Rambling Rush: ‘I’m all choked up,’ says AB
It's just about Cricket World Cup time. You know what that means.
THE Cricket World Cup is around the corner.
And after South Africa’s demolition of the West Indies here at home, we are now being touted as ‘favourites’, or among the favourites.
A little while ago we were ‘serious contenders’. Now that’s changed. We’ve been promoted.
Perhaps unfortunately. I was hoping we would go in as rank underdogs and prove everyone wrong.
But not to despair. Last night, in a dream, AB de Villiers was being interviewed after the final, which was against Australia.
South Africa had won. Yes. You read that right. We had won.
And AB was standing there with the trophy, hugging it like one would hug a 2-year-old boy who had stubbed his toe.
The presenter was the ever eloquent Mark Nicholas.
He asked: “AB how are you feeling right now?”
AB replied saying: “It’s difficult to talk right now, I’m a little choked up!”
Then he winked, smiled, and said: “Sorry guys and everyone back home as well as the rest of the cricket world, I just couldn’t resist that!”
Thereafter, he lifted the trophy heavenwards as his fellow Proteas mobbed him, and South Africans around the world, and even those living in Australia, shed tears of joy.
Then I felt a sharp stabbing in my side. It was the wife. “Time to take the kids to the lounge so I can go shower,” she said.
There wasn’t even any cold coffee involved.
Can’t blame her for interrupting the dream. She couldn’t care less who wins the World Cup. I have to work on that.
Speaking of work…
What many feel the Proteas need to work on is their ‘death’ bowling. I think every cricket fan in the country knows that.
I’m not so worried about it. Bowlers are travelling further and further these days in the last five overs, no matter how good they are.
Our best chance is to totally bat the other teams into submission.
We would appear to have the players to do it.
The big question mark is at seven, assuming Quinton de Kock is fully fit.
Farhaan Behardien is the most balanced supposed all rounder at the moment, although his batting has yet to spark. His fielding is pretty sharp though and his gentle seamers are perhaps underrated.
South Africa may be tempted to slot Rilee Rossouw in at 6 and let JP Duminy finish things off at 7 – and bowl 10 overs, unless AB can send down some ‘bent-arm’ military medium dobblies.
Rossouw is a proper batsman, and one who can win a game at the end.
Or, the mercurial Wayne Parnell could get the slot. It may be worth the risk. If his bowling comes right, no batsman wants to face his 140+ swinging left-armers.
Plus he has been known to smash a few over Cow Corner.
Time will tell.
In the meantime, I’m off for a nap.
