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| March 16, 2007 | Friday | Safar 26, 1428 |
Pen-sketches of South Africa World Cup squad
BRIDGETOWN, March 15: Pen-pix of South Africa World Cup squad: Graeme Smith (LHB/OB/captain). Age: 26. ODI appearances: 104. Debut: v Australia, Bloemfontein, March 30, 2002. South Africa's youngest-ever captain at 22 has now matured into one of the shrewdest leaders of the game. He also leads from the front, opening the innings with panache and chips in as an occasional off-spin bowler.
Career: 3683 runs (ave 38.36), HS 134*, 6 100s, 22 50s, 49 catches, 14 wkts (ave 57.07), BB 3-30.
Jacques Kallis (RHB/RFM). Age: 31. ODI appearances: 247. Debut: v England, Cape Town, Jan 9, 1996. He is arguably the greatest all-rounder in contemporary cricket who is capable of turning a match around with either bat or ball. He has played in the crucial number three position with distinction and provides his captain with an additional bowling option.
Career: 8520 runs (ave 44.37), HS 139, 14 100s, 59 50s, 95 catches, 225 wkts (ave 31.01), BB 5-30, 4w 4.
Loots Bosman (RHB). Age: 29. ODI appearances: 8. Debut: v Zimbabwe, Bloemfontein, Sept 15, 2006. The hard-hitting opening batsman is a joy for spectators when in full flow, smacking sixes and fours almost at will. He may, however, not make it to the playing XI at the start in the World Cup.
Career: 202 runs (ave 25.25), HS 88, 1 50, 3 catches.
Mark Boucher (RHB/WK). Age: 30. ODI appearances: 233. Debut: v New Zealand, Perth, Jan 16, 1998. The most experienced wicket-keeper in the game and a tremendous lower order batsman who can be entrusted to win the game at the death. A gutsy cricketer who believes in the adage that no game is won or lost till the last ball.
Career: 3607 runs (ave 27.96), HS 147*, 1 100, 21 50s, 353 dismissals (335 catches and 18 stumpings).
A.B. de Villiers (RHB/WK). Age: 22. ODI appearances: 31. Debut: v England, Bloemfontein, Feb 2, 2005. The young stroke-player is highly rated by his peers for attractive and positive batting. He is also a superb fielder close-in, not a surprise since he started as a wicket-keeper and can stand-in for Boucher if needed.
Career: 918 runs (ave 34.00), HS 92*, 6 50s, 11 catches.
Herschelle Gibbs (RHB). Age: 32. ODI appearances: 198. Debut: v Kenya, Nairobi, Oct 3, 1996. The former opener was pushed down the order after a lean trot at the top but he remains as effective in the middle-order. Besides, he is worth 50 runs in the field due to his brilliant fielding at point and in the covers.
Career: 6356 runs (ave 35.50), HS 175, 16 100s, 27 50s, 81 catches.
Andrew Hall (RHB/RM). Age: 31. ODI appearances: 76. Debut: v West Indies, Durban, Jan 27, 1999. The bits-and-pieces cricketer that make a successful one-day team. He is probably the only cricketer in the world who was shot at point-blank range during a robbery and lived to tell the tale.
Career: 843 runs (ave 22.78), HS 81, 3 50s, 27 catches, 79 wkts (ave 26.06), BB 4-23, 4w 3.
Justin Kemp (RHB/RM). Age: 29. ODI appearances: 69. Debut: v Sri Lanka, Bloemfontein, Jan 14, 2001. The explosive lower-order batsman with a penchant for big hits. He is also a useful medium-pacer capable of keeping runs in check.
Career: 1217 runs (ave 32.02), HS 101*, 1 100, 8 50s, 25 catches, 30 wkts (ave 30.30), BB 3-20.
Charl Langeveldt (RHB/RFM). Age: 32. ODI appearances: 38. Debut: v Kenya, Kimberley, Oct 14, 2001. The undemonstrative seamer with a no-nonsense approach to the game. He will take wickets, keep the runs down and field with as much enthusiasm of a 20-year-old.
Career: 7 runs (ave 1.75), HS 3, 5 catches, 47 wkts (ave 30.25), BB 5-62 4w 2.
Andre Nel (RHB/RF). Age: 29. ODI appearances: 56. Debut: v West Indies, Port-of-Spain, May 12, 2001. The muscular fast bowler sometimes lets his mouth do the talking instead of concentrating on getting batsmen out. But he remains a deadly opponent with the ball and will be counted on by his team to strike early blows.
Career: 51 runs (ave 8.50), HS 22, 15 catches, 73 wkts (ave 29.17), BB 4-13, 4w 2.
Makhaya Ntini (RHB/RF). Age: 29. ODI appearances: 144. Debut: v New Zealand, Perth, Jan 16, 1998. The pace spearhead is a hostile bowler on any surface with a speedy run-up modelled on the West Indian great Malcolm Marshall. The first black cricketer to play for South Africa is a role model for youngsters across the country.Career: 158 runs (ave 9.87), HS 42*, 27 catches, 231 wkts (ave 22.94), BB 6-22, 4w 10.
Robin Peterson (LHB/SLA). Age: 27. ODI appearances: 33. Debut: v India, Colombo, Sept 25, 2002. The lone specialist spinner in the squad, he may not have been very successful in taking wickets but an economy rate of 4.73 indicates how miserly he can be in conceding runs.
Career: 135 runs (ave 12.27), HS 36, 7 catches, 16 wkts (58.18), BB 2-26.
Shaun Pollock (RHB/RFM). Age: 33. ODI appearances: 274. Debut: v England, Cape Town, Jan 9, 1996. The veteran all-rounder is at the peak of his prowess with both bat and ball, lending strength to an already formidable team. The most successful bowler in South African history says a World Cup win is what he has been dreaming of these days.
Career: 2969 runs (ave 24.94), HS 75, 11 50s, 102 catches, 373 wkts (ave 23.74), BB 6-35, 4w 17.
Ashwell Prince (LHB). Age: 30. ODI appearances: 43. Debut: v Bangladesh, Kimberley, Oct 9, 2002. Once regarded as too slow for one-day cricket, he has improved his strike rate with the bat enough to impress selectors in giving him a regular one-day spot. The left-hander became South Africa's first black captain when he led the team on a tour of Sri Lanka in Smith's absence.
Career: 911 runs (ave 37.95), HS 89*, 3 50s, 24 catches.
Roger Telemachus (RHB/RFM). Age: 33. ODI appearances: 37. Debut: v Pakistan, Durban, April 3, 1998. A border-line selection for the World Cup, the fast bowler now gets a chance to prove those critics wrong who preferred young all-rounder Johan van der Wath in the squad.
Career: 73 runs (ave 6.08), HS 29, 4 catches, 56 wkts (ave 27.94), BB 4-43, 4w 1.—AFP
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