'2008 best year for South African cricket'

Johannesburg, July 4 : South African cricket fans say 2008 was the most successful year for the country's cricket team, according to an internet survey.

The survey conducted by Cricket South Africa (CSA) found that 96 percent of the fans who took part in the exercise believe 2008 was the most successful year for the South African cricket.

The survey drew nearly 550 responses, Pakistan's Online news agency said.

CSA CEO Gerald Majola said the online fan survey demonstrated the kind of support cricket enjoyed among the people in South Africa.

'This support is graphically illustrated in the most positive response to the online fan survey conducted on CSA's website,' he said.

'We will study the results to ensure that we keep in touch with the fans. Their support was a critical factor in taking the Proteas to the world's top ODI spot and second in the Test rankings, and achieving the best results in South African cricket history over the 2008-09 season,' he said.

From May last year to April 2009, the Proteas achieved unparalleled success in the history of South African cricket, including the Test series triumph in England and Australia, Majola said.

The final report on the fan survey will be released in the next few weeks, he added.