<p><strong>South African players do not play that well as a team, feels Makhaya Ntini – Cricket News Update</strong></p>
<p>Former South African fast bowler, Makhaya Ntini, is happy with the performance of his compatriots in the fifth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) but is amazed that these players are not able to do so well while playing for the country.</p>
<p>The likes of AB de Villiers, Morne Morkel, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn and Albie Morkel have been in splendid form in the current season and have won a lot of matches for their respective teams.</p>
<p>South Africa has been a major force in international cricket since its rebirth in 1990s, when the International Cricket Council (ICC) lifted the ban imposed on the rainbow nation. However, an unwanted tag of ‘chokers’ has been associated with the Proteas
because of their lack of ability to do well in pressure situations and crunch matches.</p>
<p>Apart from the ICC Champions Trophy in 1998, South Africa has never won a major cricketing event, despite going as far as semi and quarter-finals.</p>
<p>Ntini, who was a prolific performer for his country during the previous decade, expressed that the Proteas are highly talented individuals but somehow they are not able to develop team-spirit, which is absolutely crucial in big tournaments.</p>
<p>"Most of the South Africans playing in the IPL are performing very well. Perhaps that's because they are playing in different teams and not together. Our players tend to perform better as individuals compared to a team. That's often their downfall and it's
something I don't understand," Ntini expressed.</p>
<p>The former fast bowler is surprised that whenever the South African players play separately, they tend to performer better. Ntini feels that it is about time that the Proteas get their act together as a unit and play well as a team. He further added that
his country needs to start winning the major tournaments.</p>
<p>He added, “But when they are together they don't peak as a team in the same way as they do when they are playing as individuals for other sides and obviously we need the guys who are playing well now to also do so for South Africa."</p>
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