Pre-match statements may not be the antidote for South African success- Opinion
It is surprising that a side that has grappled with the chokers tag often goes overboard with regard to statements being spewed out. South African players often have the audacity to come up with preconceived notions much to their own detriment. Comments
which are premature in nature often reflect a side which is brewing with confidence without having taken the field. The tour to England in 2012 and the pre-match assertions made by many players may not be the antidote for success. For a team aiming to achieve
certain objectives, keeping a close eye on internal flaws is more apt as compared to brimming with unnecessary confidence.
For Graeme Smith’s side, this English tour will test the nerve of a team which has historically collapsed under pressure. This tour is a challenge as well as an opportunity for the Proteas. South Africa has had to learn hard lessons from cricket, given that
they have tasted numerous defeats from the jaws of victory on many occasions. In Test cricket, the 2004 Joburg test, where http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Matthew-Hoggard-c1926 wreaked havoc on the batting side comes to mind.
Yet more recent claims include http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Allan-Robert-Border-c43726 de Villiers’ assertion that South Africa could win the 2011 Cricket World Cup before the tournament had even started. During a practice session, the wicket keeper batsman believed that his side could go the distance and
shunned away claims of possible choking this time around. The manner in which he shunned away realistic possibilities, lead to a subsequent quarter final defeat at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754. This in itself was horrific for the Proteas, who were one of the favorites
to win the World Cup. Since then, it is plausible to assume that South Africa should have learnt that what really needs to be low key off the pitch must be high key on it. Games aren’t won through assertions.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 was to tour South Africa, Steyn had the audacity to claim that the Proteas would fancy their chances against a subcontinent side which is not accustomed to pace and bounce. That backfired
miserably at Kingsmead in the second test, as the ‘un fancied’ Lankans managed to secure a remarkable victory in the three test match series. What followed was a 3-2 ODI result in favor of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 out of which the two defeats highlighted the Protea’s
propensity to capitulate under pressure.
Cricket has always been played on the field with certain players having targets before a series begins. Being confident and going overboard however, are two different things. South Africa, with its quality of players, tends to almost sideline how many times
their players choke when pressure mounts on them. The results on the field often materialize in the form of utter embarrassments, where taunting and attacking individuals and their oppositions backfires miserably.
In the 2004-05 season, when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KP-Pietersen-c1806 only acted as a catalyst for Pietersen to smash three ODI hundreds on the trot, which not only silenced the one dimensional approach of the Proteas but also hushed
the hostile crowds at Centurion, East London and Bloemfontein.
The key to being confident is thus equated with understanding one’s weaknesses and acknowledging the opposition’s strengths as well. South African players over time have been actively targeting opposition players and highlighting how good their team is in
terms of ability. The problem with all this is that it is way before they embrace the field. While being confident and excited may sound good, keeping oneself low tone and focusing on on-field developments will help the Proteas more. Break downs in confidence
and the odd failure here and there, does not look pretty when exaggerated optimism is expressed fervently. South Africa should learn from what history has taught them. Agitation for being labeled as ‘Chokers’ tag should pave the way for understanding how to
avert such castigation through focusing on the game. That may help in reviving South Africa’s fortunes.
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