Experts weigh-in on Proteas’ world cup chances (AUDIO)

New champions await on the other side of a month-and-a -half long 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup campaign, which has now finally gotten underway in England and Wales.

Also read: #ICCWorldCup2019: Can the Proteas win it?

For the South African supporters will, for the next few games at least, hold their breath in baited anticipation for an incredible passage through the tournament for the Proteas.

The team have had several close shaves, and several more heroic disappointments in the past, and are yet again the focus, given the team’s much-vaunted propensity for “choking” on the big stage.

Cricket commentators and students of the game have often blamed South Africa’s failings at ICC events on a lack of big match temperament, or BMT. Thus, the Proteas will have a big point to prove, particularly as this is arguably the last bite at the cherry for most of the senior players in the side – a fact not lost on some cricketing experts, who took time out to analyse what the team’s chances are of brandishing the maiden ICC cricket world cup winners medals, once all has been said, done and left on the pitch.

One cricket expert with Cricket South Africa (CSA) said South Africa’s bowling attack is not where it should be; the latest news is that speedster Dale Steyn will not be participating in the opening match owing to the resurface of an old shoulder strain.

“We’re going into the competition with an attack that’s coming off injuries. Dale Steyn’s out for the first game, if not the first few games. Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi are both coming off injuries. Our batting does not have the depth that the other countries who are favoured to win has.

“Our best chance is that we are going in with very little chance. So, we’re not going in with any expectation to win this competition, which I think is the best position to be in,” said the CSA expert. Wits 1st XI cricket coach, and former South Africa T20 International player, Garnett Kruger said the Proteas have little hope going into the tournament.

“If you look at the other big teams and compare them to South Africa, they look much, much better at this stage. My prediction for the world cup is a West Indies or England tournament win. I’d throw Australia in the mix too, who are always making it tough for the other teams because they are very emotional players. But my money’s definitely on the West Indies because of their unpredictability,” said Kruger.

Bizhub Highveld Lions head coach Enoch Nkwe added his voice to the chorus, and said the Proteas, seen as one of the underdogs of the tournament, have introduced young players into the side who will lay off a bit of pressure from the experienced players. “I absolutely believe that we stand a chance, but I don’t see the added pressure that we’ve gone into previous world cups with, existing. This may free the guys up and allow them to express themselves a lot more.

“But also looking at the new energy in the set-up, including Rassie van der Dussen and Kagiso Rabada, there seems to be a nice blend of players who didn’t play in previous world cups, who might add value here,” said Nkwe.

“It’s not going to be easy, but again, the fact that the team is going into the tournament as underdogs, might help them a lot. Hopefully we’ll get to the finals and surprise a lot of people in the process.”