IF the Warriors were not aware of their monumental task in Friday’s 1-Day Cup final, a stroll around Newlands would be a timely reminder. For there hangs, in life-like size, the huge hoardings featuring the Cape Cobras.
Each billboard carries a picture of a Cobras star in his franchise kit on the one side, and on the other is the player in the green of the Proteas. There will be nine of them walking out in person on Friday, accompanied by an Englishman, and a youngster who will join the Proteas club before the sun sets on this season.
It is a playing XI which Fantasy League participants could dream up, yet for the Warriors, it remains a harsh reality. The Cobras boast an opening partnership with the experience of Graeme Smith and the youthful excitement of Richard Levi.
They are backed up by the class of Jacques Kallis and JP Duminy, with the innovation of Owais Shah sandwiched in-between. Justin Ontong has been the form player of the series, and the all-round talent of skipper Justin Kemp, wicketkeeper Mark Boucher and Robin Peterson complete a blockbuster batting line-up.
And if anybody believed the Cobras were just batting bullies, the world’s premier fast bowler, Dale Steyn, and wily ally Charl Langeveldt, complemented by the spin of Peterson and Duminy, will quickly put that theory to rest.
However, fortunately for the Eastern Cape visitors, Friday’s showpiece is not played in the realms of the virtual world. It is going to take a disciplined performance from the home side to add a third domestic trophy to their cabinet, following their earlier SuperSport Series and Pro20 success.
There needs to be a clinical execution of skills, coupled with an early move to gain the ascendency on a Warriors side who will no doubt need time to settle in and absorb the pressure of playing at Newlands. Complacency cannot be tolerated, although coach Richard Pybus would have drummed that into his charges all week with various mental analysis techniques.
If they don’t, the Warriors have enough quality and experience to fashion one of the greatest upsets in South African cricket history. Piet Botha’s side have a host of Proteas – Wayne Parnell, Rusty Theron, Ashwell Prince, Johan Botha and Colin Ingram – and a 101-Test veteran in Makhaya Ntini. They may not have the flair of the Cobras, but are a side built upon the basic fundamentals of the game.
The Warriors have an under-rated top six, but along with Ingram and Prince, Jon-Jon Smuts, Arno Jacobs and Justin Kreusch have all produced solid contributions that have taken their side over the line in the past. Parnell, Theron and Ntini also all have the ability to deliver match-winning performances on the day with the ball. Ntini has also for a long time kept his best performances for Newlands, while Botha will be his metronomical self.
Ultimately, there can only be one winner. Steyn put it perfectly recently when he said “I have never been part of a Proteas team that have won trophies”, and while the trophy may not be the World Cup they wanted earlier this year, the taste of success for Smith, Kallis, Duminy, Peterson and Steyn may just erase some of the bitterness.
LIKELY TEAMS
Cape Cobras: Graeme Smith, Richard Levi, Jacques Kallis, Owais Shah, JP Duminy, Justin Ontong, Mark Boucher (wk), Justin Kemp (capt), Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Charl Langeveldt.
Warriors: Jon-Jon Smuts, Arno Jacobs (wk), Colin Ingram (capt), Ashwell Prince, Justin Kreusch, Craig Thyssen, Johan Botha, Simon Harmer, Wayne Parnell, Rusty Theron, Makhaya Ntini.
Umpires: Shaun George, Adrian Holdstock; TV Umpire: Murray Brown. TV: SS2. Start: 3pm.