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There are some teams in every sport that are deemed powerhouses thanks to the quality of players they possess but when it comes to the World Cups, they flatter to deceive. South Africa are that team in cricket. They have had some of the greatest players in world cricket over the years. From legendary batters like Gary Kirsten to AB de Villiers, bowlers like Allan Donald to Kagiso Rabada, and all-rounders like Lance Klusener to Jacques Kallis, the Proteas have produced world beaters but they have somehow managed to crumble at marquee events.
As another World Cup beckons, one of the greatest all-rounders of all time, Kallis, urged the South African players to stick to the roles they have been performing heading into it. The 47-year-old felt that over the years, the South Africans have tried too hard to win world events and that has forced them to go out of the roles they were assigned.
“The one thing that needs to change for South Africa to be successful in a Cricket World Cup is to carry on playing the cricket that we’ve played going into the World Cup. We have a history of playing good cricket leading into the World Cup. For some reason, things change. Maybe we want it too much. I think players wanted too much and you have gone outside of the area you need to be doing. Maybe going outside of their roles because they wanted too much. Stick to your roles. Trust the partner next to you. And just play the cricket you have been playing,” Kallis said as quoted by ICC.
South Africa’s strength to me is going to be in our pace bowling: Jacques Kallis
South Africa have some fine fast bowlers in their line-up. The likes of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Anrich Nortje can unsettle any strong batting order with their pace and accuracy. Kallis feels that the pacers will have to play a key role for the Proteas to do well. He noted that the pace attack can ‘blow away the opposition’s top-order’.
“South Africa’s strength to me is going to be in our bowling attack. We have got some quality pace bowlers that can blow away the opposition’s top-order. And I think they are going to play a major role if South Africa are going to get far, if we do get far (in the tournament),” he said.
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