South Africa at the ICC Cricket World Cup

1975 = Did not take part.
1979 = Did not take part.
1983 = Did not take part.
1987 = Did not take part.
1992 = Semi Finalists.
1996 = Quarter Finalists.
1999 = Semi Finalists.
2003 = Hosts and failed to make semis.
2007 = Semi Finalists.
2011 = Quarter Finalists.
2015 = Semi Finalists.
2019 = …………….

South Africa failed to make the semi finals in the 2016 World Twenty20 and the 2017 Champions Trophy since the last World Cup down under in 2015. They lost all three formats on their last tour of England in 2017. It will undoubtedly be the last major ODI tournament for several of their players in this golden generation i.e. Du Plessis, Duminy, Steyn, Amla and Tahir himself. It should be interesting to see how the rainbow nation fares in their continuous quest for a first World Cup trophy. They have won ODI series against Sri Lanka away, Zimbabwe at home, Australia away, Pakistan at home and Sri Lanka at home in the last 12 months building up to the mega tournament. Their form guide is impressive. They are a highly ranked team who are worthy challengers for their fifth semi final berth at the ICC Cricket World Cup in just eight editions.

I’m particularly looking forward to their matches against New Zealand at Edgbaston on 19th June, Pakistan at Lord’s on 23rd June and Australia at Old Trafford on 6th July. These are crucial encounters for the Proteas assuming they are defeated by the two favourites – England and India in the first week of the tournament.

South Africa are a well drilled consistently performing organised unit with a balance of experience and youth who possess a coach who knows English grounds inside out. All in all, they would be very disappointed if they don’t at least reach the semis. In a long round robin format you would expect their quality and ranking to show over the course of nine games prior to the semi finals. They have a challenging start to contend with against England and India in the early phases of the tournament. And of course, they would enter both those clashes as underdogs. But life should get easier after that without underestimating the other seven countries.

Ultimately, they probably will fall short in terms of taking out the trophy, but they can certainly make their presence felt and win half a dozen games, if not more.