Cricket

'SA can win World Twenty20'

2009-05-05 07:04
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Proteas set for World T20 (Gallo)

Altus Momberg - Die Burger

Cape Town – The Proteas have a squad that can win the ICC World Twenty20 in England irrespective of the conditions.

Proteas coach Mickey Arthur was delighted on Monday with the squad of 15 players announced.

“I have confidence in the squad. If the conditions are going to assist pace and swing bowlers, we have the players to perform well. But if the sun shines and the pitch assists spinners, we can also be successful,” said Arthur.

“We will be led by the conditions in terms of the team we select and tactics we adopt.”

The Twenty20 tournament starts on Friday, June 5, when England and the Netherlands meet at Lord’s. South Africa start their campaign against Scotland at the Oval two days later.

There were not many surprises in the squad of 15 that was announced. As expected, Jacques Kallis is back in the squad, while Morne Morkel is also going to England.

Wayne Parnell and Yusuf Abdulla were picked ahead of him ahead of  Makhaya Ntini, indicating that the  experienced seamer's Twenty20 career could be coming to an end.

The selectors had to decide between Morkel and Johann Louw of the Dolphins. Louw has the ability to force the pace with the bat, but Morkel’s ability with the ball got him the edge.

It is, however, the three spinners - Johan Botha, Roelof van der Merwe and Robin Pietersen – that gives Arthur options.

South Africa has been renowned for its pacemen for years, but the spin-bowling was one of the major factors in the recent one-day series wins over Australia. Arthur expects them to play a big role in the Twenty20 tournament.

“They slow the pace in the middle overs. Where batsmen can deflect the pace bowlers’ deliveries for boundaries by using the pace of the ball, they have to adapt to the spinners. If you don’t manage that, you lose your wicket,” said Arthur.

“I have confidence in the spinners and if the conditions allow, we can even use four of them.”

Arthur is confident his squad will adapt to the conditions and does not believe much should be read into last year’s struggles in the one-day series against England. The Proteas lost the series 0-4.

“It was at the end of a long tour. England got momentum and we could not establish a foothold in the series,” he said.

“The fact that we played for more than two months in England last year will definitely help us. We know what to expect and all our players have experienced the conditions,” said Arthur.

There is still some doubt about Botha’s availability. His bowling action was tested in Perth last week and the result is expected by the end of next week.

If he fails the test, he is likely to be replaced by Louw.

 

Your Comments

Recato Cristiano Eberwein5/5/2009 9:41 AM
Oops how blonde of me. Sorry guys. What a dope I just was. hehe
Shads5/5/2009 8:52 AM
Recato, get a life! Seriously! You can't read and comprehend the article properly - probably explains why you voted ANC. None of them seems to have got Matric. Can only blast their mouths off without making any sense at all! SA has got a great chance of winning, if we don't peak too early. I honestly believe we have the right squad for the tournament.
Blixum5/5/2009 8:44 AM
But who are the 15 players?? Why do we have to read the personal and selective opinion of a third class journalist when his report of the subject is not even complete?
Daniel5/5/2009 8:43 AM
Recato Cristiano Eberwein, Its Comments Like that and Idiots Like you and Zuma that make all us South Africans Look Bad, .....Birds Of a Feather Flock Together
Hansie5/5/2009 7:26 AM
@ Recato Cristiano Eberwein - What does the ANC and Zuma have to do with this article? So what if SA has a winning mentality. I also think that we can win it. It does not say we will win but merely we can. Idiot.
Anonymous User5/5/2009 7:22 AM
Recato you idiot, go and stick your head in the sand...With your ANC winning just shows that the majority of South Africans have a very low IQ..This article is about thinking big, getting all saffas hyped up for the twenty20...something to look forward to..cause we might have a chance...The article say MAY not Will win the twenty20...
Recato Cristiano Eberwein5/5/2009 12:55 AM
Here we go again. Typical South African mentality. Proclaiming to be champions allready. Will they never learn. Do first; then open your mouth. Well unless you are the ANC. I told you people we will win. Always. Our saviour has arrived. Bow down to Zuma!
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