Tuesday, 27th February 2007 at 8:30 pm

Thabo Mbeki, cricket fan

Not quite Madiba in Francois Peinaar’s number six jersey at Ellis Park, perhaps, but still an eye-catching gesture of support for the cricketers as the World Cup beckons. Madiba’s shirts made for a shorter step to a rugby jersey than the Mbeki suit to a one-day cricket shirt, and the president probably won’t be wearing his new fashion accessory terribly often.

But he has it, and wishing the team a very public farewell won’t hurt a team already full of confidence after a great one-day summer. South Africa is possessed of a growing buzz as the Caribbean tournament beckons - and giving the president’s penchant for international travel, perhaps there’s an outside chance that ‘Mbeki 15′ will pop up in the stands in Jamaica if South Africa do make it to the last game of the World Cup. Feverpitcher will be keeping a very close eye on the stands.