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ICC Champions Trophy
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If recent form is anything to go by, then South Africa will start the tournament as favorites; especially given that the tournament will be played in their backyard.
Strengths:
A very excellent all-round side, with the rightful blend of hard-hitting and technically perfect batsmen, and bowlers who could bowl quick, swing the ball and spin it based on the match situation. All this increases in value under a captain who has been around since 2003 and has been doing a very good job in building the side and turning them into world beaters in three formats of the game especially in the ODIs, as the recent series wins over Australia suggests.
Weaknesses:
No perceptible weaknesses, but South Africa’s biggest problems have been choking when it has mattered. This has been the case during all the World Cups, whether the fifty overs or the twenty overs format. And apart from their Champions Trophy win in 1998, they have yet to win a big tournament like this. This has led many experts to dub them as chokers, and the South Africans will do well to overcome the tag.
Opportunities:
The biggest motivation of them all is to be able to overcome their string of losses in the big tournaments during the knockout stage. South Africa’s cricket has been on the ascendency over the previoyear or so, and they will look to take this opportunity on the world stage to get some silverware in their cabinet.
Threats:
Three strong teams in the same group will be looking to topple the top ranked side in the world from their perch. While the side is much stronger than the others, it has been positions of strengths like these which seem to have sent the South Africans in a tizzy in the past . It's almost like they have a fear of heights. This is another chance to redeem themselves, but a threat for the record to continue in the same vein as well!
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