Can Proteas pull off a major upset?

In the movie Major League, the big bad is the owner of the Cleveland Indians Rachel Phelps.

What she wants to do is make her team so bad that they can leave for the warmer climate of Miami, where a new stadium awaits.

To do this she puts together a team of has-beens and never-will-bes but in true Hollywood style the underdogs surprise the baseball world by winning the pennant with all of our heroes stepping up to make a difference throughout the season and in the vital final game.

In reality, underdogs get hammered by their more talented opponents but every once in a while, they shock the world.

The Proteas start their Test series against New Zealand at midnight on Sunday as underdogs in the truest sense of the word.

South Africa's best players are at home playing some SA20 hit and giggle while a bunch of unknowns take to the field in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

To take down the Black Caps, Test head coach Shukri Conrad is going to have to channel his inner Lou Brown to motivate his troops, while Neil Brand will have to match Jake Taylor's leadership, Zubayr Hamza must find out what makes Willie Mays Hayes tick and Duanne Olivier simply has to release the 'Wild Thing' that is Ricky Vaughn.

Conrad should have the easiest job, South Africans are at their best when their backs are against the wall, that's when the fight comes out.

All Conrad has to do is remind this squad that they have been written off by all and sundry and also been accused of contributing to the death of Test cricket by former Australian captain Steve Waugh.

Shutting up an Aussie always gets the Green and Gold blood pumping ...

Brand won't have to go extremes either, he's a natural leader and won't have to resort to Hollywood theatrics to get the best out of his team.

He simply needs to lead from the front with the bat and keep his mind on the game plan, the youngsters will follow suit.

Stylish Hamza has had a rough few years recently but the right-handed batter, who was born five days after the Rugby World Cup final in 1995, appears to be back to his best.

He has played six Tests so far (he was the 100th player to make his debut for South Africa since readmission) with one half century to his name but it's recent form for the Lions that makes him they key man in the rookie batting line-up.

He also hit three figures against a strong West Indies 'A' side for SA 'A' in December.

His cool head and ability to bat for long periods will stand him in good stead on the expected green wickets in Mount Maunganui and Hamilton (think Kingsmead back in the day ...)

Those "Mambas" will help wily veteran Dane Paterson with his movement but it's the former bulldozer Olivier who needs to step up.

The man who blasted his way through Pakistan in his debut series before heading to England (which I think is like Cleveland) on a Kolpak deal has not been the same bowler since his return.

South Africa need him at his snarling best, running in hard and trying to knock people over, figuratively and literally.

He is the main man for this attack and who the young speedsters will look to, to set the tone.

Everyone got a run to get used to the conditions this week against the New Zealand XI and look to be raring to go ...

Maybe this group of underdogs can pen their own Hollywood ending by taking down the Black Caps on their home soil ...

Squad

Neil Brand (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), David Bedingham (Western Province), Ruan de Swardt (North West Dragons), Clyde Fortuin (Gbets Rocks), Zubayr Hamza (DP World Lions), Tshepo Moreki (DP World Lions), Mihlali Mpongwana (Western Province), Duanne Olivier (DP World Lions), Dane Paterson (Western Province), Keegan Petersen (Gbets Rocks), Dane Piedt (ITEC Knights), Raynard van Tonder (North West Dragons), Shaun von Berg (Gbets Rocks) and Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).