Proteas are better than 98' champions - Symcox
The last time the Proteas tasted major success in an ICC tournament was in 1998. Pat Symcox was part of that ICC Champions Trophy-winning team under the late Hansie Cronje. He believes the current squad are better than the "Class of 98'.
Whenever the Proteas head into a major ICC competition, they do so with a monkey on their backs.
Again they start their Champions Trophy campaign with huge expectations and as the top-ranked ODI team, once again raising expectations that that the big one is coming soon.
There appears to be no reason why the South Africans can't go in there with confidence knowing they are very capable of playing good cricket and better still, win it.
History seems to conspire against the national team every time they are involved in major global tournaments.
Aside from winning the inaugural ICC Champions Trophy back in 1998 under then skipper Hansie Cronje, the Proteas have always come unstuck on the bigger stage.
Despite encouraging form in the build-up and group phase, they haven’t been able to sustain that form in knockout matches.
But former Proteas allrounder Pat Symcox, who was part of that championship-winning team in Bangladesh and opened the bowling in the final against the West Indies, believes the current crop are even better than the ‘Class of 98'.
Despite their stumbles against England in the recently completed ODI series, Symcox says the Proteas are the 'complete package' in terms of balance, depth and ability. But again their mental capacity will be tested.
Captain AB de Villiers, however, will hear nothing of it, but fact is, despite being in reasonably decent form heading into the event with a good three-match workout against hosts England, the Proteas still have to silence their critics and cast off that 'chokers' tag.
Symcox feels aside from the survivors of the bitter disappointment at the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australasia, the current squad do not have the 'extra baggage' and aren't carrying any psychological scars.
But in a tournament as wide open as this and with no team genuinely dominating ODI cricket at present, it's anyone's guess who might lift the trophy at the Oval on June 1.
South Africa are drawn in Group B with the three sub-continental sides, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
While the conditions may be alien to them and they aren't the best of travellers, all three sides in the Proteas' group seem to somehow find that x-factor on the bigger occasions.
Pakistan and India are always potential dangers and the Sri Lankans are considered by many to be dark horses.
Pakistan are breathing hot and cold and their unpredictability makes them a side to fear, but one never really knows which Pakistan side will arrive on any given day.
Sri Lanka are a team in transition following the spate of retirements by their superstars with a new pool of talent coming through, but always seem to punch well above their weight in big tournaments.
But never underestimate their attacking ability, fearless approach to the game and ability to somehow get under their opponents' skin.
As defending champions and Asian regional giants, India are among the favourites, but their early form might give some kind of indication as to what we may expect from them.
The Proteas, all being well, have what most fancy should be a group decider on June 11th against the Indians at the Oval.
Should everything go to plan, it's Australia, New Zealand and England who are potential opponents in the knockout phase.
Group A - England, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Australia.
Group B -- Sri Lanka, South Africa, India, Pakistan.
Fixtures (All times SA time):
Thurs 1 June
England vs Banladesh (The Oval) 11h30
Fri 2 June
New Zealand vs Australia (Edgbaston) 11h30
Sat 3 June
SA vs Sri Lanka (The Oval) 11h30
Sun 4 June
India vs Pakistan (Edgbaston) 11h30
Mon 5 June
Australia vs Bangladesh (The Oval) 14h30
Tue 6 June
England vs New Zealand (Cardiff) 11h30
Wed 7 June
SA vs Pakistan (Edgbaston) 14h30
Thurs 8 June
India vs Sri Lanka (The Oval) 11h30
Fri 9 June
New Zealand vs Bangladesh (Cardiff) 11h30
Sat 10 June
England vs Australia 11h30
Sun 11 June
India vs SA (The Oval) 11h30
Mon 12 June
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan (Cardiff) 11h30
Wed 14 June
A1 vs B2 - Semi-Final 1 (Cardiff) 11h30
Thur 15 June
A2 vs B1 - Semi-Final 2 (Edgbaston) 11h30
Sun 18 June
FINAL
Winner 1 vs Winner 2
Proteas Squad: AB de Villiers (capt), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, David Miller, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Keshav Maharaj, Dwaine Pretorius, Farhaan Behardien, Morne Morkel.