They are the best fielding side in the event, all their bowlers are world class, there is quality and urgency in their batting, they are superbly lead by their captain, Hansie Cronje,they have a competitive and positive attitude to the game and they are extremely well drilled and coached. They are a complete team.

Some of their batsmen may have had a temporary loss of form, but they are now hitting their straps and finding form at a crucial stage of the competition. Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs have struggled for consistency but both have passed 50 on at least one occasion with Gibbs doing it twice. They proved the value of a solid opening partnership and negating the effectiveness of the new ball against New Zealand.

Every South African player has now made a significant or an important contribution to the overall team effort to allow South Africa to win six of the seven games completed and go to the top of the points table, securing a place in the semi final. It is hard to believe they lost to Zimbabwe maybe it was a temporary lapse in concentration or just one of those bad days.More than any other team, the South Africans have shown the flexibility and adaptability necessaryto win a major title.

Bob Woolmer, the South African coach, has sent a clear message to all the players that they are good enough to adapt and do any job situation at any given time. No player should get into comfort zones and think that they just have one specific role to do at a certain stage of the game. Giving the players responsibility and moving them around into different job roles, has made the players think cricket all the time.