Well, since the 438 game, I am convinced that SA are NOT chokers and shouldn't be too worried about the #1 ranking pressure.

I fear that Paul Harris's career may follow the same path of those that came before him!

They need to focus on someone like Thandi Tshabalala! He's young and talented, but as Creation said, he shouldn't be thrown in the deep end. Let him gain experience on the provincial side of things and then introduce him to international cricket slowly.

I think he's already too old.

They need to focus on someone like Thandi Tshabalala! He's young and talented, but as Creation said, he shouldn't be thrown in the deep end. Let him gain experience on the provincial side of things and then introduce him to international cricket slowly.

What would have happened if India decided Sachin was too young to start playing. There is no such thing as too young or too old. You are either ready or you are not. I think he should be given the chance to prove himself.

There is no such thing as too young or too old.

Bangladesh clinch thrilling win over Kiwis

BRIDGETOWN (updated on: March 07, 2007, 02:57 PST): Bangladesh pulled off a major shock on Tuesday when they defeated New Zealand by two wickets here in a World Cup warm-up.

Pace bowler Mashrafe Mortaza proved to be the hero with bat and ball.

After taking 4-44 to limit the Black Caps to 224 all out, he then smashed two successive sixes off the hapless James Franklin to secure victory in the 49th over of an enthralling contest.

New Zealand came into the tournament as many peoples' dark horses for the title having swept world champions Australia 3-0 in a recent home series.

But they never managed to get to grips with either the clever pace of Mortaza or the left-arm spin of Abdur Razzak.

Off-spinner Daniel Vettori took three wickets for the Kiwis as he tried to put a brake on the scoring but Mortaza's big-hitting was to have the final say as Bangladesh celebrated their first ever win over New Zealand.

Earlier, New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram, who came into the World Cup nursing a broken ring finger on his left hand, batted through the pain barrier to rescue the Black Caps.

Oram top-scored with 88 off 107 balls as New Zealand were all out for 224.

Bangladesh were indebted to the pace-spin attack of Mortaza and Razzak who shared eight wickets between them.

Fast-medium Mortaza, who learned his trade under the watchful gaze of West Indies legend Andy Roberts, took 4-44 while Razzak's flighted, left-arm spin earned him figures of 4-26.

New Zealand, considered by many to be dark horses to win a first ever World Cup, will play another warm up here against Sri Lanka on Friday before switching to St Lucia for their first round Group C matches against England, Kenya and Canada.

Bangladesh will face Scotland in another warm-up here on Thursday.

They are in Group B in the first round and will face India, Sri Lanka and Bermuda in Trinidad.



Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2007

I see SA losing in the final to New Zealand

Dreaming of a CWC victory
Arthur Turner
World Cup years bring a new dimension to sport in a country in terms of interest, expectation, emotion and patriotism. Cricket fever is starting to engulf the country on the eve of the Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean.

There is great expectation that Graeme Smith and the Proteas will bring home the trophy, especially after the team recently secured the number one position in the ICC ODI standings.

The South African team left for the Caribbean this week and play their opening match against The Netherlands on Friday, March 16. The final takes place in Barbados on April 28.

Looking back on the 1992 World Cup in Australia, who of us will ever forget that night in Sydney in 1992 when a short shower and bizarre playing conditions to suit Channel Nine eliminated South Africa from the World Cup in the semi-finals.

Twenty two runs in 13 balls, suddenly became 22 runs off one ball. We as a nation will die wondering if South Africa could have won that inaugural World Cup.

In the 1996 World Cup on the sub-continent, South Africa played good cricket in the earlier stages of the tournament.

Overwhelming favourites

However, in their quarter-final we lost to the West Indies when Brian Lara scored a brilliant century and Allan Donald was left out of the South African team for inexplicable reasons. This was also the beginning of the "chokers" tag for the Proteas.

In England in 1999, South Africa were the overwhelming favourites to win the World Cup. Hansie Cronje's team had performed outstandingly on the road to the World Cup and was blessed with a plethora of dynamic all-rounders and world class players.

That fateful day at Edgbaston will forever remain in the memory of cricket fans in this country. The dreadful mix-up between Lance Klusener and Donald with the scores tied ensured that Australia progressed to the final on a technicality, a final they easily won in the end. It should have been our World Cup.

The South African-hosted World Cup in 2003 saw another tied game eliminate South Africa from the tournament.

However, this was in the first round of the competition.

The pressure on the South African team to become the first host nation in history to win the World Cup proved too great a hurdle.

Smith and his Proteas team have the best opportunity to win this year's World Cup since 1999 and become the first South African team in history to achieve this feat.

World class players

Since 2003, they have been a consistent ODI team with series wins against Australia, England, West Indies, Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Zimbabwe.

For South Africa to win the World Cup much will depend on Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock all having a successful World Cup.

They are all world class players and are in form, therefore there is no reason why they should not achieve success.

Much has been spoken about the Proteas being "chokers". A lot of this is perception but there is no doubt that the Proteas have let themselves down at vital stages in the past.

