Scouting pact boosts Proteas

Mickey Arthur © Getty Images

South Africa were on Friday hoping an uncomfortable warm-up experience against Ireland could yet end up helping their World Cup cause, in their Group A opener against Holland.

Coach Mickey Arthur explained that South Africa’s brush with infamy - they looked destined for a while to lose to associate member country Ireland after being bowled out under 200 - brought with it a handy pay-off.

The Irish, regular opponents for the Dutch in world cricket’s second-tier competitions, provided South Africa with information on the opponents they were scheduled to play in St Kitts on Friday.

In return, South Africa divulged an inside track on Ireland’s group opponents Pakistan - an arrangement with which Arthur was delighted.

“We have actually dug deep on the Netherlands,” he said.

“We have a lot of information, video analysis - and managed to trade off with Ireland.

“They gave us info about the Netherlands; we gave some on (the Proteas’ own recent opponents) Pakistan.”

South Africa wicket-keeper Mark Boucher, meanwhile, revealed one of his team’s key tactics at this World Cup - that he will be standing up much of the time to the pace bowlers as well as spinners.

“I think it’s something that all wicket-keepers expect when they come to the West Indies, or in sub-continent conditions when you have to do that sort of thing,” he said.