Backlash for the hosts

Woolmer also told Reuters by telephone that he feared Shaun Pollock’s side would not reach the second round. ‘‘My gut feeling is not very good at the moment. I’m hoping they sneak through,’’ he said. ‘‘The team are so tense. You can see it in the body language, their faces and their play. ‘‘The media have built them up, and built them up, and built them up as the first hosts to win the World Cup.’’ South Africa, the pre-tournament second favourites behind champions Australia, have lost two of their first three games against West Indies and New Zealand, courtesy of centuries by Brian Lara and Stephen Fleming.

They already need other results to go their way as well as to win all their remaining games to reach the Super Six stage. The team has been widely criticised in the media, with skipper Pollock and fast bowler Allan Donald the prime targets. ‘‘It doesn’t look like it at the moment but South Africa are hard to beat at home,’’ Woolmer added. ‘‘They have to understand that and get stuck in and not worry about the Super Sixes. ‘‘They have to try and relax and enjoy their cricket.’’

Woolmer said New Zealand and West Indies deserved credit for their wins. ‘‘They have done their homework and come hard at them. At the moment, there has been no response. ‘‘It may sound harsh, but I feel South Africa have not got better — they’ve stood still. It looks as if they are playing the same way as they used to, but with a team which is not as experienced or probably as good as it once was.’’ Earlier South Africa batsman Gary Kirsten had defended Pollock’s captaincy, saying: ‘‘I don’t think you can single out individuals — certainly not the captain — for a lack of performance… It’s all of us to blame.’’

Go and get drunk, players told

South Africa’s struggling World Cup squad should go on a drinking binge in a bid to get their campaign back on track, according to one of the country’s leading newspapers.

The Johannesburg-based Star suggested on Tuesday that Shaun Pollock’s side should ‘‘do what the rest of the country did on Sunday night’’ and ‘‘get hammered on beer and wine and leave the regrets in the bottom of the bottle.’’

South Africa, the pre-tournament second favourites behind Australia, lost two of their first three games and need other results to go their way if they are to sneak through to the second round from Group B.

The Star said Australia had come back from a similarly poor start in 1999 to win the trophy, before repeating its suggested solution for bringing the home side success. ‘‘Beer — it’s the fuel of all champion teams,’’ it said.

Waugh not writing off SA

Deposed Australian one-day skipper Steve Waugh today said he was not writing off South Africa from the World Cup saying the Proteas were still Australia’s main danger.

Test captain Waugh said the South Africans have a chance similar to Australia’s 1999 barnstorming finish to win the Wworld Cup.

After losses to West Indies and New Zealand, South Africa must win every game and hope West Indies beat Sri Lanka just to survive the pool matches.

Australia, just as with South Africa this time, lost two of its first three games in 1999 but still won the World Cup in England.

“I think they are still in with a good chance of doing well,” Waugh said, adding, “I see their start as very similar to ours in 1999, and if they can turn it around and gradually peak towards the end of the tournament then there is no reason why they can’t do well.”

“To write them off now would be pretty foolish because I still think they are Australia’s main danger,” Waugh said.