Champions League Twenty20 2009 - LIVE TV, PHOTOS,NEWS

	Herschelle Gibbs is coming towards the end of his career but remains a dangerous Twenty20 cricketer © Getty Images
Related Links Player/Officials: AB de Villiers | Graeme Smith | Dale Steyn Series/Tournaments: ICC World Twenty20 Teams: South Africa

Show South Africa a World Cup and panic can set in. Their history in the 50-over variety includes ties, collapses and misread Duckworth-Lewis charts, while their stay at the inaugural Twenty20 event, which they hosted in 2007, ended with a batting demise that meant they couldn't even progress on net run rate. So can they set the record straight this time?

Graeme Smith believes there is more confidence and belief in this South Africa side than ever before and their record over the last year and a half supports him. They have risen to the top of the one-day rankings and also secured Test-series successes against England and Australia.

However, the other side to that coin is that it has been a long period of intense action, and how South Africa cope with fatigue will be a key issue. But after this tournament they have a break before the Champions Trophy, so success here would the perfect way to sign off a period that has taken South African cricket to new heights.

South Africa have previously used Twenty20 internationals to blood youngsters, experiment and rest senior players but this squad represents the strongest they could put together. Jacques Kallis, who was omitted in 2007, will have a point to prove and arrives on the back of a consistent IPL.

The experience in the party is highlighted with three survivors from the 1999 World Cup in England - Kallis, Mark Boucher and Herschelle Gibbs - when they had the trophy within their grasp before it slipped away. That trio would dearly love to put the record straight.

Strengths

Their fielding should be out of the top drawer with a cover circle made up of Herschelle Gibbs, JP Duminy and AB de Villiers. In a format where small margins make all the difference, the runs they save can prove crucial. Their middle-order hitting power, with the likes of Mark Boucher and Albie Morkel, means that the batting line-up packs a real punch.

Weaknesses

The pace-bowling support for Dale Steyn could be a little thin on experience with Wayne Parnell and Yusuf Abdulla still raw in international terms and Morne Morkel prone to spraying the ball around. Then there is the pressure factor; they have dealt with it on numerous occasions in the recent times, but will their World Cup nightmares come back to haunt them?

X-Factor

Spin bowling is a key part of Twenty20 and in Johan Botha and Roelof van der Merwe, South Africa have two excellent limited-overs performers. Botha has been told he can't bowl his doosra after being reported for his action, but his experience will be vital to Graeme Smith, while van der Merwe has impressed in the early days of his career.

Key players

AB de Villiers has enjoyed a brilliant time in all versions of the game and his performances at the IPL further lifted his status. But he can also change a match in the field with a stunning run out or catch. Albie Morkel can also alter the course of a game in one over of strong hitting.

T20 form guide

They have played four Twenty20 internationals this year, all against Australia, with honours even, however the last two matches were convincing wins for South Africa.

Squad Graeme Smith (capt), Johan Botha, Yusuf Abdulla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe