Predictable Proteas vs Amazing Aussies

Gradually, however, key men have run into form. Paceman Glenn McGrath has come to terms with the white swinging ball. Mark Waugh stopped looking good and started coming good. Tom Moody, meanwhile, came from nowhere or rather, from the substitutes8217; bench to offer tight medium-paced seam and lower-order batting of the very highest order. For most teams, he would bat around four. For Australia, he comes in at seven or eight.

Australia have won their last five matches. Seven in a row will give them the title. But one key question remains. Is Shane Warneback to his best? His captain has called for an end to the carping, following the leg-spinner8217;s lukewarm campaign to date. Against South Africa, he took two for 33 off 10 overs and played a vital role in checking their advance, but doubts remain. His bowling arm seems to come over lower than it once did, following shoulder surgery. The spin and loop, some batsmen say, are not as mesmerising. Warne says he just needs a bit of luck. If he gets it, Steve Waugh may not need to resort to miracles again.

Route to the semis: Bt Scotland by 6 wkts, lost to Pak by 10 runs, lost to N Zealand by 5 wkts, bt Bangladesh by 7 wkts, bt W Indies by 6 wkts. Super Six: bt India by 77 runs, bt Zimbabwe by 44 runs, bt S Africa by 5 wkts.

SOUTH AFRICA

Hansie Cronje is the most successful one-day captain in the world, at the head of a team which wins three out of every four games. All of which will count for very little if the highly-rated South Africans fail to reach the World Cup final again. In 1992, acontroversial rain rule saw them knocked out of the semis.

In 1996, the wide bat of Brian Lara killed them off in the quarters. Here, a missed catch and Steve Waugh8217;s brilliance have combined to make things hard for them.

Cronje, however, will not panic about taking on Australia again, a few days after going down to them. You don8217;t panic with Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusener 8212; 250 World Cup runs, two dismissals 8212; in your camp. Even in defeat, there were consolations, namely the form of Herschelle Gibbs 8212; with the bat in hand rather than the ball out of it 8212; and Daryll Cullinan at the top of a notoriously brittle top order.

The South Africans8217; mental toughness may prove crucial. They were branded as chokers8217; by the Australians last year and will want to ram that suggestion back down the throat of their greatest rivals. In many ways, these are similar teams, highly professional in all that they do. The well-drilled South Africans, however, sometimes seem to lack just onething the element of surprise and the spark of genius. Thursday would be a good time to find it.

Route to the semi-finals: Bt India by 4 wickets, bt Sri Lanka by 89 runs, bt Kenya by 7 wkts, bt England by 122 runs, lost to Zimbabwe by 48 runs. Super Six: Beat Pakistan by 3 wkts, bt New Zealand by 74 runs, lost to Australia by 5 wkts.