from Cape Argus September 11, 2002 (thanks Jenny)
South African cricket captain, Shaun Pollock, does not want complacency to creep
into the team's game when they meet the West Indies in their opening match of the ICC
Champions Trophy at the Singhalese Sports Club here on Friday.
Hence their warm-up game against New Zealand on Wednesday - a 50-over-a-side bash - will
give Pollock the opportunity of assessing just how well his squad is prepared.
The South Africans have recently had the better of the West Indies, beating them in the
one-day series at home and in the Caribbean.
"We cannot underestimate their ability and will not allow any form of complacency to
creep into our game for what is considered the most important match in our section.
"It's a "must win" game for both of us to advance to the next round. We are
here to do well in a tournament we won in Bangladesh in 1999. And we want to regain that
title with consistent performances," said Pollock.
Kenya, who are the other team in Pool 3, are not a team who could pose a threat to either
the South Africans or the West Indies. Hence the winner of Friday's game will be assured
of a place in the next round which is a knockout stage of the tournament.
The West Indies seem to be regaining their confidence after some encouraging performances
in the one-day series against India and New Zealand in the Caribbean.
But they are still a long way off where they once were 10 years ago when they swept aside
every opposition in both the test and one-day international arenas.
The South Africans, who were one of the hot favourites to win the 1996 World Cup in
Pakistan, still remember their shock defeat by the West Indies in Karachi and will want to
keep tight rein on the likes of Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Carl Hooper - three
of their most experienced batsmen.
Pollock was a member of the South African team when the South Africans were beaten by the
West Indies in that tournament. It was a Brian Lara century that put paid to their
chances.
"We've come a long, long way since that loss in Karachi," Pollock said. "We
have learned a lot from that defeat and over the years we have become better players on
sub-continent conditions.
"Our solid preparation at home and here plus our performances in the Morocco Cup will
help us achieve our goals."
The South Africans have had the longest break between seasons since their return to
international cricket in 1991.
After a four-month winter break they went straight into the Morocco Cup and lost to Sri
Lanka in the final.
Pollock said: "It's not an excuse but there was very little time to adapt to the
conditions in Morocco. However we've been here for some time now and I believe we've
adapted well and our performances should be much better."
South Africa and New Zealand will give all their players an opportunity of having a
workout in the middle in Wednesday's warm-up match