What's wrong with South Africa?
They have the world’s best all-rounder in Jacques Kallis, the most experienced wicket keeper in Mark Boucher, the fastest bowler in Dale Steyn and the most courageous skipper in Graeme Smith, yet the are struggling as much as the problematic Pakistanis … making “What is suddenly wrong with South Africa?” that is the million dollar question. They struggled against India in their league match as if the Indians were the strongest side in the competition, which was disproved by Australia.
They couldn’t bat even if their life depended on it against England and fell short by 39 runs while chasing 169 in their Super Eight clash. The South African batting was to blame during their side‘s loss against England whereas their bowling helped Suresh Raina score a century, and India take away the match. The Proteas hit just five fours and four sixes, compared to England's 16 fours and six sixes in a match that was supposed to be a thriller. Instead, we got a one-sided affair where the match was decided once South Africa started losing wickets.
What’s the problem for South Africa? As skipper Graeme Smith said after their loss, the top three are just not giving them the explosive starts they need against the new ball. But what he forgot to note was that he is among the top three, and at that time in order to do well against Pakistan, they were supposed to change their batting order and their mindset if they had any plans to qualify for the semi finals at that time.
Pundits believes that AB de Villiers and Jean Paul Duminy need to bat higher, and the decision to send them late in the innings cost the Proteas their initial match against India. Loots Bosman and Jacques Kallis were always going to be a suspect opening pair, yet Graeme Smith decided to think otherwise. He should have open with the fiery Bosman as always and sent Kallis at number 3, but like all those who still feel the Indian Premier League was all fair and square, he decided to come at 3, and let his side suffer the consequences.
Kallis may be the leading scorer for his side in the competition but his turn to aggression late against India and his 13-ball 11 went against him than for him. In a format where the batsmen need to score at more than run a ball, he scored like that is allowed against Afghanistan and New Zealand only. Albie Morkel, who struck an unbeaten 18-ball 40 in the match against Kiwis was supposed to be moved up in the order if the Proteas wanted to improve in any case.
The fast bowlers - especially the magnificent Dale Steyn - are to blame for South Africa’s poor show as well. They were treated like club level bowlers against India and the English took a liking to them as well. The only time they were fast and furious were against the Afghanis who are minnows and new to international arena. They went for over 160 against former champions India and the current favourites England while New Zealand were more to blame for the loss against the Proteas than the bowling which still managed to give away 157 runs!
And then there is the fielding. A side known for being superb in the field, the South Africans are nowhere close to the fielding standards set by the great Jonty Rhodes. They have put down catches, let the ball pass by and looked rugged, and the Indian Premier League has more to do with that than anything else.
South Africa needs to gear up and regroup if they are get back to their past glory days, otherwise the loss to Pakistan is like a slap on the face which finally ended their chances in the cup. They must innovate, not like the way they have done so far. They might have made Johan Botha open the bowling, but the South Africans are always known to make the rules, not go with the flow.
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