Sorry, I should have said that man-for-man South Africa have better players but Australia are a better team.

Smith ------------Hayden
De Villiers---------Gilchrist
Kallis-------------Ponting
Gibbs--------------Clarke
Prince------------Symonds
Kemp-------------Hussey
Boucher----------Watson
Pollock------------Hogg
Hall---------------Bracken
Langeveldt---------Tait
Nel----------------Mcgrath


I honestly don't see how SA are better?

Nel's body language has generally been really good in most occasions. But sometimes it astonishes me whether he over does his aggressive celebrations. Perhaps he could give a big laugh when he gets a tail-ender out instead of his unique aggressive style of celebrating. I think he is one of those players who has the potential to get under the skin of the opposition players. But there is only a thin line between being such a character and a person who provides amusement to the opposition players! That's why he needs to be careful I guess.

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God must love stupid people. He made so many.

It is not meant to be an exact positional comparison down the card. For example, I rate Pollock as a more effective ODI bowler than McGrath, Gibbs more likely to play a matchwinning innings than Clarke, Ntini in form a better bowler than Tait and Hall a more useful bowling all-rounder than Watson. It has its swings and roundabouts, but if most players are playing true to form, then I feel that South Africa do have the edge.

But looking at current form, McGrath has been light years ahead of Pollock, Clarke has produced more match-winners than Gibbs, and Ntini has been out of form compared to Tait who has caused some serious wobbles. History won't mean much come semi-final day, its all about who is ready to turn up on the day.

Experience wise though South Africa do trump the Aussies, which may yet be a telling factor.

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- VVVRulz..

I would not say that South Africa have better players if anything it is more that other way around. There is no weakness in Australias line up, the weakest part is probably Tait and he has been dangerous and consistently taking wickets. Australia are more likely to steam role South Africas middle order with Gibbs (36.19), Prince (36.35), Kemp (30.29), Boucher (28.23) compared to Clarke (44.61) Symonds (39.37) Hussey (59.63) & Watson (33.32).

Should be a good match hopefully it will end up like last time
Aus 6/377 def SA 10/294 - Hayden 101 off 68 balls

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

I still think that the biggest difference between the two team is their mindset. Australia play like champions and on the few occasions that they do lose, it looks very much like a one off hiccup - a temporary glitch before business as usual is resumed. South Africa have this "also ran" air about them and tend to surprise most people - including themselves - when they achieve a major victory. IMO, that need not be the case because they are good enough to win and probably will win if only they can overcome the choker demon.

Plenty of examples even in this World Cup. In the group match against Australia, they were chasing the big target pretty well to start with; then Smith had to go with cramps and it all fell apart. They were winning easily against Sri Lanka until Malinga exposed that domino tendency that almost cost South Africa the game. They folded up against Bangladesh's spinners without even trying hard enough to make a game of it. And yet, when under pressure to win or go out against England, they demolished the opponents with ball and bat. Yes, it all depends on which South Africa turns up on the day.

But you can say that about any team. IMO, if both the best South Africa and the best Australia turn up, the Australians will be victorious because they have a stronger team in which everybody is on form.

Australia .. no one can beat them. They are like a juggernaut.

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All right. If South Africa somehow do go on to win the World Cup, I wonder if Graeme Smith will invite Herschelle Gibbs to lift the trophy with him after the latter 'dropped' it 8 years ago?