Future Of Cricket South Africa

So,SA in one more WC semifinal ,SA suffering one more defeat in a WC semifinal,one more elimination from the dying stages of a WC for SA,one more thrashing for SA at the hands of the Aussies in a crucial tournament at a crucial stage........jeez....Safrican cricket supporters must be getting pretty used to all of this.On a more serious note,the 'cricketing genocide'(I don't like using violent phrases....but mild phrases to describe yesterday's performance just won't be good enough) carried out by Australia on SA would have sent shivers down the spine of all other nations.It was a clinical,compact,solid,disciplinedand relentless performance(you could use many more adjectives to describe the Aussie performance) by the Kangaroos.Cricket fans cutting across territorial boundaries would be wondering what is it going to take to stop the Aussie juggernaut.I certainly am.

I have always said in the past that SA is only team that can truly challenge Australia.I still stick to that.But there is an expectation applied to that-of competitiveness from the South Africans.Yesterday was a clear case of SA meekly surrendering and being overwhelmed by the occasion(why should that be the case.......even 8 years after THAT heartbreaking exit.......one can't fathom).What one expected from SA at the very least was competitiveness and the ability to be flexible.None of that was evident yesterday.The desire to win and to stamp their authority on the Aussies would have been there,of course.But a little bit of flexibility(if I am allowed to be a bit harsh,I would say 'commonsense') would have helped.It is all right to have an attacking attitude.But as I have said before,the need of the hour was 'intelligent and attacking cricket',not 'reckless and attacking' cricket.The latter applied to SA's batting performance yesterday....or should I say 'non-performance.To be just to the Republic,they have ,for most part of this WC,been attacking upfront and most of the time,the strategy has paid off.But Graeme Smith dancing down the track,trying to hit Bracken out of St.Lucia in the second over itself was just not done.Fine,he has played very much like Hayden has for Australia.But remember,he was facing the Aussies ,who were bowling well.He should have given them a bit of respect and been patient.He should have paced his knock like Jayawardene did so beautifully against the Kiwis.Kallis is a class act and I never like pointing fingers at him.He has been as valuable as a diamond for SA over the past 11 years.But,the way he got out was so ungainly ,so unbecoming of a genius like him.More so,after he had hit Pigeon for a four the previous delivery.Surely,after these two wickets,there must have been a rethink of strategy.But evidently,there was not.AB is a fantastic talent and one to be preserved for the future.He also found it hard going against the Australian bowlers.But instead of 'gutzing it out',he gifted his wicket away.There was no need for him to play that shot(Easier said than done.....I admit.........but that is why they are there .......and I am here.....sadly.......hehe).Prince's waft outsideeeeeeeeeee the off stump was an absolute shocker........would have been called a wide if he hadn't edged it(must say Safricans have had not much luck in such matters).But it just showed how jittery Prince was.Boucher's wicket was probably the only one which the bowler 'earned'........it was a 'ripper' of a delivery.When you lose half your side in the first ten overs including your spinal cord(Kallis),what can you expect?.....Gibbs gave some hope along with Kemp..but he too flattered to deceive.getting out to a shot he shouldn't have played in the first place.After that,it was just a matter of scratching around and eking out as amny runs as possible.And Kemp,due credit be given to him,did that.But he ran out of partners at the other end.And SA capitulated.It was a shambolic performance(from a team which was ranked No 1 in the world till recently).

With no spinner in their line-up,defending a small target of 150 would have a humongous task.Still,I thought SA bowled reasonably well.If only their batsmen had batted sensibly and given them a target to bowl at!!!!!!!!Australia finished off the match in the end with ease.Their bowling was discplined,but not unplayable.SA made matters worse by 'hitting their feet with an axe' on their own.

Now,I am not going to be irrational like most Indian fans and demand 'ridiculous chopping' and 'changing'.That is not the answer.A post-mortem will be conducted,rightly so.This team,inspite of this woeful loss,is a good one.Some players' places in the side are definitely under scrutiny i.e Prince,even Kemp.But the rest of the side are good and need to be persisted with.Smithy should remain the captain and so should Mickey Arthur,the coach.Needless to say,Cricket South Africa needs to look forward to the future and plan for the 2011 WC in the sub-continent.The reasons for the erratic performances of the team in this tournament must be looked into for it was this very team that did so well from 2005 Feb to March 2007 in ODIs.The alleged 'mental fragility' plaguing South Africans in big tournaments is something that needs to be discussed with a sports psychologist.As much I would like to believe that there is nothing wrong with the mental side of things,performances over the past few years in 'crucial matches' suggest something else. First things first,they need to find,develop,groom, and pick spinners in the SA team.Some grounds in SA need to be made spinner friendly(like you have Sydney in Australia).You have already 'decent' spinners in the form of Johan Botha,Paul Harris,Thandi Tshabalala and a baby in the form of Abdul Razzack.Nurture Razzack properly,for he is a real prospect.Give Botha,Harris a decent run in the team.Let these spinners come to the subcontinent more often as part of an 'academy exchange' programme.There is no better place for a budding spinner to be groomed than in the subcontinent.A decent spinner would balance out the South African team beautifully.Also,send talented 'future batting' prospects like Francois du Plessis,Morne van Vuuren,Vaughn van Jaarsveld to the subcontinent as part of the 'exchange programme' to learn to bat on subcontinental pitches.All these plans need to be put in place and implemented.Also,the art of bowling on all conditions,all surfaces need to be learnt by some South African fast medium bowlers.They only seem to be good at home. Young fast bowlers like Dale Steyn,Morne Morkel,Ryan Mclaren need to be given oppurtunities.Because SA is sorely missing someone of the calibre of Donald,supremely fast and accurate.These three have the potential to do that.SO,all in all,no 'drastic','ludicrous' changing of the squad.A little bit of tinkering is what is needed.

And please,next time,if SA wins a few series at home,no need to start calling them an 'invincible' or a 'great' side .A good side,yes.......but for a South African team to be considered truly great,they need to win consistently,at home and abroad...........No use brooding over the past...........look ahead..............that is the only option left,isn't it?..................................and ohhhhh ya........the choker tag............it will remain.............rightly or wrongly.