Melbourne, September 07: All-rounder James Hopes believes that if Australia are to retain the Champions Trophy, they must overcome the South Africans, whom he called the ‘benchmark’ team, in their own den.
Hopes further insisted that the Proteas, who had maintained their numero uno position in the Test and ODI rankings after snaching the top spot from the Australians, are the outstanding practitioners of 50-over cricket.
Australia, who are currently on their tour of England playing seven-match ODI series after the Ashes Test series, will head to South Africa immediately after the series, and Hopes, one of the key figures in the Trophy defence, did not hesitate to praise the Proteas, who he felt will be at the peak while going into the the mega event.
”They are very much the benchmark,” Hopes said. ”You could tell that when they picked an ICC squad and only named 20 players. They know exactly what their team will be.
”I think it’s progressing very well (with Australia’s development). I think the turning point for us was, we saw South Africa as being the benchmark, and they did us over pretty good in two series. We were a bit off the pace, then we went to Dubai to play Pakistan and we fought out some really tough wins against a very good team.
”I think that was our turning point, and we have carried that on over here.
”We went to Dubai a while ago and we won in trying conditions (against Pakistan), and the team prides itself on being able to win in tough conditions- we are committed to getting over the line in this series and begin full of confidence for South Africa,” the right-hander was quoted as saying by ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’.
Meanwhile, after failures at the World Cup and World Twenty20, South Africa captain Graeme Smith said his team will be carrying forward the charge until they win a few major tournaments.
”I think the charge we take is going to be around until we win the tournaments – of that nature,” Smith said.
”I think our mental strength is always an ongoing thing for any team. ”We wouldn’t have won in Australia or England or Pakistan or India or won in India if we weren’t mentally strong. The pressures we faced were no bigger than the pressure in the semi-final of the World Cup, the Twenty20 World Cup.
”So I think the media reporters certainly like to jump on it, especially the Aussie media like to play on it at all times. I think we’ve just got to know if we get into a semi-final again, which we hope we can do .. . we’ve just got to know it’s going to come, and really focus on playing the cricket of the day and not really let it become an issue,” he added.
South Africa won the first Champions Trophy in 1998, and no side has managed to win it twice.
The 30-year-old Hopes further said Australia had taken lessons from the two one-day series against the Proteas – beaten 2-3 in South Africa and 1-4 at home.
—–Agencies