Cricket World Cup 1st XI: 8) Pollock butchers calculations

Shaun Pollock of South Africa during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003. Photo / Getty Images.

With four weeks to go before the start of the Cricket World Cup, we list the stories that have defined the tournament.

No.8) Shaun Pollock butchers the Duckworth-Lewis calculation - 2003
South Africa v Sri Lanka,
Kingsmead
Durban

Going through what was then Johannesburg International Airport in 2003 during the World Cup, a couple of South African Airways billboards beamed out. One issued instructions to captain Pollock: "Dear Polly. We'll get them here. It's up to you to send them back." Another, featuring an image of Allan Donald, read smugly: "We promise some early departures."

Unfortunately for local fans the hosts joined the early exiters courtesy of a Duckworth-Lewis chart misinterpretation.

Sri Lanka scored 268; South Africa were 229 for six in 45 overs when rain intervened. The scores were tied via the D-L Method and, despite dissipating rain and a willing crowd, the umpires had no option but to abandon. South Africa missed qualifying for the Super Sixes by one run. To underline the misery, Mark Boucher hit a six on the penultimate ball and defended the last in the belief he'd ensured victory.

Pollock reflected: "You can look at all the 'ifs' and 'buts', but at the end of the day it doesn't really help much."

He lost the captaincy which eventually reaped benefits in that it led to Graeme Smith's appointment for one of the country's most successful eras, but the World Cup continues to elude them.

Reinforcing South Africa's disappointment was the fact it was their third awkward exit in five World Cups. They suffered the pain of having 22 runs required off 13 balls reduced to 21 off one ball pre-D-L Method in the 1992 semi-final against England and the Allan Donald-Lance Klusener run out mix-up to produce a tie against Australia in 1999.

South Africa could have eased the 2003 burden with a win earlier in the competition against New Zealand, were it not for Stephen Fleming's finest ODI innings of 134 not out off 132 balls in Johannesburg.

Fleming stocked his innings with on-drives and cuts to ensure victory by nine wickets via the D-L Method at the Wanderers; a vital result given their next match was forfeited in Kenya due to security concerns.

The New Zealand captain dispatched Donald, Pollock and Makhaya Ntini to reach an adjusted target of 226 with 13 balls of the 39 overs to spare. It was New Zealand's first ODI win away against South Africa in nine attempts.