While hosts England, India and Australia are being considered as the favourites to win the tournament, South Africa would be one of the giant killers who can beat the very best on their day and make it to the knockouts of the tournament.
South Africa have been one of the most consistent sides in the history of the World Cup but they haven't been able to do well in the knockout stages of the tournament owing to their mental fragility. For the record, South Africa have the best win percentage after Australia in the showpiece event. South Africa boast of an impressive World Cup record, reaching the semifinals on four occasions in 1992, 1999, 2007 and 2015.
South Africa have gone into the World Cup with power-packed sides with world class players in Allan Donald, Jaques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Shaun Pollock to name a few...and have often dominated the initial stages of the tournament. However, they have choked when it matters the most and are one of the top ODI teams along with England and New Zealand to still not have won the glittering trophy.
South Africa go into the tournament with a very well balanced side.They have a core group of players in Hashim Amla, Faf Du Plessis, JP Duminy, Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir who have the experience of playing in major ICC tournaments and shall be the flag bearers of their side.
The opening salvo shall be provided by Hashim Amla and Quinton De Cock at the top of the order. While De Cock has been in a rich vein of form, the veteran Amla who has been a prolific run scorer for the Proteas has been struggling for form and would look to get his elegant touch back in the tournament
The middle order has a good blend of experience and youth with skipper Faf Du Plessis leading from the front. Du Plessis, an accomplished strokemaker has company in the form of JP Duminy who shall be pivotal in stepping up the scoring rate towards the end of the innings. The South African batting lineup has some talented young strokemakers in Aiden Markram and Van Den who shall be looking to make a mark at the showpiece event.
Proteas have destructive power hitters in David Miller, Chris Morris and who can play some lusty cameos and win turn around wrecking games in their team's favour. The team have depth in their batting and bowling as they have quality allrounders like JP Duminy, Chris Morris and Andile Phehlukwayo who can chip in with both bat and ball.
The South Africans as usual have one of the strongest pace attacks in the tournament. Old war horse Dale Steyn shall be leading the attack and his experience and will be an asset in the tournament. Steyn shall be partnered by Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, who both have the ability to swing and seam the ball and shall relish the conditions in the UK.The pace trio will be supported by the likes of Andile Phehlukwayo and Chris Morris who can be handy in the seaming conditions on offer in the United Kingdom.
South Africa have a world class spinner in Imran Tahir who can bamboozle the best with his leg spinning craft. Tahir along with fellow spinner Tabraiz Shamsi will have a major role to play in the middle overs,as the ball is likely to grip and turn on some of the surfaces.
It is for the very first time that South Africa are not going into the tournament as title contenders and hence wont have too much of pressure on them. The conditions in England will suit their style of play and they have the requisite arsenal both with bat and ball to decimate their opponents.
The biggest question still remains is whether South Africa can step up their game at the crucial stages and hold their nerves to seize the crucial moments in the games that matter the most.