Supporting South Africa

Graeme Smith... A.B.de Villiers... Hashim Amla... Jean-Paul Duminy...

I've been reading about the SOUTH AFRICA cricketers in advance of tomorrow's first Test against ENGLAND at The Oval in London.

This summer's series could determine the world's top-ranked, Test-playing nation. England currently hold the top spot but could be overtaken by this series' visitors -- ranked third behind Australia.

I've supported South African cricket since the fall of APARTHEID.

I hated the team as a youth, as they represented a nation under tyranny and attracted "rebel" tours by waving gobs of cash at cricketers who faced long bans for traveling to South Africa while the country was banned from sports.

Now, cricket provides a rallying point for all South Africans -- as it should.