Cricket World Cup 2023: South Africa acknowledge 'emotions' of semi-final against Australia
- Published
South Africa beat Australia by 134 runs in the group stage of the World Cup
South Africa v Australia, ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final |
|---|
Venue: Kolkata Date: Thursday, 16 November Time: 08:30 GMT |
Coverage: Live Test Match Special radio and text commentary on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra & BBC Sport website, plus desktop, tablets, mobiles and app. |
Captain Temba Bavuma says South Africa will acknowledge the "emotions" of their World Cup semi-final against Australia in Kolkata on Wednesday.
The Proteas have lost their four previous semi-finals, including a famous defeat by Australia in 1999.
"I don't think you can deny or run away with that," said Bavuma.
"But there's also been solutions or mechanisms that have been given as to how to deal with that anxiety if you feel that it overwhelms yourself."
South Africa's unwanted record in World Cup semis also includes defeat by Australia in 2007, a rain-ruined loss to England in 1992 and a thrilling defeat in 2015, when New Zealand's Grant Elliott hit a six to seal victory in Auckland.
But it is the game at Edgbaston 24 years ago that remains the most heart-breaking.
In one of the greatest one-day internationals ever played, last man Allan Donald dropped his bat to be run out, resulting in a tie that sent Australia to the final by virtue of their higher group-place finish.
Current captain Pat Cummins said that result is part of "Australian cricket folklore".
This time around, South Africa, in second, have finished one place higher than the Australians. Both teams won seven of their nine group games, but the Proteas had the superior net run-rate.
When they met in Lucknow in the early stages of the tournament, South Africa won impressively by 134 runs.
Opener Bavuma, who is battling to overcome a hamstring injury to play at Eden Gardens, said: "There's a sense of calmness within the team and obviously the normal level of anxiety that you would expect going into the game.
"We'll take a lot of confidence with our performances up until this point."
The winners will meet India in the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday after the hosts defeated New Zealand in the first semi-final in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Australia are looking to reach an eighth World Cup final, having won the trophy on a record five occasions.
Seven members of their squad also played the last time they won the 50-over World Cup, on home soil in 2015.
They have since won the 2021 T20 World Cup and were crowned world Test champions earlier this year.
"What helps us is we've got a lot of guys that have been in this situation before," said Cummins. "You can draw on that in the middle of the contest.
"Also, you're not really weighed down by history. You get more excited about the challenge and just get stuck into what needs to be done.
"I do know each World Cup, it does seem to be the story that South Africa haven't quite achieved what they set out to do."
Cummins said he expects the pitch to turn, with Australia set to make a decision between batter Marnus Labuschagne and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis.
Bavuma said his side will likely play frontline spinners Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj, before deciding on their three seamers.