CHENNAI, (Reuters) – South Africa are determined to make a new start at the World Cup opening on Feb. 19 after semi-final exits in 1992, 1999 and 2007 and a shock quarter-final loss to West Indies in 1996.
AB de Villiers, who will add the wicketkeeper’s role to his batting duties, said on Friday the team were not looking back.
“We really are not focusing on that at the moment,” he told reporters. “The thing that has happened in the past is history. We’ve got an all-new side with a different look.”
“ICC events are difficult things, you have to peak at the right time. It has nothing to do with choking or throwing a game away. It’s pressure and other teams may have played better that time.
“(In the) last two years, three maybe even, we played the big situations vey well. We are going to do exactly the same in this tournament.
“We don’t need extra help or psychologists. We’ve got little things to work on but definitely it’s not about choking.”
Team mate Morne Morkel was equally confident.
“We have a lot of young and fresh guys, all hungry to get success and start our own legacy,” he said.
“(This is an opportunity) also for those guys who played before us to do something special. We have the team and got the backing from home…we’ll be ready. We have a point to prove.”
Morkel and his new ball partner Dale Steyn will spearhead South Africa’s attack and the 26-year-old was confident of success even though the subcontinent’s flat pitches will deny him his customary steep bounce.
“I think it can also play in my favour,” Morkel said.
“I have seen here the bounce can get really inconsistent. Tall bowlers, if they hit the deck hard and get inconsistent bounce, that can count as a favour.”
A safe pair of hands behind the wicket will instill confidence in Morkel and his bowling colleagues and de Villiers said he was ready for what looked like a tough test of his keeping skills.
“It’s a different role for me,” said the Pretoria-born player who will turn 27 on Feb 17.
“It’s going to be physically quite challenging but something I have worked on in the last few months. It’s best for the team at the moment, so that’s something I’m looking forward to. It’s going to be a big challenge for me but I’m ready for it.
“All the keepers will have a tough time. It’s not easy to keep in the subcontinent. I’ve seen lot of keepers making lots of mistakes here, even the local keepers.
“When you let through a bye, it’s not the end of the world, you got to move on make sure you focus on the next ball. I’ll be prepared in the best possible way I can.”
South Africa take on West Indies in their first group B match on Feb. 24 in Delhi.