The Proteas’ march to the ICC Cricket World Cup begins this weekend with a showdown against Sri Lanka in Lucknow.
It will be the beginning of an odyssey that will see them criss-cross India for another month, hopefully culminating in a top four finish and a shot at the semifinals.
The Proteas will be among the 10 teams playing 48 matches to determine the world’s top ODI side, with every fixture live on SuperSport.
HOW TO WATCH
Apart from a dedicated 24-hour channel on Premium (SS Cricket), selected matches will be broadcast on Grandstand, supplemented by 13-minute and 52-minute highlight packages for every match (available on Catch Up).
All fixtures will feature live build-ups from venues, with a review on all Proteas matches, plus the playoffs. Guests on the traditional wrap show will be Chris Morris, Vernon Philander, Ashwell Prince, Russell Domingo, Khaya Zondo, Herschelle Gibbs, Dane van Niekerk and Sinalo Jafta.
The tournament format is straightforward: a round robin format will ensue – each team will therefore play nine matches – followed by two semifinals and the final.
SuperSport will have an embedded broadcast crew with the Proteas, ensuring daily in-depth behind-the-scenes coverage, which will play out on SuperSport Blitz, magazine shows and various digital platforms.
COMMENTARY
All nine round-robin matches involving SA will enjoy English, Afrikaans, and Xhosa commentary options, which will also be the case with several other high profile fixtures and the playoffs.
The international commentary panel will include many of cricket’s legendary figures, among them Michael Atherton, Ian Smith, Pommie Mbangwa, Ravi Shastri, Ian Bishop, Sanjay Manjrekar and Waqar Younis.
South Africa will be well represented, too, with Graeme Smith, Shaun Pollock. Dale Steyn, Kass Naidoo and Crystal Arnold all on commentary duty in India.
BUILD-UP CONTENT
As an appetiser for the main course, SuperSport will roll out several historical highlights and documentary-style films, including moments from past World Cups, all the past finals since 1983, plus SA’s greatest matches. “Inside the Proteas”, which focuses on the plans and personalities of the Proteas, will also play out as a means to connect with the team.
This will be underpinned by “The Film”, which tells the dramatic story of the recent World Cup qualifying event in Zimbabwe that pitted four test nations and six associate members against one another to gain a ticket to India.
Other films include the two-part preview, which takes a look at the preparations undertaken by various teams with an eye on the prize. Another gem is “Capturing the Cup”, which looks at each ICC Cricket World Cup-winning campaign and the great stories and drama both on and off the field that culminated in victory, as narrated by the winning captain or leading player.
“The Greatest Games”, a six-episode production, will examine some of the greatest games in World Cup history and speak to those involved.
Equally dramatic will be the 10-episodes of “At the Cricket World Cup” that reflects on how each of the teams in attendance performed in previous editions – their great successes, crushing defeats and memories from cricket’s iconic tournament.
MAYIBUYE
Cricket will have its own “Mayibuye” show for the duration of the World Cup.
The isiXhosa show, to be hosted by Mluleki Ntsabo and Six Sotyelelwa, will be broadcast on SuperSport Variety 4 following the post-match wraps on Proteas fixtures, plus both semifinals and the final.
The focus will be primarily on Proteas matches and upcoming CWC fixtures.