Sage Gibbs has wise words for Proteas

Cape Town - Former Proteas batsman Herschelle Gibbs believes that South Africa’s best chance at the Cricket World Cup  is to play with freedom and without pressure.

Ottis Gibson’s Proteas won’t go into this World Cup as one of the favourites for the title, which they have largely always been since being readmitted to the global showpiece in 1992.

Click to watch the full interview with Gibbs

And if Gibbs’ comments are to be believed, this will suit South Africa really well.

“SA aren’t really in a position to overthink this. We should just go out there and play with freedom and without high expectations because we aren't among the favourites,” Gibbs told Cricket South Africa’s official Online Magazine.

“The format of the competition shouldn't change anything in the way the Proteas approach the tournament. Ultimately you want to play everybody and beat them and just get through,” Gibbs said in response to the change in competition format.

A lot has been said about the weather conditions, the pitches and whether the seamers will have most of the say or whether the spinners will come into the spotlight.

The Proteas have taken two specialist spinners in Imran Tahir and Tabraiz Shamsi with experienced batting all-rounder JP Duminy, who also spins it, in the squad.

“They expect it to be a dry summer in England but in my experience the best weather over there is July and August. And the bulk for the World Cup will be played in June. So I hope that decision won’t backfire if it’s overcast and moist,” says Gibbs, who played 248 ODIs for SA and scored 8 094 runs.

“If they have good sunshine and dry weather then the two spinners can operate together. Shamsi has done okay when he’s had the chance, but so much is going to depend on the weather in England.

“And it’s the same for the batsmen. If it’s overcast and seaming around, you want your in-form and best batters in the squad. But the main thing is that SA go into the tournament with no pressure. They must take advantage of that.”

* Visit Cricket SA Magazine for more exclusive content and stand a chance to win a Proteas World Cup jersey in the Competition section!