South African cricket fans will remember Herschelle Gibbs “dropping” Steve Waugh in the final match of the Super Six stage at the 1999 World Cup.
Australia had to win the encounter to go through to the semifinals and were on 48/3 at one stage in search of 271 for the win.
That’s when Waugh strolled to the crease and took the score to 152/3 before hitting a ball straight to Gibbs.
With the Aussie batsman on 56, Gibbs celebrated too quickly and wanted to throw the ball in the air but dropped it.
Waugh, who apparently told Gibbs that he had just “dropped the World Cup” , went on to make 120 runs as Australia bagged the win.
The man tasked to avoid things like that from happening at this year’s World Cup in England is fielding coach Justin Ontong and he believes he has given the squad the tools to avoid such disappointment again.
Ontong explains: “Fielding is really important, there have always been defining moments in the game.
“We try and prepare the guys for those moments and we have to make sure we’re ready for that.
“South Africa have always been up there in the top three teams when comes to fielding.
“And it’s about taking the opportunities when its presented in the field.
“We know the importance of fielding in a World Cup and we’re not taking that for granted.
“Our goal is to be the best fielding team at the tournament.”