Pollock cannot believe that South Africa messed it up yet again, this time from the dressing room.

The rainbow nation is under a cloud. The day after the Durban Disaster, the mood is more of disillusionment rather than disappointment, summed up by the pithy comment of a flight stewardess distributing the morning papers (dominated, of course, by pictures of a tearful Shaun Pollock): ‘’After 12 years of following cricket I think I should switch to another game.’’

What has made things worse is the realisation that the cup will probably go to Australia, who are as welcome here as nudists at a nunnery.

‘Support India’

It was left to former opener Andrew Hudson to offer some practical advice. ‘’The fans should pick a team now and follow it for the Super Six’’, he said on TV. ‘’And since India seems to be the only team that can beat Australia, the Men in Blue would be a good choice.’’

That said, last night’s defeat has put a serious spoke in South Africa’s bid to promote cricket. Like India, this country is full of billboards and TV commercials which presume that the other 13 countries are here to make up the numbers. One example is the South African Airways ad: ‘’Dear Polly, we got them here, now it’s your job to send them back.’’

Someone now has the thankless task of changing the ad copy.

As the financial implications dawn on them, the organisers are doubtless surviving on aspirins. Added to the exit of the hosts is the entry of minnows Kenya, with few fans in these parts; the prospect of empty stands looms large.

While the immediate impact is not known, a salesman — of Indian origin — at the ICC merchandise store here gave this tip in a conspiratorial whisper: ‘’Don’t buy now, in days to come the prices will fall.’’ Very likely.

The atmosphere at Centurion’s Sandton shopping mall, one of the biggest in the country, last night changed faster than the Durban weather as the South Africans went from firm prospects to maybes to no-hopers.