South Africa not playing a 'Mickey Mouse team' in semis, insists skip Bavuma

AUS vs SA ICC World Cup 2023South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma on Wednesday warned they are not up against a Mickey Mouse team in their ICC World Cup 2023 semifinal against Australia amid feverish expectation of reaching their first championship match The Proteas won seven of their nine league matches to finish second in the 10team table to book a finalfour clash in Kolkata on Thursday That run included a 134rout of the Australians at Lucknow four weeks ago Fivetime champions Australia are coming off seven straight wins at the tournament A lot of people believe that this could be the year that we see ourselves in the final Bavuma who remains doubtful to play the semifinal due his hamstring injury told reporters Wed like nothing better than that But we also respect the game of cricket Were not coming up against a Mickey Mouse team Australia have a lot of experience and confidence in knockout games like this so weve got to respect thatAlso ReadA date with destiny at WankhedeThe most shocking World Cup exit for South Africa was their 1999 semifinal loss to Australia after the match in Birmingham ended in a tie and their rivals went through due to a better group finish Australia also easily came out on top in a 2007 semifinal clash between the teams in the Caribbean Bavuma said the mindset of his team remains confident ahead of the knockout contest From a skill point of view from a physical point of view the guys are quite confident said Bavuma Theres a sense of calmness within the team and obviously the normal level of anxiety that you would expect of going into the game tomorrow He added But I think well take a lot of confidence with our performances up until this pointSpringboks inspiration is here to stayBavuma said he will look to play two frontline spinners Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi at Kolkatas Eden Gardens Obviously Keshav and Shamsi We have Aiden Markram as well who also gives us an option there Then I think its just finalising in terms of the three seamers who that may be he said Maharaj a leftarm orthodox bowler has claimed 14 wickets in nine matches while leftarm wristspinner Shamsi has seven off just three games Bavuma also praised wicketkeeperbatsman Quinton de Kock for leading the batting charge with his 591 runs second only to Indias Virat Kohli Quintons been magnificent for us said Bavuma At one point he was the leading World Cup scorer as well Knowing Quinton I dont think hes really paying much attention to all of that I think his focus is on contributing as best as he can for the teamAlso ReadChokers can become champions tooDe Kock 30 will quit oneday international cricket when this tournament is over Bavuma said South Africas cricketers are taking inspiration from the Springboks second straight Rugby World Cup title last month in their quest for global glory in India I think to a large degree we look at them in awe the Springboks and how theyve gone about their backtoback wins within the World Cup said Bavuma Obviously the way they won it this year with the knockout games being quite close and again how that resilience how that doordie attitude came through Thats what weve been speaking about as a team that when the crunch moment comes when the pressure moments come we come together as a team and we find a way to get over the lineWith agency inputs