Cricket World Cup: AB de Villiers warns Proteas to beware of 'wounded' Australia
10th October 2023
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Proteas legend AB de Villiers has urged Temba Bavuma's charges to beware of a "wounded" Australia side ahead of their World Cup clash in Lucknow on Thursday.
The Aussies went down by six wickets to hosts India in their tournament opener on Sunday and De Villiers feels they will come out wanting to prove a point.
The Proteas started their campaign with a 102-run victory over Sri Lanka in Delhi, that included an emphatic batting display that saw them smash the highest ever total in a World Cup game.
De Villiers, who captained the Proteas to the World Cup semifinals in 2015, feels Steve Smith's wicket will be key to unlocking the Australia batting line-up.
In his column for the ICC website, De Villiers wrote: "The Aussies will be low on confidence after defeat to India, but a wounded Australia team is very dangerous.
"It will be crucial to pick up some early wickets to keep that pressure on, something we have not done too well recently.
"It might sound obvious, but Steve Smith's wicket will be the most important. He holds everything together for Australia and if we can get him out early, I am confident we can get the job done.
"All the focus has been on the batters, but this is a huge test for the bowling attack if South Africa want to be seen as real contenders, especially without Anrich Nortje - no one knows how to get it done at World Cups like Australia."
The former Proteas skipper has though backed his countrymen to have a successful tournament in India as they are "free of the baggage from previous failures".
South Africa came into the event as not one favourites to lift the title and De Villiers feels the longer they can "fly under the radar" the better it will be ahead of the knockout stages.
"I have played in previous teams that had more superstars in its ranks but struggled to deal with the pressure that came with that," De Villiers wrote.
"For the current generation, it is quite the opposite. There are fewer established figures but lots of players ready to put their stamp on the world stage, free of the baggage from previous failures.
"The longer we can fly under the radar, the better, as those are often the tournaments you win. Suddenly you get to a semi-final, and it is knockout cricket where anything can happen.
"I have a funny feeling this might just be the year - I just hope those fine margins are on our side this time."
