South Africa desperate to shed 'chokers' tag
Graeme Smith is desperate to shed the 'chokers' tag that hangs around South Africa, and next week's Champions Trophy gives the world's No. 1 ODI side a chance to answer the doubters
Cricinfo staff
17-Sep-2009
AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith expect South Africa to put up a strong show in the Champions Trophy • Duif du Toit/Getty Images
South Africa haven't won an ICC trophy since the Champions Trophy in 1998 despite being among the top one-day sides over the past decade. Their captain Graeme Smith is desperate to shed the 'chokers' tag that hangs around the team and sees next week's Champions Trophy as a chance for the world's No. 1 ODI side to answer the doubters.
"Every time we lose an important game the word 'chokers' is thrown around," Smith said. "During the last couple of years we have been on an upward curve and the team will improve and grow stronger."
South Africa have won all their ODI series over the past two years barring the campaign in England in 2008. Their run has included impressive home-and-away wins over Australia, who were deposed from the top spot in the rankings.
Smith said he was aware being rated the best side in the world added to the pressure on South Africa. "Every sportsman knows that staying at the top is a lot harder than getting there," he said. "Instead of aiming for Australia, as they have for the past decade and a half, the rest of the world will be looking to take us down."
One of the players pivotal to South Africa's dominant one-day performances is batsman AB de Villiers, who said the Champions Trophy was a great stage to showcase his team's capabilities. "It is true we have come short a few times, but there are many players eager to improve," he said. "We believe we are the best team in the world and now have the ideal opportunity to prove it."
A lack of one-dayers over the past five months is a cause for concern for South Africa but de Villiers wasn't too bothered about the potential rustiness. "Our preparations have been the hardest since I began training with this squad," he said. "We run up to four times every day, attend net sessions, sweat in the gym and work on fitness in the pool.
"Although we have not played much cricket recently, training games helped, and I believe we are professional enough to gear ourselves mentally for this tournament."
South Africa are grouped with Sri Lanka, New Zealand and England in the group phase of the tournament which starts on September 22.