Another chance gone begging
In a game where both teams made plenty of mistakes, South Africa made just one or two more.
EVERYONE will have their opinion as to why we lost the Cricket World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.
They’re entitled to it.
It has taken me a whole day to pull myself out of the post defeat funk and depression into which I sunk the moment the ball left Grant Elliott’s bat and disappeared into the crowd.
What cannot be argued is that the Proteas tried their utmost. Maybe too much so.
In my inexpert opinion the Proteas made the mistake of picking players not fully fit.
The choice of iffy Vernon Philander over raging-bull-in-form Kyle Abbott was a shocker, according to many.
Even JP Duminy and Quinton de Kock came into the tournament having only very recently recovered from injuries. They were out of the touch needed to win big games.
Dale Steyn, for his eye-bulging tactics, has not really been a threat in ODI cricket for a while.
Remember Mitchell Marsh spanking him for three 6s in a row not so long ago.
We also fluffed it big time in the field. Very uncharacteristic.
JP Duminy just about tackling Farhaan Behardien was something one usually sees at U11 level.
AB de Villiers missing a pretty easy (by his standards) run out. A symptom of trying too hard.
Anyway, at the end of the day, New Zealand probably deserved to go through.
They haven’t lost a game, and have played bold, aggressive cricket.
South Africa could learn something from that.
Going forward, why not play off-the-charts outrageous cricket.
The next chance for an ICC trophy is the T20 World Cup in India in almost exactly a year’s time.
We need to make sure our team and the positions of the players are settled well in advance.
In the meantime, sit back and enjoy the Australian-India game.
It’s sure to be a great one.
And, of course the final.
