Potential Proteas Pitfalls

Hindsight is a perfect science and nobody likes a smartarse who knows exactly what the problem was...after it's happened. There's nothing more irritating in professional sport than an active "I told you so" element among the detractors. If you "knew all along", then why the hell didn't you say something?

South Africa are the number one ranked team in the world heading into the 2007 World Cup but that does not make them favourites, far from it. The West Indies, obviously, will find conditions suitable to their style of play as will India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan would also have counted among the favourites had they not lost Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammed Asif and Abdul Razzaq in the last week. Australia are always among the favourites.

Before the last three World Cups the level of expectation among South African supporters was understandably high but also unreasonably so. Anyone with doubts, and there were a few, generally kept quiet for fear of appearing or sounding like a party-pooper.

The reverse should have been true. Having concerns for the squad and being aware of potential pitfalls should fall under the category of 'constructive support' rather than negative criticism.

So, while I have no doubt these topics have been discussed ad nauseam by Smith, Mickey Arthur, Haroon Lorgat and Gerald Majola among others, here goes: (So I can't be accused of being a smarty pants in case any of these problems does, indeed, become a reality.)

1. Captain's picks: Smith is a fearless leader who responds profoundly to committed fighters and loyalty. He wants men who would run through a brick wall for him and his country. No wonder he is Andre Nel's greatest supporter.

While I have no doubt that Smith is open-minded enough to see the big picture, there is a small chance that his loyalty to Nel - and one or two other players - may see his heart over-rule his head at a critical stage of the tournament.

Nel is a quality cricketer and, in the right conditions, a match winner. But if the pitches are slow and he gets his 'death' length wrong, then he struggles.

2. Cutting Kemp: Justin Kemp is a thoroughbred, not a donkey or a show poney. He needs a good gallop to be at his best and the policy of using him as a last-ten-over slogger can easily backfire.

All of Kemp's best innings have come after he has got to the crease early. If he's on the card at number six, then let him bat at number six. Mark Boucher has a far greater chance of hitting his first delivery out the ground than Kemp.

As for Kemp bowling 'off-cutters' to provide the team with variation in the likely absence of a spinner, it's not going to happen.

So, don't let it become a distraction. The truth is that South Africa's basket is heavily laden with very similar eggs. There's no point in pretending some of them are different. Just hope they are good enough.

3. The road block: Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince score runs in a similar fashion and a similar pace. They both know that and, in fact, are sick and tired of hearing about it. Nonetheless, they need to be perfectly clear about how they will approach their partnership in whatever circumstances they find themselves batting together.

They are both thinking cricketers and perfectly capable of assessing the correct strategy for the moment. But they must remember to do so, and be reminded if necessary.

Otherwise their alliance could stall a run chase or render a target 20 runs short.

4. Passengers: Rapport newspaper ran a deeply disappointing story a couple of weeks ago in which they labelled Robin Peterson, Roger Telemachus and Loots Bosman as "Passengers". Telemachus, in particular, was furious. And justifiably so.

But it's no good for Smith and his team to simply brush that perception aside, put on a smile and 'get on with it.' That might work during a home series, but during the World Cup the squad will be together for well over two months. Other teams will stop at nothing to gain an edge over South Africa and they all know how sensitive the players are about racial quotas.

The "passengers" sledging will, unfortunately, be a feature of this campaign. Yes, Telemachus and Bosman are lucky to be in the squad but not as lucky as Russell Arnold in the Sri Lankan squad or Ravi Bopara in the England squad. Every squad has lucky players.

Only the players themselves will know the best way to handle this situation, but they had better do so genuinely because if there are cracks now, they will be chasms in 60 days' time.

Four potential pitfalls, all of which can be avoided. As I said, I have no doubt all four were identified a long time ago and are being dealt with by far more able and intelligent men than me.