The recent ICC Trophy in India is a very good example of this. They will be wise to take heed of the past and not discount this perception or fact.

I personally believe we have the starting XI to win the World Cup but I have my doubts about the all-round strength of the squad. The problems in the squad are the spin bowling resources, the reserve batting resources and selection of the 15th player.

Lack of faith

Robin Petersen is the only recognised spinner in the squad and over a lengthy period he has not proved himself at international level.

The management of the team have openly illustrated their lack of faith in him by only choosing him for two of the last 10 internationals and not once at his home ground St George's Park.

There is no doubt that he is a high risk factor, but to be fair to the selectors there was no other choice.

Graeme Smith's off-spinners are also not the solution, his control is poor and his record confirms this with his economy rate of 5.5 runs per over.

If the Caribbean wickets suit spinners, South Africa will be at a distinct disadvantage.

South Africa also does not have a reserve batsman with the experience, ability and record at ODI level.

Loots Bosman's selection for the team surprised me as he has neither the experience and the record nor the technique to make an impact in the World Cup. He is a very fine striker of the ball and tailor-made for Pro20 cricket, but certainly not for 50-over ODI's.

Investment

The selection of Roger Telemachus at 34 makes no sense at all.

This position should have gone to a young player as a future World Cup investment, either Ryan Mclaren or Vernon Philander should have been selected.

Also, the squad does not need another fast bowler, it already has enough depth in this department. Maybe a batsman should have been considered for this position?

Let's hope that these shortcomings in depth are not exposed like in 2003 when the injuries to Jonty Rhodes and Allan Donald played a role in South Africa's early exit from that tournament.

We will never all agree on team selections, but the selectors must be given credit for being consistent with their selection process.

Whether we agree with the squad selected or not, it is time to get behind our cricket team and support them all the way. I personally think our fortunes are due to change - we as a nation have endured enough bad luck in the last four World Cups!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if, come April 28, Graeme Smith could hold the World Cup aloft at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on behalf of all South Africans.

Arthur Turner is a former CEO of Western Province Cricket.

Disclaimer: News24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24.

The South African team left for the Caribbean this week and play their opening match against The Netherlands on Friday, March 16. The final takes place in Barbados on April 28

I'm getting this bad feeling in my stomach that SA are going to get really close... and it's already working on my nerves

I don't think SA wants a cricketing culture like India's where there are 2 or 3 SUPER stars and no success

Warne sees NZ and Sri Lanka as threat to Aussies
AAP | Friday, 9 March 2007

Spin king Shane Warne rates New Zealand and Sri Lanka as Australia's biggest threats in the cricket World Cup while dismissing world No. 1 team South Africa as having no chance of claiming the title.

Warne said the West Indies were his dark horse but he expected Australia to overcome its recent slump of five straight one-day international losses to win in the Caribbean.

"I think New Zealand and Sri Lanka are two of the danger sides," the world's leading test cricket wicket-taker said.

"I just like the way they play. I reckon they're a chance with the small grounds and the way the wickets will play. I'm sure they'll be a very good chance.

"But I don't have any doubts whatsoever about the Australian side. They'll be fine.

"It's just a little bit of a hiccup. They didn't play that well, they've still been making 350, so if they keep making those sort of scores I'm sure they'll be OK.

"If they can sort a few little issues out and get their team right – the one they want in terms of selections – get their bowling right in the middle periods, in the end I'm sure they'll be fine.

"Hopefully they can make it three in a row."

Warne predicted the West Indies would rise to the occasion, before blasting the Proteas.

"The West Indies always seem to do well in these sorts of tournaments and the ICC Champions Trophy, so they're a bit of an outside hope.

"It's their home country, too, so they'll play better there.

"But I don't think South Africa are a chance. They don't have much flare. They're very regimented. I know they're rated the No. 1 side in the world at the moment, but I don't think they're the best side in the world.

"I'm sure they'll do OK, but I don't think they'll be there at the end."

I still have my hopes with India, I believe that if we get our act together properly and perform to the best of our abilities we have a good chance of getting to the semis.

I hope the windies win it. Haven't checked the score in a while so no idea how they doing.

What?????

No success!!! The runners up last year, we thrashed the Windies in both the series before and then destroyed them in the warm up match.

India has a well rounded team of good talent and some very HIGH class players like Dravid, Ganguly etc. I would think that India has got a pretty good chance of doing well this year

That's right, sportslovers, Jonty Rhodes has packed his board is keen to surf the waves of St Kitts. Trouble is, rideable swells on this truly blessed, sun-struck island are about as common as snowstorms.

So Rhodes has yet to spot anything bigger than the average speedbump curling toward the beach. When something worth bothering with does blip onto the horizon, it's a fair dinkum notion that Rhodes will get ahold of Matthew Hayden, another avid beach bum ... err, surfer dude.

Together they will no doubt bolt for the ocean and do their Big Wednesday thing, whatever day of the week it is.

Question: will Hayden, he of the broken big toe, only be able to hang nine?