South African squad drummimg up support

The United Cricket Board today presented Shaun Pollock and his squad with a traditional African drum, known as a murumba. This symbolic gift, together with the Zulu shield presented by SABC at the Warriors of the Nation banquet in Cape Town last Saturday, represents the South African team's battle regalia.

The SA squad have been receiving messages of support and encouragement from all quarters of the nation. The murumba will accompany the team during the Cricket World Cup and fans are encouraged to beat the drum wherever it goes to demonstrate their support for our proudly South African squad. The players in turn will use the battle drum as part of their changeroom preparatory routine.

"It's inspiring to have these truly South African symbols to take around the country with us and to emphasise how Proudly South African we are," said Pollock.

The drum was specially carved for the South African team by sculptor Simon Ragimana of Thohoyandou in Limpopo Province. Ragimana learnt this craft from his late brother-in-law way back in 1977 and he has never looked back since. Simon, a keen cricket fan, has decorated the drum with a hand carving of the Protea logo and South African flag. He is optimistic that the beatings and rumblings of this drum will lift the spirits of the team and lead them to victory.

Let the games begin!