Let the World Cup preparations begin

The first One-Day International of real consequence to the World Cup happens at the Wanderers tomorrow and from now on, everything the Proteas think, eat, breathe or do, will be done with one single goal in mind: Win the World Cup 2003.

Every combination tried should be done with a reason and each player will be very aware of his role in the bigger picture. It is my belief that successful teams have an air of confidence about them through each player knowing what is expected of him at a time of crisis as well as when the opportunity to close out the match presents itself. This confidence only comes when the team knows all the bases have been covered and nothing has been left to chance. The players can rely on one another and trust each other's judgment. They must also believe in the management's ability to perform their own role in a manner that enhances the team's performance. Negative outside influences should really not be a concern if they stay focused on the task at hand and believe in their plan.

Many believe that playing at home creates added pressure and makes it harder to perform--I guess we need to look at the opposites and ask whether playing on unfamiliar pitches, staying in foreign hotels, eating differently, being away from one's personal support base and having little support from fans in the ground are factors that influence the performance of individuals? The answer is a definite yes and that's exactly why it's so much tougher to win away from home. The fact that South Africa has the World Cup at home is a huge advantage. The key is to make full use of it.

From a purely cricketing point of view, the fact that pitches and outfields are very similar to those found in Australia makes it obvious that they will be less pressed to adjust their techniques and strategies. Coupled to the fact that not too long ago they gained a psychological advantage over the Proteas that will not be erased by pushing a button on a keyboard, they must rate as the favourites outside of the home team-if not out and out favourites despite the drawbacks of playing away from their support base.

Where does this leave the rest of the teams? Well England are being hammered so badly right now that for them to recover at a late stage will take some doing. They may just panic and discard certain strengths that may help them in South Africa but that may not be helping them now. Pakistan seems to plugged the holes for now, but against Zimbabwe they will not be placed under any pressure and could be lulled into a false sense of security. Their test comes in a few weeks time when they arrive here in South Africa.

India has just lost a series at home against the West Indies and this is almost unthinkable. No doubt there will be some form of repercussion. They tend to blame their fast bowlers and might just forget that this will increase their pressure come February next year. What we did see is that when the fast men bowled short at the batters, run scoring became a problem. The West Indies are on the up and when Lara is added to the lineup, it looks strong. However, only a handful of the youngsters like Sarwan and Powell have toured South Africa and they will have heard all about the tough conditions here. Senior players like Lara, Chanderpaul and Hooper will never forget the hiding they were handed out here just a few seasons back.

Lets talk Sri Lanka now. They've managed to beat South Africa a few times already this season and clearly have players that can change the course of a match. Although Jayasuria hasn't fired yet, Aravinda is still one of the best around against short bowling and with a few young guns on the block, they will prepare well throughout this tour. The five ODI's about to be played could have a major bearing on their performance come World Cup time and that's precisely why I believe this series should be followed with great interest. It should give both teams a fair indication of where they are in their own process.

Hold on tight--it won't be for the faint-hearted!