It is understandable that South Africa's cricket team and their coach Corrie van Zyl want cool heads to prevail ahead of this years World Cup in the sub-continent. We have not played in these conditions for some time now and the next 15 days will be very important while the Protea's use the time to adjust and adapt, before they meet the West Indies in their opening match.
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IMPORTANT TO ACCLIMATISE
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"We need to acclimatise and utilise our warm-up games for our goals, not be results-driven about them. We'll make sure everyone gets a run," Smith said.
South Africa will also be battling to overcome a wretched history of misfortune in World Cups, but Smith said the team must not look too far ahead too quickly.
"The key is not to focus on what will happen in the future. If we worry about the quarterfinals now, then we will be getting ahead of ourselves. We need to concentrate on being solid every day, on achieving our goals every day and then hopefully when we get to the knockout stages, we'll be in a very good space.
"The fact that we could be on our way home after one bad game at that stage, even if we win all our other matches, is what makes a knockout tournament special," Smith said.
While the lack of a top-class death bowler and a powerful lower-order hitter has caused a measure of concern, Van Zyl said he was certain he had a squad that covered all the bases.
"It's a very good squad, with a lot of options. We've been preparing for a year with series in India, the West Indies and Abu Dhabi, the whole time preparing for sub-continent conditions and the strategies that will be applicable there. I'm confident I have a squad to answer all the questions," Van Zyl said.
KEY ROLE FOR TAHIR
While leggie Imran Tahir's international debut may have been delayed, Van Zyl hinted that the Pakistan-born spinner could well have a key role to play in the World Cup.
"We have three frontline spinners and they all offer something different. It's important to have those options," the coach said.
But playing Tahir will also lead to interesting team balance issues as he is very much a specialist bowler, meaning the likes of Johan Botha, Robin Peterson, Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy, who are all good batsmen and fine fielders, have the inside track.
In fact, one cannot rule out the possibility South Africa will play all four of them.
Team manager and doctor Mohammed Moosajee confirmed that they were confident all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who was ruled out of the recent ODI series against India due to a rib injury, would be fully fit by the time the tournaments starts.
South Africa World Cup squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morne van Wyk
read more...
IMPORTANT TO ACCLIMATISE
http://www.supersport.com/cricket
"We need to acclimatise and utilise our warm-up games for our goals, not be results-driven about them. We'll make sure everyone gets a run," Smith said.
South Africa will also be battling to overcome a wretched history of misfortune in World Cups, but Smith said the team must not look too far ahead too quickly.
"The key is not to focus on what will happen in the future. If we worry about the quarterfinals now, then we will be getting ahead of ourselves. We need to concentrate on being solid every day, on achieving our goals every day and then hopefully when we get to the knockout stages, we'll be in a very good space.
"The fact that we could be on our way home after one bad game at that stage, even if we win all our other matches, is what makes a knockout tournament special," Smith said.
While the lack of a top-class death bowler and a powerful lower-order hitter has caused a measure of concern, Van Zyl said he was certain he had a squad that covered all the bases.
"It's a very good squad, with a lot of options. We've been preparing for a year with series in India, the West Indies and Abu Dhabi, the whole time preparing for sub-continent conditions and the strategies that will be applicable there. I'm confident I have a squad to answer all the questions," Van Zyl said.
KEY ROLE FOR TAHIR
While leggie Imran Tahir's international debut may have been delayed, Van Zyl hinted that the Pakistan-born spinner could well have a key role to play in the World Cup.
"We have three frontline spinners and they all offer something different. It's important to have those options," the coach said.
But playing Tahir will also lead to interesting team balance issues as he is very much a specialist bowler, meaning the likes of Johan Botha, Robin Peterson, Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy, who are all good batsmen and fine fielders, have the inside track.
In fact, one cannot rule out the possibility South Africa will play all four of them.
Team manager and doctor Mohammed Moosajee confirmed that they were confident all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who was ruled out of the recent ODI series against India due to a rib injury, would be fully fit by the time the tournaments starts.
South Africa World Cup squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morne van Wyk
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