Sport - World Cup   

Relax! Woolmer tells SA boys

JOHANNESBURG Feb. 18 . Former South Africa coach Bob Woolmer advised his former charges today not to try so hard if they want to stay alive at the World Cup.

The hosts, regarded as co-favourites with defending champions Australia for the title, have endured two defeats and just one win against Kenya, and are now dangerously close to elimination at the first round stage.

"The team is trying so hard that their cricket is suffering. They need to refocus and relax," Woolmer said.

"Confidence is low at present and the tension is palpably visible in the faces of the side - even Mark Boucher, normally the most confident individual, has become tense." Wicketkeeper Boucher dropped New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming on Sunday when the Kiwi had made 53 - he went on to score an unbeaten 134, which guided his team to a nine-wicket win at the Wanderers.

"Boucher has dropped two relatively straightforward catches during this event and when he did catch Craig McMillan off Allan Donald on Sunday his body language was one of intense relief."

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

World Cup

• Zimbabwe in spotlight for wrong reasons
• Time Gayle and Hinds came good
• Kirsten to his skipper's defence
• Batting and bowling statistics
• Relax! Woolmer tells SA boys
• Sri Lanka calls for stand-by
• Namibia should be a cakewalk for England
• Whatmore warns against complacency
• Sachin and Sehwag should open
• Don't love them or hate them, stay indifferent
• Team man Bichel awaits the call
• Will Ganguly's team get over its blues?
• Bangladesh to recall Akram Khan
• Teams split points
• Tight security for Indians
• Hondo aiming for Tendulkar
• Ganguly may bat at No. 4
• Allan under renewed fire
• "Proteas, Australia's main danger"
• Campaign against 'ambush marketing'
• Plea to cricket fans
• "Fuel of champion teams"
• No security threat
• Eyeing for captaincy
• A dedicated coach
• Sunning on Durban beach
  
  Football
  
• Ancheri masterminds JCT win
  
  Sports : General
  
• A fair and fitting advisory
• Move to nominate RDOs as Member Secretaries flayed
  
  Tennis
  
• Akgul Amanmuradova outplays Sheetal Goutham
  
  

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu