South Africa begin 1999 World Cup dreams (2 May 1999)

2 May 1999

South Africa begin 1999 World Cup dreams

Trevor Chesterfield

CENTURION (South Africa) - Promised riches from large bonus payouts are neither burning a hole in the pockets of the players nor are they about to deflect South Africa's carefully laid plans to win this year's World Cup in England.

That much was all too obvious at a Sandton hotel on Saturday where the cool, sartorial look of men in black with matching wraparound sunshades greeted a South African public more accustomed to their men being dressed in whites wearing green and yellow striped blazers.

Looking very much a group of well-heeled business executives which could be mistaken for top sportsmen, the MIB know what they are worth as well as how their playing skills can earn them the prize which eluded Kepler Wessels in 1992 and Hansie Cronje three years ago.

They were certainly more recognisable than the MIB image yesterday when they left for Dubai on the first leg of their 18 hours journey to England, where they will arrive today to settle in and get over the jet lag.

Cronje has been named captain by teammate Allan Donald in a pre-World Cup XI he has selected for the May edition of Wisden Cricket Monthly. Also included is Shaun Pollock along with names you would expect: Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara.

Pollock and Jonty Rhodes are in a London Sunday Times in a pre-cup World XI line up with an emphasis on all-rounders, which is how Bob Woolmer the South African coach sees the strength of the side. This has been further improved with the addition of Alan Dawson as the replacement for Makhaya Ntini.

Although the South African World Cup squad could earn as much as R415 000 each should Cronje hold up the trophy to an adoring fan club at Lord's on June 20, a lot more can be added in terms of endorsements, sponsorship and other packages spilling over from the success of winning the limited-overs event.

As usual Cronje, has played down the team's success since losing badly to Sri Lanka in England last August in the Emirates Trophy triangular series where even a win over England did nothing to improve their net run rate and sneak a place in the final.

There are three changes to that side, with Mike Rindel and Mornantau Hayward decidedly out of favour with the selectors and Pat Symcox retired. Back are Lance Klusener and two players who were in Sri Lanka with the South African A team, Herschelle Gibbs and Nicky Boje. They are two of the players who Graham Ford helped re-establish their international careers.

Cronje, as has Peter Pollock, convener of the national selection panel, emphasised how the all-round quality of the side under his command carries the depth missing in 1992 and 1996. Having played in both those World Cups gives him the sort of experience and insight from which he can build a winning side.

Still around from those first two tournaments are Rhodes and Donald, although there are some niggling worries about Donald's fitness. And on paper South Africa have the most experienced of teams. Although Cronje and Woolmer warn of over-confidence.

Yet Pollock, the convener of selectors, when emphasising how the great teams of any area had the right balance in terms of all-rounder players, suggested that South Africa had found it for this tournament. If his theory is correct, Cronje could yet bring home the trophy - and via Dubai no doubt.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News