South Africa are not chokers, insists Pollock

CENTURION, South Africa: Former star all-rounder Shaun Pollock said South Africa did not deserve to be branded "chokers" depite being eliminated after the first round of the Champions Trophy which ended on Monday.

The Proteas, who played the least amount of international cricket of the eight teams in the build-up, have not won a major international title since lifting the Champions Trophy 11 years ago. "It's difficult to find reasons why things went wrong," Pollock said. "There are always two teams and sometimes the other team just play better on the night.

"I think South Africa were a bit rusty in their first game (a loss to Sri Lanka) and in their second (a win against New Zealand) they played really well.

"In their third game I think they were just beaten by an England side that played as well as they have at any stage in the tournament."

But Pollock insists there is no need to press alarm bells as long as the Proteas learn from their failures.

"There is no need to panic," he said. "There is still a lot they can take out of this tournament."

AFP

(China Daily 10/07/2009 page11)