are a formidable one-day side grouped with Australia, Scotland and the Netherlands. Their form in the longer version of the game leaves a lot to be desired - so it is a good thing the cricket World Cup is a limited overs affair. South Africa has a strong record in past competitions. They have never actually won the tournament, but who can ever forget that fateful day at Birmingham in the semi-final of the 1999 World Cup when Lance Klusener and Alan Donald where involved in that awful run-out against Australia or the one-run loss to Sri Lanka in 2003 thanks to the D/L method in Durban.
The 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean will be a different affair. There is no pressure on South Africa, they are talented young side, who have shown they can beat the best - the Australians - and did so in record-breaking fashion. In the lead-up to the Caribbean, the Proteas have beaten Australia, India and Zimbabwe and made it into the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy in India.
Graeme Smith will lead his country for the first time in a World Cup. He has limited experience in World Cup competitions having been called into the South Africa squad in the 2003 tournament as a replacement for Jonty Rhodes. He leads a side ranked number two in the ICC ODI rankings. He has struggled in the ODI format, but will no doubt play a role as both leader and opening batsman.
Shaun Pollock has been in explosive form with both the bat and the ball of late, combined with his vast experience, will play an integral part in the South Africa's bid to win the World Cup.
AB De Villiers is a naturally attacking opening batsman, but often struggles to curb his attacking instinct. He has graduated from the Jonty Rhodes school of fielding and has recently cemented his place in the ODI team after being overlooked by the national selectors for a bit.
South Africa could make the final if no run-outs or D/L methods come into play.
