from BBC online July 13 2002 (thanks Jenny)
South African skipper Shaun Pollock is confident that he can become the first man to lead the host
nation to victory in the Cricket World Cup. The tournament, featuring 14 teams, takes place in the
Republic in February and March next year and Pollock believes he has a good enough squad to win
despite their 6-1 defeat by Australia in a home one-day series earlier this year.
Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live's Jamie Theakston Cricket Show, he said: "No home team has
managed to lift the trophy, so it's a record that needs to be broken. Hopefully, we can be the ones
that do it.
"I'm very confident. We've got a very good side and some very talented cricketers. Some of them
are the best in the world.
"If we can play well throughout the tournament and not let the pressure of being home nation get
to us, I don't see any reason why we can't win."
South Africa first appeared in the World Cup in 1992 following their re-admission to international
cricket.
They reached the semi-finals in Australia, only to lose to England in controversial fashion when a
rain interruption led to their target of 22 off 13 balls being changed to 22 off one ball.
Hansie Cronje's side reached the last four in England three years ago, but were beaten by eventual
winners Australia in arguably the greatest World Cup match ever seen.
Set 214 to win, South Africa needed a single to win but Allan Donald was run out off the fourth
delivery of the final over and Australia went through because they had finished higher in the table in the Super Six
phase of the competition.
Pollock hopes that home support to lift his team's level of performance but expects one or two
shock results, as there were at the recent football World Cup in Japan and Korea.
"Teams are getting a lot better at the game and the sides that used to be regarded as minnows can
definitely spring some shocks."