World Cup not a failure, says South Africa coach Arthur

The South African team returned from the Caribbean late yesterday amid calls for a probe into their performance, which culminated in a seven-wicket thrashing with 18.3 overs to spare by eventual champions Australia.

Arthur and captain Graeme Smith have had their futures questioned by local media, while Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola issued a statement on Thursday about the side's under-par performance.

But a defiant Arthur told reporters that the team had performed creditably and had built a platform for future success.

''We can take huge positives out of the World Cup,'' he said.

''I know they say losing a semi-final is like kissing your sister, but there were some big performances from guys which the public have forgotten about in the aftermath of the semi-final loss.'' Arthur went on to single out the batting of Smith, Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs, and the bowling of Andre Nel, Charl Langeveldt and Andrew Hall as being ''fantastic''.

Arthur, whose contract is now up for review, said he would like to continue as coach for at least the next two years.

''I would certainly like to go on for another two years and I have sat down with the review committee and we've had a preliminary chat about that.'' The coach refuted charges that South Africa had blundered tactically, especially in the semi-final in which they slumped to 27 for five batting first, with their all-out aggressive approach.

''That's how you have to play one-day cricket these days, you have to be very positive. Both Smith and Kallis came down the pitch in previous matches and it came off. It just didn't work on the day in the semi-final.'' Cricket South Africa were represented at the press conference by their commercial and communications manager Steve Elworthy, who cautioned against kneejerk reactions to South Africa's World Cup disappointment.

''We have to be careful of making silly, rash decisions.

There is a lot of raw emotion around at the moment, but it is a time for circumspection and reflection.

''We need a proper debriefing and then it will be the right time to make changes, if there are to be any,'' said Elworthy, who was a member of South Africa's 1999 World Cup team which also famously bowed out to Australia in the semi-finals.

REUTERS BJR RK1448

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