Jan 12 2009
South Africans Dig Their Own Grave
Well it looks like the South Africans can never stop chucking the world of cricket whatsoever. For, when people have high hopes of South Africa thrashing the opposition, they are found themselves getting thrashed at the right point and at the right moment. This, they have been doing since the entered the cricketing world in the 1992 world cup. Anyway that is all history for now. However, even if the recent past is taken into consideration, this is what they have been doing. First, by shattering all hopes of winning the third test and making it to the top 1 position in test cricket.
But, no. Yesterday’s T20 game, that was much awaited by the fans was made a mess by the South African players. First by giving room on the leg side for most part of the game to a player who had until then neither played any international cricket nor any first class cricket for that matter. And then, if that was not enough, I still cannot figure out as to what was going on in Jacques Kallis’ mind, when he bowled a delivery that was found to hit the middle stump, but was still turned down by the umpire for a leg before. Imagine how? No, that wasn’t a bad decision. Not even a no-ball bowled by Kallis.
The ball was found to pitch outside the leg stump. This was the line that the South African bowlers followed throughout the match. Hardly any variety in the line, length and swing. And that too in a batsman favouring T20 game? Are the South Africans really professionals in cricket?Just you guys please think over. This reminded me of the way they dropped an axe on their feet themselves, way back in 2003 world cup, where the then captain Shaun Pollock cites a wrong signal from the dressing room for that debacle. It seems that the Proteas didn’t get the D/L target right, owing to which they fell one run short of the target, with the match ending in a draw.
How can a team like South Africa be so predictable? Its the variation that makes the difference. I don’t think that such things needs to be cited for a team who havebeen playing professional cricket since a century. A clear look at the scorecard can well give you an idea as to where even the Aussies stand. If not for Warner, none of the remaining Aussie batsmen really stoodwith courage. And for South Africa, needless to be said, except for Duminy, none did their homework. Well such things keep repeating, for there can be only one winner in a game. But, the South African approach to the game can never be given a pass. Sorry “SOUTH AFRICA”.
