For India............for South Africa!!!!!!!!!

What I am going to talk about in this article might seem ridiculous to some people,weird to others and downright irrelevant to some.But I know ,for sure,that it is neither irrelevant nor ridiculous.You see,South Africa occupies a special place in my heart.Yeah,I am an Indian and supremely proud of being one.But South Africa has become almost a second nation for me.I am as comfortable considering myself a South African as I am considering myself an Indian(Some might find what I am saying just ludicrous!!!!!.....but the truth ain't that!!!!!!!!!)

This love for South Africa began in 1996,when I was in fourth grade.I got interest in the wonderful game of cricket during the 96 World Cup.I,like any other Indian,wanted India to win.India played really well to reach the semi-final,where they lost to a much better Sri Lanka.About a month later,India ,Pakistan and RSA took part in a triangular ODI tournament in Sharjah known as the 'Pepsi Cup'.RSA were expected to just fill the numbers in that tournament,by many 'cricket experts'!!!!!!!!!now beat that!!!!!!!!However,RSA proved to be a formidable force by winning their four group matches,decimating India and Pakistan twice.India scraped through to the final on the back of a solitary convincing win over Pakistan(helped by a superior Net run rate).RSA did themselves no harm by 'knocking the stuffing'(hmmn.............must admit.....as much as I hate Australian cricket.....I love using 'Aussie cricket phrases') out of India in the final and were crowned winners.It was at that moment that something 'inside me'(my 'inner voice'..ala Sonia Gandhi.........how touched I was...I realised someone else also had an inner voice.....lol) 'connected' me with South Africa.Watching those RSA cricketers on the field and fans in the stadium made me feel as if I am one of them.From then on,my 'association' with RSA began and it has lasted for 11 years.It will last till the last breath of my life.I have wonderful memories of RSA cricket etched in my memory .Wessels Johannes Cronje's inspirational captaincy,the 'golden team' of the 90's which came 'oh-so-close' to winning the 99 WC,RSA defeating India in India in a two-test series in FEB 2000 becoming the first foreign team to beat India in their home territory since 87,RSA subduing Pakistan in Pakistan 1-0 in a three-test series in 97 and also in the quadrangular ODI tournament that followed,the MINI WORLD CUP victory in 98,defeating NZL in NZL in a three test and five match ODI series in Mar 99,outclassing England in a mammoth five-test series and a triangular ODI tournament in late99-early 2000.The list is endless.But of course,there was a bomb waiting to explode .RSA cricket went through one of its worst phases in 2000 when the match-fixing scandal broke out.Like most cricket lovers then,I couldn't believe my ears on hearing Cronje being associated with such a heinous crime. When he did however admit his involvement in matchfixing,I was shellshocked.It was like the fall of the Berlin Wall,an admission of that magnitude.Some of my dearest friends then had said that my support for RSA would end now that Hansie wasn't going to be involved in cricket any more.But to my surprise and even theirs,my loyalty towards RSA cricket grew leaps and bounds.I become even more passionate and dedicated in my support for RSA cricket.When Hansie was given a life ban,I must admit I felt quite dismayed because I didn't believe he deserved such an atrociously harsh punishment because after all,he had lead RSA to so many test and ODI wins.That life ban included a ban on coaching,setting up coaching clinics,commentating.But I knew life and also RSA cricket had to move on.

Shaun Pollock had the unenviable task of uniting and stabilising the shaken foundations of RSA cricket and also of the RSA fans.Surprisingly,he took to captaincy like a fish to water.Test and ODI series wins were notched up under Polly's captaincy with alarming regularity.Then came the real test......AUSTRALIA.In Dec 2001,RSA toured Australia for a three test series followed by a triangular ODI series involving NZL.RSA were crushed deservedly.They played lacklustre cricket and were 'straightened out' by the 'sledging' and 'abuse' loving Aussies.RSA ,however,more than made up for that loss by playing well for most part of the triangular ODI series that followed.They reached the finals and defeated NZL 2-0.Then it was Australia's turn to experience the sights and sounds of RSA on a tour of the Republic immediately after the end of that Triangular Series.RSA were hammered inside three days in the first test at Johannesburg and fought hard in the second ,before going on to lose the test and with it the series.RSA did well to win the third test.In the seven-match ODI series that followed,RSA were trounced 1-6 by the rampaging Aussies.I really felt a huge sense of loss at that moment in time.However,things began to look much more brighter for RSA towards the end of 2002.They entered the 03 WC as one of the hot favourites,only to be shockingly eliminated in the first round in tragic circumstances.They again produced lacklustre performances,especially with the ball,in front of their adoring home fans.Their elimination could not hav e come at a worse time for me,for my S.S.C. examination was supposed to begin on Mar 5 and RSA were eliminated on Mar 3.Jeez...........I was just crestfallen.Mom had other worries in mind,whether RSA's ouster would impact my S.S.C. performance.Thankfully ,it did not.Graeme Smith ,a 21 year old 'novice' was appointed as RSA captain.A bold decision,it seemed!!!!!!!!!!

