ICC Cricket World Cup 2007: South Africa Cricket Team

The South African Cricket Team is one of the top ranking teams in the world, rated at par with the world champions Australia. Also known as The Proteas, South Africa is one of the strongest contenders to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in West Indies. The Proteas became the third Test playing nation in the world, when they played its first Test match way back in 1889 against England. South Afirca produced several world-famous cricketers, such as Hansie Cronje, Allan Donald, Gary Kirsten, Kepler Wessels, Jhonty Rhodes and Shaun Pollock.

The South African cricket was isolated from the international cricket, as a result of ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1970, because of its government's apartheid policies. It was the period when South Africa was emerging as the top test-playing nation in the world, after purging the powerful Australians 4-0 with ease. South Africa was readmitted to the international cricket in 1991, and became full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and one-day international status. They played their first ever One-day international against India on November 10, 1991.

South Africa surprised the cricketing world in their first ever world cup appearance in 1992, when they reached up to the semi-finals. In the ICC World Cup 1999, South Africa again reached to the semi-final but lost to Australia, as a result of tie. Today, the South African team has emerged as one of the most elite teams, competing with Australia for the acknowledgement as the best cricket team in the world. South Africa is placed in Group A of the ICC World Cup 2007 groupings, along with Australia, Scotland and the Netherlands. The team will start its world cup 2007 campaign against the Netherlands on March 16, 2007 in St Kitts and Nevis, West Indies.

South Africa
ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Probables

Graeme Smith (Captain)
Boeta Dippenaar
Herschelle Gibbs
AB de Villiers
Jaques Kallis
Justin Kemp
Mark Boucher
Shaun Pollock
Robin Peterson
Andrew Hall
Makhaya Ntini,
Loots Bosman
Ashwell Prince
Nicky Boje
Roger Telemachus
Charl Langerveld
Garnett Kruger
Dale Steyn
Johan van der Wath
Andre Nel
Justin Ontong
Alfonso Thomas
Johan Botha
Monde Zondeki
Albie Morkel

Coach: Mickey Arthur
Fielding Coach: Jonty Rhodes
Support Staff: 5