Shaun Pollock opens up to Mid DAY about his legendary family, illustrious career besides India and SA's chances at the World Cup

PORT ELIZABETH: His legendary father, Peter and uncle Graeme, played most of their cricket here at St George's Park, but a three-year-old Shaun moved to Durban and was bred there playing with the likes of Clive Rice, Jonty Rhodes, Malcolm Marshall and Lance Klusener for Natal, under the tutelage of Graham Ford.


Shaun Pollock. Pic/Getty Images

With that sort of a gene pool, rearing and guidance he was meant for greatness. Eventually, he outdid himself. "I never expected my career to unfold so brilliantly. I am grateful to my father, who was everything to me while growing up. Not once was I made to feel like I was from an illustrious family. I had to put in the hard yards just like any other kid," Pollock tells MiD DAY.

However, Pollock wasn't like his dad or uncle -- neither a ruthless opening fast bowler, nor a flamboyant middle-order batsman. He started out as a strike bowler who could move the ball either way at 140 KMPH, but later collected most of his 400-plus Test wickets with his poisonous and almost unprecedented line and length. He displayed that stamina and courage while toiling for hours to take 7-87 in 41 overs against Australia at Adelaide in 1998. "I can never forget that performance. It made me tougher as a bowler, taught me a thing or two about bowling on flat tracks. It also taught me a lot about playing against Australia ufffd it was never an easy task," he says.

Pollock first came into the limelight in 1995 after a series of superb performances in domestic cricket for the Natal Dolphins. He earned his first Test cap in November 1995 against England and immediately made his mark in the fifth Test in Cape Town capturing 7-58 as South Africa secured a 10-wicket victory. "At first, they knew me as the guy with the red head," laughs Pollock. "I was an aggressive bowler when I started out. I thoroughly enjoyed bowling alongside Allan Donald," says the 34-year old.

He was fast tracked into the role of captaincy after Hansie Cronje was handed a life ban in April 2000. "That was a tough time in my career but the players in the squad responded brilliantly. It wasn't long before we were back to winning ways.

Heartbreak
"Sure, the 2003 World Cup proved to be heartbreak for all, but those are the sort of experiences that we must learn from. I have no regrets as a cricketer," says Pollock. He was axed as skipper after the World Cup with the reigns of the side handed to a 22-year old Graeme Smith. "It was a bold step to make him skipper. But he (Smith) has grown into confidence and come through the period in flying colours. He goes into the forthcoming World Cup with a lot of experience. I can't think of anyone else who can lead this team," says Pollock.

Asked to predict South Africa's chances at the World Cup, Pollock says: "We have every chance of doing well. Over the years, we have done really well in World Cups, always qualifying to the knockout stages, except in 2003. There's no reason we can't do well again. Perhaps, we are not going into it with the sort of confidence we did in previous World Cups. However, when you reach the quarter-final stages, it's about who does well on the day. We have a reputation of being chokers, but I'm not worried."

He defended claims that South Africa are without world class all-rounders: "Botha won't bat at No 7 in the World Cup. We are missing Kallis in this series (against India). When World Cup squads are announced, people always have a few debates going. The 11 or 12 players who will play are all in good shape," he says.

Pressure
Pollock reckons India must handle the off-field pressure in order to succeed at the mega event. "India must take confidence from how well they have done in this series (against South Africa), especially without three of their top-order stars. They will have to face the pressure of the home crowds. But they have a really strong unit and probably one of the few sides who have a settled team. If they can handle the expectations of a billion people, they will win the World Cup," says Pollock.

"On the field, they have all the ammunition required to win it. What's important is to handle the off-field pressure. Good thing about them is they are not dependent on one or two players like before," he adds.
Pollock also feels England have an outside chance of winning it. "I see England, especially with Graeme Swann in their squad, doing well. Spin bowling has rarely been their strength, now they have a bunch of good spinners. Also, Strauss has emerged a great captain.

"You can never count Australia out. On paper, India start favourites but you can never tell. World Cup always throws in a few surprises. It's an open tournament," Pollock concludes.