shantanu_rooney
Chairman of Selectors
South Africa has an unfortunate record of failing to win major tournaments. The 1992 cricket World Cup, for example, featured a rain-affected match played before the introduction of the Duckworth-Lewis method. South Africa was left in the ludicrous situation of requiring 22 runs from one ball in order to progress. At the 1999 Cricket World Cup, South Africa played against Australia in the last Super Six match as well as the knock-out semifinal. Australia defeated the Proteas in the Super Six match and recorded a thrilling tie in the semifinal, which was enough to knock the Africans out of the tournament since Australia had previously beaten them.
South Africa hosted the 2003 Cricket World Cup, but failed to progress beyond the group stage due to a misunderstanding of how many runs they needed to score in a rain-affected run chase. As a result of this, Shaun Pollock resigned as captain and was replaced by young batsman Graeme Smith, although Pollock continued to play for the team. Under Smith's leadership, South Africa has achieved some success, although they have been hampered by the retirements of many star players, including fast bowler Allan Donald and one-day specialist Jonty Rhodes. As a result, they had a poor 2004, only winning against the West Indies.
South Africa became the world's No. 1 ranked side early in 2007 but then failed to deliver once again in the 2007 Cricket World Cup. They had a rollercoaster ride that included dominant wins over England, the West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland, and a narrow win over Sri Lanka, but devastating losses to Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh that cost them the number one ranking. Then they bowed out in the semifinals with their lowest ever score in a World Cup as Australia bowled them out for 149 and won by 7 wickets. South Africa are regarded by many as the best team never to have won the Cricket World Cup.
Historic Match won by the South Africa
However, they won the inaugural ICC Champions Trophy in 1998, beating West Indies in the finals, and also won the first and most likely the only Commonwealth Games gold in cricket in the same year. They are currently ranked No.1 in the world in the One-Day International Cricket rankings and are rated in the top five for Test cricket rankings. This is due to a long streak from January to November 2005, in which they were not defeated. They gained the top position in the ODI rankings after Australia's defeat in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series, but lost it during the 2007 World Cup. They also hold the record of the Largest Successful Run Chase and the Second Highest Team Total in One-Day Internationals (438-9 in 49.5 overs), in an iconic match against Australia on 12 March 2006. This game is considered by many to be the greatest One-Day International ever played.
Shaun Pollock says goodbye
In the inagural ICC T20 World Cup hoste by South Africa saw the host been defeated in the final match of the super 8s by India and were knocked out of the competition . Will there be any improvement in the next edition of the World Cup in 2009 taking place in England. South Africa recenetly won the home series against New Zealand and West Indies quite easily . But their best allrounder Shaun Pollock hung his boots after the West Indies series . South Africa are producing some young guns like Dale Styen , Morne Morkel , Albie Morkel which are ready to replace the old faces .
Fixtures
* South Africa Tour of England (4 Test , 1 T20 and 5 ODI)
* ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan
* MTN Tri Seires in South Africa
* South Africa tour of Australia ( 3 Test , 1 T20 and 5 ODI)
* Australia Tour of South Africa (3 Test , 1 T20 , 5 ODI )
* ICC T20 World Cup 2009 in England
Credits
*BarmyArmy for his Player Editor
*Mad Snake , Arko for their Cricket 07 faces
*Burma for his brilliant bats
*Black Magic for his Stroke Variation Patch
*Aamir and Punk for their Cricket 07 kits
*All members supporting this story
Special Credits
*Gamerkid22 , Pakistani Army
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