As Morne Morkel holed out to Jamie How at long-off, a piece of every Protea supporters hearts died. 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, and now 2011 and still no trophy. Despite new players being recruited into the South African XV from the 2007 format, South Africa could still not prevent an quarter-final elimination to the lowly New Zealand.
To me, with the wealth of support and advice being spurred onto the players, it was almost improbably that the Proteas would choke in yet another World Cup. The (now former) skipper Graeme Smith, key to scorching starts for the Green and Gold, looked scratchy and never capitalized on a twenty or thirty while the veteran Jacques Kallis showed his age averaging a mere 32 in the tournament. AB de Villiers showed his worth as being labled as one of the best one-day batsman on the international stage scoring centuries against West Indies and the Netherlands but will sadly be best remembered for running out South Africa from the World Cup in the quarter-final against New Zealand.
To me, with the wealth of support and advice being spurred onto the players, it was almost improbably that the Proteas would choke in yet another World Cup. The (now former) skipper Graeme Smith, key to scorching starts for the Green and Gold, looked scratchy and never capitalized on a twenty or thirty while the veteran Jacques Kallis showed his age averaging a mere 32 in the tournament. AB de Villiers showed his worth as being labled as one of the best one-day batsman on the international stage scoring centuries against West Indies and the Netherlands but will sadly be best remembered for running out South Africa from the World Cup in the quarter-final against New Zealand.
On the bowling front, nothing was to be complained about with every bowler playing their part with perhaps an exception for Johan Botha.
Overall, it was yet another combination of panic and unintelligent cricket when it mattered for the Proteas and with Gary Kirsten – the Indian World Cup winning coach – unlikely to take over the coaching role, SA will have to resort to basics and import youth to the set-up. Players like Rilee Rossouw, Robert Frylinck, Dane Vilas, and others have all proved their worth at domestic level and shouldn’t be kept out for has-beens such as Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith.
Jonathan Amler for DieHard Cricket Fans
No comments :
Post a Comment