Wills Cup: Cronje counts on new guns (24 October 1998)
The Proteas always played well on the soil of this sub-continent, but couldn't quite see much of the success
24-Oct-1998
24 October 1998
Wills Cup: Cronje counts on new guns
Al-Amin and Syed Ashfaqul Haque
The Proteas always played well on the soil of this sub-continent, but
couldn't quite see much of the success.
In five tournaments in this region, South Africa moved to the finals
twice and won only once in Pakistan.
This time around in the Wills International Cup at the Bangabandhu
National Stadium, the South Africans hope to better their
sub-continental record. They will open their campaign against Adam
Hollioake's England on October 25. In their last trip to England a few
months back, South Africa won the one-day series 2-1.
But it would not be an easy task for Hansie Cronje's depleted side
that will be missing the services of its front-line bowlers. The long
list of injured players includes - Shaun Pollock, Lance Klussener and
Roger Telemachus. South African top bowler Allan Donald, who had a
problem with his heels during the England trip, opted to rest instead
of playing in the nine-nation knockout tournament at Dhaka. Besides,
South Africa had to leave out Gary Kirsten from the tour party as the
seasoned opener broke the middle finger of his left-hand.
Injury woes worsened further when Shaun Pollock, who was suffering
from back problem but had a chance to come to Dhaka as a batsman,
withdrew himself from the tour party at the last moment, leaving the
South Africans with only thirteen players.
"Obviously we're short of three or four fast bowlers. They're quality
one-day bowlers. I believe the bowlers like Makhaya Ntini, (Steve)
Elworthy, (Allan) Dawson, (Jacques) Kallis, the three spinners and
myself can play an important role in filling those gaps," said Cronje
at a press briefing at the Sonargaon Hotel yesterday. South Africa
arrived in the city on Thursday in the night.
Cronje, who led South Africa to six one-day tournament victories so
far, appeared to have much confidence in his young side.
"Lots of young players are here who won the Commonwealth Games and
hopefully they can take some of the confidence they've gained during
that trip (to do well here)," he said.
He described England as a balanced side with the presence of some
quality and established one-day players and the chances of winning the
match for both sides are fifty-fifty.
Cronje tipped world champions Sri Lanka and Australia as the
favourites besides his team.
But the South African captain does not think that the tournament would
play a major role in their build-up for next year's World Cup in
England.
"I think you can find a very good team knocked out in the first round.
So, it's not going to be that easy to judge from this tournament, just
straight, what the World Cup team will be. But, it will certainly give
you some indication of what's goes on. I don't think it will be
do-or-die situation for the call-up to the World Cup."
South African players practised under lights at the big bowl
yesterday. They will get another day to limber-up before featuring in
the make-it or break-it quarterfinal clash.
Source :: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)