Not all smooth sailing for South Africa - Part 1 - Opinion
South Africa is undoubtedly, a brilliant cricket team. With an array of top quality players at their disposal and a penchant for winning consistently. This team under Graeme Smith, and of late AB de Villiers, has soared to the top of the ICC rankings for teams in ODI cricket. They simply demolished England in the all important 2nd ODI of the NatWest series of 2012, and in the process became the best team in the world in that format. Yet, in spite of that victory, there are quite a few loopholes that need to be addressed to ensure that this team becomes a regular force in ODI cricket.
No team in world cricket has managed to master all aspects of the game. The truth is that the sport of cricket is as unpredictable as a reckless rickshaw, and despite the odds of winning comprehensively, there is always room for the opposition to bounce back. England had folded to 207 in pursuit of a mammoth 288 posted by the Proteas at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. The victory by 80 runs was a resounding one for the South Africans, yet also pointed at the apparent loopholes that this star-studded team has had to bear with, in light of their one dimensional approach towards the one-day game.
The Proteas have always been known for their propensity to lose games due to their monotonous approach. Recent experimentation with spin however, has yielded significant dividends for the side in the World Cup and in ODI series which had followed. Players such as Robin Peterson, Imran Tahir and JP Duminy, have become key ODI players and challenged the norm of needing pace to win big games. Their ability to break partnerships at critical junctures has served South Africa well in the past, and both Peterson and Duminy played an important role in securing a thumping victory at the Rose Bowl against England. By bowling canny off breaks and ensuring that England do not get on top of the bowling, South Africa’s spin department has added potency to a fiery pace attack.
Yet despite these novel innovations in recent times, South Africa’s ability to finish games comprehensively has been unconvincing to say the least. The fact that England managed to get to 207 after being in jeopardy for most part of their innings, highlighted at complacency from the Proteas. Steve Finn’s thumping drives through the off side off Morne Morkel briefly hinted at renaissance for England, and pinpointed South Africa’s inability to finish the game after pulverizing the opposition for the most part of it. England were 159 for 8 at one stage and looked to be in shambles before Samit Patel and Steve Finn launched an assault which entertained the crowd and frustrated the South Africans. The death bowling of lesser experienced bowlers such as Wayne Parnell and even Robin Peterson was also below par. This fact however, is not a new trend for South Africa in any way.
In the Emirates, against Pakistan in 2010 for example, South Africa’s death bowling had been questionable on many occasions where they even went on to lose a game against the home side, in the 2nd ODI at Abu Dhabi, after leaving their opposition in a precarious situation at one stage. Razzaq’s assault in that game was a defining moment and could only be partly attributed to his own brilliance.
Continued in Part 2...
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