Lack of consistency highlighted again in Proteas defeat

As exciting as it is to watch their new “brand” of cricket, it is equally disappointing to see the Proteas capitulate when it doesn’t come off.

This year they have taken a ‘go big or go home’ sort of approach to the game, and the matches they have won have been very entertaining.

They are, however, playing at both ends of extremes, and their failure to achieve any real consistency does not bode well for their World Cup title aspirations in India.

Heading into the World Cup, the Proteas were fresh off three straight ODI victories against Australia, but those results followed five successive defeats against the visitors on their home tour.

At the showpiece in India, they earned crushing victories over Sri Lanka and five-time World Cup champions Australia, but their seesaw results were again highlighted on Tuesday.

If they are anywhere near their best, South Africa should not lose to the Netherlands, who are ranked 14th in the world (the Proteas are third) and have never reached the World Cup playoffs in any format.

Failing under pressure

What was most gutting to witness was the way they just seemed to throw the game away, letting it slip completely after taking early control.

The national team have been praised for their impressive strike rates, and head coach Rob Walter has been credited for allowing the players to play more freely, taking the game to the opposition.

And while the bowling attack proved against Australia that they have the arsenal to stand up and deliver, it has done nothing to strengthen South Africa’s real Achilles heel, which is inconsistency.

In order to challenge for their maiden Cricket World Cup title, the Proteas cannot be so unreliable that they thump Australia in one match and lose to the Netherlands in the next. It’s just no good.

Obviously their new approach works well when it works, but the SA side have to find a way to ensure they don’t completely disintegrate when they’re not hitting their straps, particularly against lower-ranked teams.

In order to regain their momentum, they need to be able to adapt and change their approach under pressure. It’s the only way to win a World Cup.