Cronje left struggling for words (19 May 1999)

19 May 1999

Cronje left struggling for words

Charles Randall

Naafi was the word Hansie Cronje, South Africa's captain, was searching for as he looked ahead to his side's World Cup match against Sri Lanka at Northampton today.

Victory for South Africa at Wantage Road would almost guarantee them a place among the top three teams of Group A through to the Super Six stage, and if India and Sri Lanka were to join them, the South Africans would be near certainties for the semi-finals, having carried forward the four points gained from the two group wins against their rivals, as laid down by the tournament regulations.

Nevertheless, the cold, gloomy weather and the constant threat of rain in England could have a sour effect on the players' morale, Cronje conceded - leading to a state of naafi. "It's an Afrikaans word," he said jokingly, though it sounded suspiciously like the old Army acronym for 'no ambition and no ******* interest'.

Bob Woolmer, South Africa's coach, had stressed the need for self-motivation at the start of the group matches, and Cronje said during another bleak two-sweater morning yesterday: "It's not up to anyone else to motivate you, because the conditions aren't 100 per cent. They're not ideal for countries used to warm weather. It's cold and you've got to make sure you're ready for each match."

He added that complacency and a Sri Lanka backlash, after their disappointing defeat by England last Friday, were other factors the South Africans had discussed, mindful that last August they lost their Emirates tournament match to the Sri Lankans by 57 runs in Nottingham.

For Sri Lanka a second defeat today in two matches could end their prospects of retaining the trophy. Duleep Mendis, their manager, said: "Unless we pull our socks up, the ultimate disgrace will be in store."

Arjuna Ranatunga, more than ever a captain under pressure, discounted all the negative aspects to Sri Lanka's build-up. He could have reflected on his team's bad batting against England, the possibility of losing the toss on a moist pitch, facing the world's best equipped opposition, carrying expectations that burden champions and dealing with antagonistic comments by Shane Warne. Sri Lanka were concentrating solely, Ranatunga said, on a "really good effort" to beat the South Africans.

They are also likely to bring in Mahela Jayawardena, 21, a brilliant batsman, for his World Cup debut.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)