The South African collapse in the tour against India a month ago left media and fans in a sort of stunned silence. Twice in a row, South Africa had sent a robust test squad with all the appearances of being well prepared to the subcontinent where South African test squads had traditionally outdone themselves. From 1999 to 2014 the competition between the sides was tense, with South Africa dominating in home conditions on bouncing wickets and uncompromising fast bowling line ups while India held off South Africa narrowly with skilful spin bowling.
Since the introduction of the Freedom Trophy, as well as the rapid growth in the capital of Indian cricket the tables, seem to have turned. South Africa have floundered in two 3-0 defeats on Indian turf offering almost no resistance with the bat in 6 successive defeats. The most recent defeat in India probably the most exasperating for players and fans as Indian fast bowlers combined with their vicious spin attack made the proteas look like a floundering mess on the pitches where Indian batting line-ups were scoring in excess of 400 with ease.
As onlookers, it feels as if South African test cricket has been struck with the same aporia as in 2015. Do we change our team, coach, support staff, captain, opening batsmen, quotas, policies, funding, domestic programs, or youth training programs? It would be a bold move for Cricket South Africa to not take the easy way out and to not scapegoat a weak-looking player for the dismal turnout in India for the forthcoming series against a visiting England.
How does South Africa un-poleaxe themselves before the English arrive with their sunburned Barmy Army and record-breaking 10th wicket partnerships?
If we care to remember 4 years ago, an English team fresh from an Ashes victory stormed through Kingsmead and onto Newlands 1-0 up in the series. South Africa quickly found themselves spectating a ridiculous Ben Stokes innings of 258 of 198 balls and everything seemed to be on course for a South Africa to roll over and concede defeat. It took a special innings from Hashim Amla (201) and Themba Bavuma (102*) to bring South Africa back into the series.
South Africa lost the series 2-1 which did seem like a fair result bringing us to face the titans of test cricket, Australia. South Africa thumped the visitors in a sandpaper-compromised series and it seemed South Africa could do no wrong. The proteas departed in high spirits but fell again in the subcontinent in a low scoring 2 match series where the only South African to score above 70 was young Theunis De Bruyn (101). Once-again the South Africans returned home with little to show for their work.
Flexing their fast-bowling muscles the Proteas made quick work of Pakistan and moved onto Sri Lanka who’s history in South Africa left a lot to be desired. Kusal Perera’s magical 158 was an uncanny foreshadowing of Stokes’ Headingley heroics earlier this year left South African fans watching Faf du Plessis discussing their first ever series defeat by Sri Lanka on home soil.
Another whitewash from Kohli’s squad later and the Proteas are asking the same questions as four years ago. How to contest the sense of flimsiness and instability in South African cricket. How to contest a nagging sense of ambivalence in the leadership of the Proteas? The answer is simple. Senior members of the team need only show responsibility at the crease. Play the sort of cricket that allowed magnificent events that characterized our test squad. South Africa specialized in the absurd fourth innings comebacks, brilliant fightbacks from fast bowlers on pitches that seemed dead in test matches that came alive with Alan Donald or Dale Steyn’s aggression and pace. The task for management is to bring the right blend of security and competition to somehow interrupt this anxiety-provoking cycle of boom and bust.
Thanks for the share Daniel. (OK, now I know I have subscribed!)
Onto the article... the issue, in my humble belief, is at the core of management's directionless steering of the plans. I also believe the team needs coaching input of international standard. However, when you look at the players being selected, how many batsmen come into the team with an average of over 40 over an extended few year's performance at provincial level? How many bowlers perform below 25 during the same period?
There is a whole lot of talent in SA... however, the talent isn't led on to believe in their own future. They are not inspired to perform above themselves in times of need. I think a…