Pollock carries weight of South Africa into World Cup

With the announcement of the final squad of 15 who will represent South Africa at the 2003 ICC World Cup, captain Shaun Pollock will carry the hopes of the hosting nation on his shoulders when the opening game against West Indies starts at Newlands on 9 February.

Pollock, together with vice-captain Mark Boucher, will hope to repeat the winning form shown by their rugby counterparts during the 1996 Rugby World Cup in holding the trophy aloft in their own backyard after the final at the Wanderers on 23 March.

Pollock believes that with the fanatical local support, the tournament taking place on home soil and the players commitment to giving 150 percent, that South Africa will be rejoicing come the end of the tournament.

Pollock has been given a squad mixed with experience and youth. Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Boucher, Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald and Makhaya Ntini are all capable of winning performances, while the youth of Robin Peterson, Monde Zondeki and Boeta Dippenaar will be needed for the team to win all 11 matches to be victorious.

A lot will depend on Lance Klusener's ability to emulate his 1999 World Cup form. Klusener who has struggled to reach the same level of consistency that he showed in England will be under tremendous pressure to repeat his match winning ability.

In the bowling department, the experience of Donald, the vast improvement made by Ntini and the world-class performances from Pollock and Kallis will stand the hosts in good stead. Added to that the proven ability of Boje, Peterson and Klusener then South Africa has a bowling attack second to none in the competition.

Charl Langeveldt, who last played for South Africa against Australia in Brisbane during the 2001-02 season, might find that he will be called on to add variation to the attack with his right arm away swingers, while Andrew Hall is a more than capable all rounder able to keep wicket, bowl and bat anywhere in the order.

South Africa has always been one of the teams to set the fielding standards in international cricket. Rhodes considered by many to be the greatest close-in fielder will be bolstered by the athleticism of Gibbs, Dippenaar, Peterson, Boje and Hall, assisted by the catching ability of Kallis, Pollock and Boucher.

The pressure will be on the team from well before the first match. Never has a hosting nation won the World Cup at home, but if ever the conditions were ripe then this is it.

The full squad is: Shaun Pollock - Captain
Mark Boucher - Vice Captain
Nicky Boje
Boeta Dippenaar
Allan Donald
Herschelle Gibbs
Andrew Hall
Jacques Kallis
Gary Kirsten
Lance Klusener
Charl Langeveldt
Makhaya Ntini
Robin Peterson
Jonty Rhodes
Monde Zondeki