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The newly incumbent No.1 in ODI ranking, South Africa are the hot favorites along with world champions Australia. People all around the globe are betting upon them because of their paragon in every facet of the game. In the recent months due to the sheer hard work and perseverance, South Africans have redefined the parameters of batting, bowling and fielding. They are the new de facto standard.

For Proteas the apartheid, their ban to play international cricket and their unfortunate record in the previous world cups are the things of past. This South African team is the bubbliest and deadliest team ever. Exuberance of youth, fountains of energy, lurching for excellence are the hallmarks of this renewed team. They are the forbearer of modern day cricket.

Leading from the front is their ultra-chic batsman Graeme Smith. This young, left-handed and solid captain has done wonders for the moral of his team. Recent comprehensive home wins against Asian teams have given a high stature both at national and international levels. His opening stands with AB de Villiers are famous for the fatal blows to bowlers of any caliber. AB de Villiers is another elegant batsman, who makes the opponents chase leather all around the park.

Herschelle Gibbs, Ashwell Prince, Andrew Hall, Loots Bosman and Justin Kemp are the big guns. Their sole responsibility in the team is to demoralize opposition with their rampage in the form of aggressively calculated batting, mercurial fielding and occasional slow bowling.

Mark Boucher keeps the wickets for them. He is along with Aussie Adam Gilchrist is the leading wicketkeeper in world cricket today. His catching and stumping abilities are par excellence and his batting has won South Africans many grand slam series. When Boucher hits it stays hit.

South Africa contains some of the world’s top all-rounders. These all-rounders are led by one and only Jacques Kallis. He is a cricketer with matchless talent and flair. He not only solidifies Protean batting up the order, but also manages to keep the run rate under control with his economical bowling along with providing critical break-throughs. Shaun Pollock is another star, who dazzles with his accurate bowling and shocks with his stunning batting.

The bowling attack is lightning fast. The South African bowling is the amalgamation of pace, aggression, line and length. Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel and Charl Langeveldt are the key bowlers. Their success secret lies also in the fact that they are supported by some stunning and acrobatic fielding from the whole field.