Will the Proteas finally get the monkey off their back?

The Cricket World Cup (CWC) and South Africa have never had the best of relationships. Like two people who share a tempestuous love, they seem to be perfect for each other but invariably find some way to continually break up in an ugly manner, which makes conversations with your friends on that topic extremely awkward.

Here is a quick chronicle of the Proteas love affair with the CWC:

1992 — See below. Thanks for nothing Richie Benaud.

1996 — Would you choose Paul Adams over Allan Donald? Well, that is exactly what happened.

1999 — See below.

2003 — Pollock’s face says it all. Duckworth-Lewis … you suck.

2007 — See below.

It’s starting to feel like a pattern doesn’t it?

Well, the 2011 CWC is here in February and South Africa announced their 15-man squad for the tournament, which is as follows:

Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers (wk), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morne van Wyk (wk).

Most of the starting XI picks itself but there are three nagging questions: why include Robin Peterson over Albie Morkel, who will bat at No 6 and with Imran Tahir being included while not having played a single ODI as of yet, the selectors are certainly feeling a bit buckerooish with options.

These questions might be seen as the smaller sides of the game, accounting for two of the 11, but considering South Africa’s dismal record at previous tournaments (see above), these are just the sort of hiccups that derail an entire campaign. Albie Morkel can count himself unlucky, since it would appear that Peterson is the man who has taken his position in the squad. What makes the situation even stranger is that Morkel has now been called up for the last two ODIs against India. A hug after telling him he isn’t required? Maybe it was pragmatic given the situation against India, but still, a little strange.

On subcontinent wickets, where he has played quite a bit of IPL cricket (which in fairness is like oil to ODI cricket’s water), a man with his reach over the boundary is an asset and he does swing the ball if everything clicks into place with the ball in hand. Perhaps the selectors wanted cover in the spin department, considering the tournament is absurdly long (bluntly put, another slip-up by the money-crazy BCCI/ICC — they are the same thing really) at over a month, but Morkel appears to bring more to the table than Peterson. Nothing against the Cape Cobras stalwart, but Morkel is a match winner, a quality the likes of Lance Klusener and dare I say it Jonty Rhodes. Peterson might prove all doubters wrong, but for that to happen he needs to get on the field first, which is also a big if.

Morne van Wyk perhaps should’ve been recognised way earlier then he has, but in terms of an ODI replacement keeper/batsman, South Africa does at least have some quality on the bench. His ability to open the batting is also valuable, and while his inclusion is rushed (like Tanvir’s), he deserves his place. The question is why wasn’t he included sooner, something that will lose significance as soon as the first ball at the CWC is bowled.

Imran Tahir has yet to pull on the pyjamas for the Proteas, but it seems the selectors aren’t concerned about his lack of game-time. Andrew “Prince Charles” Hudson, chairperson of selectors, said “it is not a worry that Tahir has not played an ODI yet”. “The conditions in South Africa have been more suited to seam bowling and his record in domestic cricket both in South Africa and England speaks for itself. We know exactly what he offers us.”

Well, they can’t be as bad as the Australian selectors (who somehow have managed to de-evolve if that is even possible) and on the up side, Tahir is the leading wicket-taker in first-class cricket this season and finished tied fifth in the MTN 40 standings. He is also a well-travelled professional, getting to South Africa from England via Pakistan, but international cricket is a very different beast compared to the domestic game. It’s a ballsy call from the selectors, meaning Tahir will be competing with the third seam bowler, most likely Lonwabo Tsotsobe, for the final bowling birth. Wayne Parnell’s inclusion is a nod to the future more than anything else it would appear on the back of this squad selection.

South Africa aren’t going into this tournament as favourites — they’re in a pack of possible winners, which includes Sri Lanka, Australia, England, Pakistan, India and even New Zealand. Only four from the previous 2007 squad (Smith, De Villiers, Kallis and Peterson) have been at a World Cup before, so at least this side isn’t as scarred as previous ones, which were packed with individuals who had experienced the anguish cricket can bring. Kallis the only man left from 1999, while Smith did a turn in 2003. Beyond, it’s only De Villiers who has to think about Shaun Tait. If he, Lee, Bollinger and Johnson make it through this tournament unscathed, that would be surprising.

The bottom line is South Africa have the ability to at least reach the semi-finals. Anything less will be considered a failure. If this side, the most unlikely so far to bring back the silverware since 1992, can exorcise the ghosts of World Cup pasts that will be a very well-earned achievement.

Do I think South Africa will win the Cricket World Cup in February. No, I don’t think they will (India would be my choice) but maybe such doubt will spur them on to feats noble of themselves and their country. We’ve tried pretty much everything else.