As underdog stories go, Greek mythology's Prometheus as a lowly challenger to the omniscience and omnipotence of Zeus is an apt one within the 2008 cricketscape

So here’s the Greek tale with a bit of a Hollywood Rocky III blended in.

South African cricket fans in particular relish this role for the Proteas’, the Prometheans of international cricket, or the bloodied Rocky bouncing back for round number 11, after being whipped in the 10 previous rounds.

'Rocky Balboa, the famous New Jersey boxer, would be proud of the Proteas' fightback'


And in the opposite corner the Australians have enshrined themselves with a Zeus-like status in cricket (by dominating the sparse cricketscape of limited competition for the last 100 years).

The Proteas have had to endure the cold, hard streets and a more robust building process, one characterised by hard fought battles and the realm of the contender.

Rocky Balboa, the famous New Jersey boxer would be proud of the Proteas' fightback, from cricket's equivalent of the a row of KOs, circa 2005 in South African cricket.  Rocky, after being beaten to a pulp, would burn the comeback trail with the ‘eye of the tiger’, with his determination ultimately earning him the title.

In the Proteas camp, cricketers are strapping up their old wounds, the skipping ropes are gaining momentum to the beat of some corny boxing tune and the fans are gathering around their corner again, hope replacing despair after witnessing such a thorough series of defeats, (you guessed it, from the Aussies).

But, while the Proteas have had their pathway littered with vexed putdowns and one-upmanship from opponent after embarrassed opponent on their comeback tail, the Australians have swanned around bathing in the glow of their superiority.

Now, to a crescendo, the Proteas are back! Rocky is sprinting to the top of the stairs, he is ready!

With Round One in December the suspense is killing me. Will Graeme Smith open the bowling against Australia? Will Andre Nel be back alongside Charl Langeveldt?  Will Monde Zondeki prove to be quicker than Dale Steyn? Or will Rocky get whipped again and the Proteas endure another eternity having their livers pecked out by Australian crows until Rocky IV? 

To be or not to be…NUMBER ONE in 2008, that is the question.