Few players go into the World Cup on the crest of a bigger wave than South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs.
When effervescent natural talent comes together with an explosive run of form, the concoction is irresistible. As the tournament has drawn closer, so Gibbs has looked increasingly the finished article.
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cavalier showman prone to moments of rash exuberance, Gibbs, who will turn 29 during the cup, is a fixture at the top of the South African order, where he will form an imposing partnership with veteran left-hander Gary Kirsten. In all likelihood, the cup will be their last time together in the one-day arena.
The omens are good, too. In his final two competitive matches before the tournament, Gibbs was in stunning form, cracking the second fastest test double century ever - in terms of balls faced - against Pakistan at Newlands last month to help set up a 10-wicket win and 2-0 series victory. Two weeks later Gibbs returned to his home ground to lead his provincial side Western Province to the domestic one-day title. Chasing 126 for victory, Gibbs ensured a crushing victory with an unbeaten 67 from 44 deliveries.
A brilliant fielder too, if he has a weakness it is psychological. No one has exposed that more obviously and ruthlessly than the Australians and Gibbs has struggled against the world champions.
He will also be desperate to erase memories of the infamous moment in the last cup when he dropped Steve Waugh as he prematurely celebrated taking the routine catch. The Australian captain went on to make a match-winning century.
His reputation for waywardness off the field is also something Gibbs would like to discard. He was one of two South African players banned for six months in 2000 after admitting to the King Commission of Inquiry into match-fixing that he had accepted an offer from then captain Hansie Cronje to under-perform in an ODI.
He was also disciplined on the tour of the West Indies in 2001 when he was one of five South African tour party members who admitted smoking marijuana.
But Gibbs now has a firmer grasp of his own enormous talent as well as his responsibilities. It all amounts to a cricketer determined to do himself justice.
"We know what this season is building up towards - the dream of getting our hands on the World Cup and sharing it with the whole country," Gibbs said. "We're not distracted by the dream, we're focused on it."
There is a fierce streak of pride running through the Proteas and they will be desperately hard to topple, especially if the out-of-sorts Lance Klusener can regain his explosive edge.
They may be burdened by the knowledge that no country has won the cup on home soil. Then again, that could be the ideal incentive.
- REUTERS
INSIDE TRACK
Captain: Shaun Pollock
Coach: Eric Simons
Strengths: Apart from home advantage, South Africa have trump cards in all key areas - Herschelle Gibbs is a free-scoring opener, Shaun Pollock niggardly with the new ball and Jacques Kallis the best allrounder in the world. No side will be sharper in the field either, with Jonty Rhodes unsurpassed in the covers.
Weaknesses: South Africa have regularly come off second best against arch-rivals Australia. How they handle the world champions will be key to their chances.
Places in the middle order were still unsettled only weeks before the tournament. Fears also persist in some quarters that selection will be a political point-scoring exercise as cricket continues to make its peace with a democratic society.
Key player: Kallis. Few players deserve the tag of genuine allrounder - a player good enough to play either as a specialist batsman or specialist bowler - but this man certainly does. He averages 44 in one-dayers and has taken 164 wickets at just under 30.
One-day form: Beat Australia and New Zealand in a triangular in Australia in 2001 but were promptly thrashed on home soil by the Australians. Have also suffered serious reverses to Sri Lanka (in Morocco) and India (at the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka) but home form remains good, with recent series victories over Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Past World Cups: Beaten by England in a controversial rain-affected semifinal in 1992 before making a quarter-final exit at the hands of West Indies four years later. Those losses pale by comparison with the semifinal against Australia in 1999 which handed the Australians a place in the final.
Few players go into the World Cup on the crest of a bigger wave than South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs.
When effervescent natural talent comes together with an explosive run of form, the concoction is irresistible. As the tournament has drawn closer, so Gibbs has looked increasingly the finished article.
A
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