"Favourites tag means nothing yet"
South Africa coach Mickey Arthur says they are not getting swept away by the hype of being termed ICC World T20 favourites.
Though, he accepts his side must be doing something right to earn the tag.
A seven-wicket mauling of hosts England with 10 balls to spare at Trent Bridge on Thursday underlined what a well-drilled unit South Africa are.
The West Indies are next up at The Oval on Saturday, before finishing off their Super Eights schedule against fellow 20-over heavyweights India.
Arthur, though, intends to keep everything in perspective.
"The mood is fantastic and it is looking good. However, we are realistic enough to know that it is about taking it one game at a time," Arthur said.
"We are not getting too far ahead of ourselves. We know we have to play to the best of our ability for the next four games if we are to have any hope of winning this trophy.
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"The favourites tag does sit quite nicely because it shows what you have been doing is good and how we have been playing is right, but ultimately it counts for nothing.
"I honestly do not think there is a favourite. Things happen so quickly and it takes just one individual moment of brilliance to change a game.
"Some teams could be the form sides going into the games, but that counts for nothing on the day.
"You have still got to go and play to the standards you have set yourselves day in and day out - that is something we have prided ourselves on doing for a while now."
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Arthur insisted: "Any team is still a threat and you write off anyone at your own peril.
"We know complacency is something which has tripped sides up, so we certainly won't be doing that and know there will be a lot of other teams plotting our downfall.
"That will give us the motivation to try to stay one step ahead.
"We are just controlling what we can, which is the brand of cricket we want to play.
"We can't do any more than that, and hopefully that will stand us in good stead going down the line."
Much of the hard work, though, has already been done.
The Proteas possess genuine speed in teenager Wayne Parnell, who grabbed three for 14 against sorry England, while man-of-the-match all-rounder Jacques Kallis finished unbeaten on 57 from 49 balls.
"We have been planning for this for a year now, it has not just happened," Arthur observed.
"It has been a strategy of ours when we looked at what was happening with the domestic Twenty20 in England knowing full well we would be over here playing this time. We kept an eye on it all.
"We knew spinners were going to be key, we went that route against Australia, believing that in Twenty20 cricket pace off the ball is vital, so we have moulded an attack which gives us some variation."
South Africa opted not to train at The Oval on Friday, having travelled down from Nottingham.
Arthur said: "We have already banked a lot of our preparation work, which is now standing us in good stead and gives us an opportunity for the players to recover."
Approaching milestones
- Graeme Smith (446) requires 54 runs to complete his 54 runs in Twenty20 Internationals.
- Chris Gayle (371) needs 29 runs to complete his 400 runs in Twenty20 Internationals.
Head to Head
- South Africa have won two out of three contested against West Indies in Twenty20 Internationals.
- South Africa have won 14 and lost 7 out of 21 played in Twenty20 Internationals.
- West Indies have won six and lost six out of 14 played (2 NR).
With crucial players like Chris Gayle, Virender Sehwag, Daniel Vettori and Kevin Pietersen nursing injuries, is the slam-bang version of cricket starting to take its toll on the players? You know where to write in with your thoughts. Write in to us at: fanspeak@espnstar.co.in
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