What the hell happened to South Africa? The South African team, I mean, in the last five years? How is it that they've gone from Lance Klusener and Jonty Rhodes to Graeme Smith and Andre Nel? When I started getting into the game, South Africa were one of the most inspired, colourful teams on the scene, full of varied characters working in unorthodox combinations. They had Gary Kirsten, wise beyond any man’s years, calmly guiding them from the front; Jonty, the Energizer Bunny of world cricket, always in the action; Neil McKenzie, a delightful cocktail of nervous tics and endearing superstitions; and, of course, Zulu -- the only man in the game whose nickname is chanted fervously by every crowd around the world every time he walks to the crease.
Now they just seem like a bunch of prep-school jockheads with a tight fitness schedule and a mean streak. Graeme Smith has by far the ugliest batting technique in the world, scamming runs out of most bowlers' inability to bowl to left-handers with wide stances and angled bats. AB De Villiers can open the batting, field, and even keep wicket, but I bet you could hear the ocean if you put your ear to his skull. As for Andre Nel and his whole Easily Excitable Douchebag persona -- it might seem more menacing if he could back it up with actual wickets. As it is, he's little more than a mild irritant
There are still traces of better days in the team -- Gibbs' easy belligerence at the crease; Ntini's energy and unorthodox, angled jabs short of a length; Pollock's loose-limbed strokeplay at the end of an innings -- but these are few and far between. Not even the joy I get from watching a tortured team trying to shake off deep-seated psychological issues from their past (and failing at every attempt) can cover the fact that I really don't care for South Africa anymore. I hope they lose to England today, for no other reason than to keep the West Indies alive in the tournament.
I'm blaming all this on Graeme Smith. Ever since he slipped his fat foot through the selector's door and somehow convinced the world that a pair of wide shoulders and an aggressive outlook are what makes a good captain and leader, the Proteas have sunk into a pit of graceless efficacy, outlasting weaker teams with over after over of one-toned right-arm pace bowling, combined with bursts of muscular boundary hitting by the experienced middle order. There is an almost monarchical air to his captaincy -- he stands atop everyone around as if appealing to divine right, with no one ever questioning his leadership credentials or holding him accountable for his team's failings. Why is he beyond scrutiny?
For some reason, everyone just seems to accept Smith as the natural leader of that squad,with little evidence to back that claim. It's not as if his tenure has been wildly successful, by any measure: South Africa have won 59% of their ODI matches under Smith; under Pollock, that number was 66%; under Cronje, it was 74%. In Tests, Smith's win-loss ratio is 1.36, Pollock's was 2.80, while Cronje's was 2.45.
Quickly, who's South Africa's vice-captain right now? Is it Prince? Boucher? Who knows? (I didn't know either. It's Kallis, as it turns out.) Smith has somehow found a way to overshadow anyone in his path and present himself as the sole face and identity of the entire South African cricket establishment. Gary Kirsten was moved down from his usual opening position when Smith came in and then retired a year or two later. Lance Klusener was just jettisoned completely after the last World Cup, even though he still had a valuable few years to give to the team (and, more importantly, the fans).
Meanwhile, after this tournament’s valiant South African choke –- oh, it’s coming, don’t worry -- Smith will probably be offered a bonus, then appointed captain for life, leading selector, and co-coach.
I never thought I’d say this (in any context), but… GO ENGLAND!
couldn't agree more. Just wish the yiunt would make me some runs and stop turning to himself for spin bowling in times of trouble.
only issue is, if england win, they will more than likely go through on net run rate... and the last thing we need is a bunch of english bragging about how they made the semis.
just off the topic, how many school shootings does it take before a country tightens the gun laws??
Posted by: George Hayward | April 17, 2007 at 06:06 AM
dude, can you believe the guy was korean!! Huge story. I'll bet the excuses are being formed as we speak...
Posted by: J'Paul | April 17, 2007 at 11:42 AM
dude, now is the perfect time to do something about it. a foreigner who'd only been in the country a year bought guns! so he wasnt even a derranged american kid who hated jocks! but you know they wont do anything about it. Bush said "we lift you with out prayers and god is with you"..... dude! you have the power to change something, stop thinking god will do it for you!
man, the dude looks like such a korean. the steroetype moonface.
Posted by: George Hayward | April 17, 2007 at 09:19 PM