Van Vuuren took his famous machismo to a Cricket World Cup in 2003 – telling Pakistan captain Waqar Younis his fellow fast bowlers Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar might lack pace.

It was Shoaib who delivered the fastest ball ever recorded -100.2mph (161.3km/h) against England six days later.

For cricketing minnows, in their first World Cup, he faced a little-known tailender making his one-day debut. In Van Vuuren’s case, the odds were stacked firmly against him.

I came in at number 11 and, at that time, the lowest total in a World Cup was 45 all out.

Just before I walked out, our team manager told me: “Doc, just keep us out of the record books.”

However, the team manager did not mention anything about sledging some of the game’s legends.

During the drinks break, I said to Younis: “Waqar, you’re never going to get me out with these seamers. Bring on the spinners because Shoaib isn’t fast enough.” He lost it, and became really angry.

In minutes, Shoaib was pummelling Van Vuuren to the extent he bowled the fastest ball at the World Cup, clocking 98.5mph (158.5km/h).

Namibia’s last man did not just hold firm against Shoaib’s five balls and Wasim’s 11 – he struck both for four.

His brave batting display – 14 runs from 19 balls, which could not save Namibia but enabled them to reach 84 – ended when he was bowled by spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, not a speed merchant.