His first match saw RSA being routed by India in Dhaka.But with time,he learnt the tricks of the trade and matured as a captain.The English tour from June-Sep 2003 was a revelation in so much as that it exposed Smith's and the 'new' RSA cricket team's weaknesses but also revealed Graeme's mental toughness and his ability to 'gutz it out'.His two consecutive double hundreds were fantastic and a delight to watch.RSA performed admirably in that test serieswhich was drawn 2-2.In Oct 2003,Smith led RSA to a dramatic comeback 3-2 win over Pakistan in Pakistan in an ODI series.Wins over WI in a 4 test series and 5 match ODI series followed.Everything seemed rosy for RSA at that point in time.But there were serious flaws lurking.Those flaws were thoroughly exposed in NZL in Feb 04 when RSA were pummeled into submission by the smart Kiwis in a 6 match ODI series.The ensuing 3 test series also produced patchy performances from RSA,although the final result was a drawn series,1-1.The period from July 2004 to Jan 2005 was one of the most wretched phases in RSA cricket post readmission.The SAF's lost a 2 test series to SRL in SRL in Aug 04 followed by a 0-5 'brownwash' at the hands of the Lankans in a 5 match ODI series.RSA cricket was reduced to as low as an ebb.The mini WC in Sep 04 also resulted in humiliation as RSA were kicked out in the first round.It was time for action now.Eric Simmons,the coach was sacked.Certain hard questions were posed to RSA cricketers.They were told to either 'perform or perish'.Mark Boucher was dropped from the RSA party to tour India for a two test series in Nov 2004.RSA lost the series 0-1.The next two months produced even more dissapointment as RSA played some really inconsistent cricket losing a five test series to England on home soil 1-2.It was a humiliation.The cricketers' commitment to cricket was questioned.It seemed to many that some players in the side were taking their place for granted.In the meanwhile,new talents in the form of Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers emerged on the scene performing exceedingly well.

However, in a sudden turn of events,the 7 match ODI series against England in Feb 05 resulted in achange of fortune for the SAF's.They played some 'attacking cricket',not what they are known for.The series was won 4-1.The series saw some fantastic,belligerent hitting by Justin Kemp,inspiring batting by Smith,good all round bowling and fielding display by the SAF's.There was an element of spice as well since Kevin Pietersen(RSA born) was a member of the English side and he scored hundreds in that series,in vain though.The next 2 years were absolutely fantastic for RSA cricket.RSA defeated Zimbabwe in a 2 test and 3 match ODI series 2-0 and 3-0 expectedly.They then defeated WI in a 4 test and 5 match ODI series 2-0 and 5-0.Charl Langeveldt took a marvellous 'pressure situation' hatrick in the third match of the ODI series that clinched a series win for RSA.Everyone contributed.It was a good all round performance,cliched that may sound though.In the coming months ,RSA thrashed NZL 4-0 in a 5 match ODI series,drew level against India in India in a 5 match ODI series 2-2.Then,RSA, in December 2005,left for a two month tour of Australia which involved three tests and a tri-nation ODI tournament consisting of the Lankans.RSA lost the test series 0-2,but the scoreline doesn't reflect the true picture.The series was marred by woeful umpiring decisions most of which went against RSA,dropped catches which cost RSA badly;injuries to Kallis,Ntini,Langeveldt and also racial abuse directed at RSA cricketers by Australian fans and expat Safricans probably.All these factors contributed to a South African loss in both the test series and ODI tournament.In March 2006,however,RSA defeated Australia in a 5 match ODI series 3-2 ,culminating in a famous RSA win over the Ozzies in which they chased down 434 scored by Australia,with one ball to spare.What a match that was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!My blood pressure would have shot up several notches during the course of that match.When RSA won,I screamed and yelled and screached as if there is no tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!So much so that my neighbours knocked the door to find out what had happened to me !!!!They were worried...lol.That match kind of confirmed once again that my support for RSA isn't going to die easily.In April 06,the SAF's defeated NZL in a 3 three test series 2-0.It was played in April-May,when winter had set in,in swinging and spicy conditions.In July 2006,RSA toured SRL without the services of their captain and Kallis.What a body blow!!!!!!!!!!They lost the test series 0-1.But the second test of that series should have been won by RSA.They lost by a wicket,not able to 'grind the noses' of the opposition to dust when they had them on the mat.The tri-nation ODI tournament that was to follow was cancelled due to 'security fears' following a bomb blast close to the hotel where the SAF's were staying.The next six months saw RSA defeating Zim in a three match ODI series 3-0,reaching the semifinal of the Mini World Cup in India,thrashing India 4-0 in a 5 match ODI series,defeating India 2-1 in a competitive test series.Then Pakistan came.RSA edged out Pak in a tight three test series 2-1 before soundly thrashing them 3-1 in a 5 match ODI series.That..........and Aus' loss to NZL in a three match ODI series pushed RSA to the top of the ODI rankings...............A great achievement for a team which was going through a torturous phase barely two years back..............