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FORMER England captain Mike Atherton remains unconvinced about South Africa's World Cup credentials - and Hansie Cronje's ability to lead the side to cricket's biggest prize.

``They're an extremely consistent side but they lack that bit of inspiration which can take them to the ultimate heights, whether it be leadership or thatthe game,'' said Atherton in an article in the Sunday Telegraph.

therton, still feeling sore at being left out of the England side when he felt he had not been given enough time to recover from a back injury, ran the rule over the competing teams together with current England bowler Angus Fraser.

Fraser described South Africa as ``quite rightly the favourites'' but Atherton had his reservations. ``It's similar to the last World Cup.

Everybody said they were going to win and they cruised through the opening stages and then came up against an inspirational West Indies in the quarterfinals - that kind of thing could happen again.''

Atherton also poured cold water on Fraser's suggestion that Jacques Kallis might be the best allrounder in world cricket.

``What?'', was Atherton's response, ``how many wickets has he got?'' When Fraser said Kallis averaged under 30 with the ball, Atherton said: ``That's because you can't reach half his deliveries.''Despite these comments, Atherton concluded: ``They've got every chance. Just that little doubt in my mind.'' Atherton said of second favourites Australia: ``I don't fancy them. I'm not convinced about their batting. They talk about their young players, talking them up all the time, and then on the big stage they don't produce as much as we've been promised.''

On Pakistan: ``The beauty about Pakistan is that they can be absolutely brilliant or a complete bunch of ragged-arse rangers and it's fascinating to see which of Jekyll or Hyde we'll get at the World Cup. I have a feeling that, as this is a big tournament and they usually do well against England, that they will produce their best.''

Atherton rated India as ``a good bet at 12 to one.''

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