Crickdom

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa Cricket team is a team that plays cricket for the national team of South Africa. They are also known as the ‘Proteas’. The team has given countless stars in Amla, Kalis, AB, Steyn, Allan Donald, Faf DuPlessis and many more.

South Africa hosted an England cricket team during the 1888–89 season. They simultaneously entered first-class and international cricket. However, by the first decade of the 20th century, the squad was able to form a competitive side. They were initially being unable to compete with Australia or England. This was due to lack of experience and knowledge.

The Ban

Up until the 1960s, there was significant opposition to the nation’s apartheid policy. The squad frequently faced up against Australia, England, and New Zealand during that time. In line with the measures taken by other international sporting bodies, the ICC imposed an international ban on the team.

The ban finally ended in the year 1991. Thereafter, South Africa played its first matches against India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies. After being reinstated, the team has performed well and has frequently held the top spot in international rankings. Moreover, South Africa also ranks among the best ODI cricket sides, winning more than 60% of their games. However, its only victory in competitions run by the ICC was the 1998 Champions Trophy. In 1998, South Africa took home the gold medal from the Commonwealth Games.

South Africa’s World Cup History

The team has been unlucky quite a few times in the World Cups. In the 1992 World Cup, they were a victim of the Duckworth Lewis Method. They needed 22 runs from 13 balls when the rain started. After the rain stopped, according to the DL method, they needed 13 runs off 1 ball.

Despite being one of the favourite teams and winning their group, they were defeated in the quarterfinals in 1996. In 1999, South Africa was defeated by eventual champions Australia in the semifinals. Both South Africa and Australia managed 213 points as the game came to a tie. However Australia progressed to the Final since they outperformed South Africa in the group.

In the 2003 World Cup, they could not progress beyond the group stages. They hosted the World Cup that year. They lost in the semifinal of the 2007 World Cup to Australia in a humiliating way. The team lost in the quarterfinals of the 2011 World Cup against New Zealand. But the most painful loss was in the 2015 semifinal against the same opposition. They had the best side during that world cup consisting of Hashim Amla, AB, Faf, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel in that edition. In the 2019 World Cup, they could not progress past the group stages.