Renowned South African cricketer Jacques Kallis is confident that the team’s impressive pace attack will play a pivotal role in their aspirations for success in the upcoming Men’s ODI World Cup, scheduled to take place in India from October 5 to November 19.
South Africa has yet to win a 50-over World Cup, having made it to the semi-finals four times as their best achievement. Their journey in the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup will commence against Sri Lanka, who clinched the championship in 1996. The exciting opener is scheduled to take place on October 7th at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Kallis, the former pace all-rounder, feels the key for South Africa would be to avoid a change in their roles at the last minute in the run-up to the competition.
“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.”
“We’ve 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),” Kallis was quoted as saying by ICC.
Faf du Plessis, who led South Africa in the 2019 World Cup held in England, expressed a cautionary note. He pointed out that the most significant hurdle for Temba Bavuma’s team in their upcoming endeavors would be adjusting to the conditions in India. In that World Cup.
“South Africa’s white-ball team is in a strong place. They’ve got some real experience going into that World Cup. The challenge for all teams that are not from the subcontinent is obviously always the challenge of going to the subcontinent.”
Kallis further added that hosts India, and multiple times winners Australia would be the teams to beat in the competition. “I think South Africa has got a really good side. It will be hard to get past a team like India in home conditions. The other team you can never write off is Australia, with them being so successful in ICC events.”
