Aggression is name of the game, says Arthur by AFP

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Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 25th April 2007

 

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur believes that aggression is the key to success in the changing world of one-day cricket.

 

"It is now a power-based game and it's all about being aggressive and having the confidence to take risks," said Arthur, who has guided South Africa to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy and World Cup in the space of five months.

 

"I think some of the teams of the sub-continent and England are playing a far too conservative sort of game. We have done that (playing aggressive cricket), Australia have done that and in some ways Sri Lanka have done that."

 

Arthur has also played a big role in making South Africa a top-ranked team in one-day internationals early this year since taking over as coach in 2005.

 

"When I came in, Graeme Smith (skipper) and I, looked at the ways to improve our one-day cricket. When you bowl, you look to strike and that was something we identified two years ago in order to be the force we wanted to be," he said.

 

Arthur said players needed to stay clam before a big match in order to put in a better performance in the field.

 

"The attempt is to keep the guys in a very calm state because the standout thing for me is that with calmness comes confidence, and with the confidence comes the patience and that's how we approach this game," he said.

 

South Africa clash with defending champions Australia in the semi-final here on Wednesday in a repeat of their 1999 World Cup match in England where they bowed out of the tournament on inferior net run-rate after the tied match.

 

They have already lost to Australia in a group match in St Kitts last month, but Arthur said his team were well-prepared this time.

 

"We have done a lot of thinking. We picked up some trends during that game and we have obviously discussed those," he said.

 

"But the key word for us is calmness and don't get over anxious. Confidence, calmness and patience are the words we have been using going into this semi-final."

 

Arthur said it would be all about pressure when his team take on Australia for a place in the final.

 

"It's all about absorbing pressure and then applying pressure and the team that does that over a period of time is going to be the team that wins. We hope to come out firing," said the South Africa coach.

 

South Africa have never made it to the final since their maiden Cup appearance in Australia in 1992.

 

Arthur said advancing to the title match would mean a lot to the country.

 

"I think a place in the final would be huge, like for any other country. The following and support from back home is absolutely unbelieveable and it's amazing," he said.

 

"When you get a country rallying behind you, we have got a responsibility and we will try hard not to let the whole population down."

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)