Proteas ready to dispel doubts

Graeme Smith has had a tough time recently © Getty Images

South Africa gave the World Cup schedulers plenty of work when they were included in the 1992 tournament at short notice, but after a long period of isolation their presence freshened up the international game.

They added to a colourful and spectacular event and showed great promise as they reached the semi-finals.

That promise was close to being realised seven years later as the guidance of coach Bob Woolmer and astute captaincy of Hansie Cronje took them within a whisker of the final in England.

In Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusener they had three players of outstanding all-round ability - and the blistering batting performances of the latter made for one of the stories of the 1999 tournament.

In Allan Donald they had one of the game's best fast bowlers; Mark Boucher was developing as a fine wicket-keeper batsman, and Herschelle Gibbs looked a potentially great batsman and was already a fine fielder.

Mark Boucher misread the Duckworth Lewis par score at home in 2003 © Getty Images

Yet their World Cup dream ended catastrophically as Australia dramatically and famously snatched a tie in their semi-final and went through courtesy of their superior record from the Super Six stage.

The Proteas may never get a better opportunity to win a World Cup, but the feeling at the time was very much that their chance must come.

The Proteas' performances in the 2003 tournament were subdued after the death of former captain Cronje, and they were eliminated early when they farcically miscalculated their Duckworth Lewis target in a rain-affected group match against Sri Lanka.

In a tournament that struggled to get going, the hosts' premature exit did the International Cricket Council few favours.

Pollock, as captain, paid the price - but four years later the whole team are still to rediscover their former zest.

The ICC currently rank them top in their one-day ratings but they realistically remain some way behind Australia and lack the excitement that the likes of Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka can offer.

Personnel has changed since 2003, and new players have been tried and tested. But the core of the side remains the same - with Pollock, Kallis, Boucher, Gibbs and Graeme Smith, now captain, all still in situ.

Smith, who in fact came into the 2003 World Cup side as a late injury replacement, became his country's youngest captain at 22 when he took over from Pollock.

Shaun Pollock has been a tireless performer for years

He promised a fresh approach, and the selectors' faith was immediately repaid as he hit back-to-back double centuries against England. In his hands the future looked bright and perhaps the problems of the past could at last be put aside.

Time has come between the team and Cronje's downfall, and Smith has proved an inspirational and chirpy leader - bringing the best out of key men such as Pollock and Kallis and, on the whole, performing well himself.

Yet as the World Cup approaches, South Africa are not in the best shape. The past year has been a difficult one for Smith and the rest of the team - with results, particularly abroad, falling below standard.

Admittedly most teams struggle against Australia, but series drubbings home and away to them did little for South African morale - and they were also thrashed by Sri Lanka.

Their performances in the ICC Champions Trophy were modest too - and at present it is difficult to see them challenging Australia for the World Cup, their record 438 to beat them in Johannesburg last March notwithstanding.

Smith has recently looked as if he has been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and has had to put a brave face on some controversial choices from the selectors, and sometimes it is no wonder his smile has not much been seen.

Those exhilarating performances of 1999 seem an age ago now, but that magnificent win over Australia at The Wanderers has shown the potential that exists.