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Potchefstroom: AB de Villiers believes the ICC Champions Trophy presents South Africa with an "ideal opportunity" to prove they are the best in the world. South Africa are currently No.1 in the ICC ODI rankings but their record in ICC tournaments has been below expectations, having only emerged triumphant in the inaugural Champions Trophy in 1998.
South Africa reached the semi-finals of the competition each time except in 2004, appeared three times in the final four of the World Cup, qualified for the semis of the ICC World Twenty20 this year and were knocked out in the Super Six round of the same tournament at home in 2007. But de Villiers was confident his team would go the extra mile this time around.
"We came short a few times, but there are many players in the team who are eager to improve," he told Beeld. "We believe we are the best team in the world and now is a good chance to prove that. It's the ideal opportunity."
South Africa have hosted two ICC tournaments at home and have disappointed each time, but are training rigorously for the Champions Trophy which commences on September 22. They are currently in Potchefstroom, attending a training camp, and de Villiers admitted it's the hardest they've been made to work.
South Africa have played ten ODIs this year, all against Australia, winning seven and losing three. They've won both the ODI series against Oz, home and away, but will be playing their first ODI after four months.
"We have not played much cricket in recent times, but have a few training games behind us," he said. "I believe we are all professional enough to gear ourselves mentally for the tournament."
One of the practice games de Villiers was referring to took place in Potchefstroom on September 3, with Johan Botha's XI beating Jacques Kallis' XI. JP Duminy was the star, making 68 in 78 balls with four boundaries. The match was a high-scoring encounter with both teams managing over 270.
