Proteas Must Not Be Shy To Think Out Of The Box At Champions Trophy

Heres an oldie but a goodie regarding SA cricket: The Proteas have won an International Cricket Council tournament, despite their nightmare history in ICC events over the years.

The very first incarnation of the ICC Champions Trophy which begins this week in Pakistan and the UAE was as the ICC KnockOut Trophy in Bangladesh in 1998.

South Africa had a depleted team, due to injury and resting protocols even at that time, which saw virtually their entire bowling attack missing out: Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and Roger Telemachus, as well as left-handed opener Gary Kirsten.

Only off-spinner Pat Symcox remained from the usual specialist bowling line-up, along with batting all-rounder Jacques Kallis.

But that was no problem for master tactician, coach Bob Woolmer. He came up with the strategy of using No 4 batter Daryll Cullinan as an opener alongside the hard-hitting Mike Rindel.