Proteas & the Fear of Failure
Maphaka 4/20 raises eyebrows
Darwin’s locals stood in queues under the baking afternoon sun for over an hour just waiting for the gates to open at the Marrara Oval. Darwin has a population of less than 150,000 yet 10,000 of them had bought tickets for the first international to be played in their city for 17 years.
They do things a little differently in the Northern Territory, not bothering with fripperies like seat numbers. As they say in this part of the world, “first come, best dressed.” They were happy to apply extra sunscreen in anticipation of the best seats.
Australia’s rampaging, carefree start to the first T20I was breathtaking to watch and to describe. Apparently, also to the bowling side: “It catches you off guard a little bit, when you haven’t played T20 cricket in a while,” admitted Ryan Rickelton who struggled to keep the run-chase together with a battling 71 from 55 balls in a total of 161-9.
“It was a bit like the IPL where guys hit the first ball for six (as Mitch Marsh did against Lungi Ngidi.) Sometimes, international cricket’s a little bit different. Sometimes you maybe hold back a little bit, you know, because it's…I want to say there’s more at stake,” Rickelton said.
“But I thought the guys held it together really, really well and with them coming out all guns blazing we created a lot of chances which is exciting for us as a group. If we’d caught that catch of Tim David (83) when he had 40 or 50 we could have bowled them out for 120 and then it’s a completely different ball game,” Rickelton said, using the longest two-letter word in sport; ‘if’. (Tristan Stubbs dropped the catch at long-on, in case you missed it.)
His observation about ‘holding back’ was a more pertinent truth. It has been a characteristic of Proteas teams for a quarter of a century. It is a result of trying too hard, rather than not hard enough, and being guided too strongly by the fear of failure instead of the thrill of success.
Australia’s ferocious approach to T20 cricket is helped by the presence of bowlers who can bat. Ben Dwarshuis added 59 with Tim Davis for for the seventh wicket and Nathan Ellis drove Kagiso Rabada for a straight six in the final over.
The Proteas’ XI contained five specialist batsmen with bowling all-rounders from six to eight and three very fine fast bowlers at nine, 10 and 11 from whom very little could be hoped as batsmen, let alone expected. Nobody was concerned about Kwena Maphaka’s batting ability after his bowling performance.
It is hoped that Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dewald Brevis will form the core of a new approach in the top order. Not quite as hardcore as Australia’s, perhaps, but one based on a belief and confidence in their ability rather than concepts of ‘steady’ to start, ‘consolidation’ after a couple of wickets and ‘there’s always time to catch up’ after five mediocre overs in the middle of the innings.
Maphaka’s 4-20 was the shining highlight from the first game. As was his shimmering altercation with David in the midst of gripping, personal duel: “I bowled a bouncer two balls earlier which was called a wide. I bowled another short ball which went through at chest-height. He started talking to the umpire, looking for another wide, and I said: Why don’t you leave the umpires to do their job and concentrate on batting?”
It’s local election time in Darwin. As an outsider, it’s hard not to wonder whether the ‘archetypal Aussie’ approach is necessary – or compulsory. I’m instinctively inclined against Brett and Nick because of their masculine headwear. I like Patrik, even though he looks 19-years-old. But Sylvia gets my vote. Dunno why.
The second T20I game takes place on Tuesday before the third game in Cairns, northern Queensland, on Saturday. There’s an ODI series to follow, in Cairns and Mackay. Stay tuned.
*An Americano is my favourite, but any coffee of your choosing will be equally appreciated. But only if you can afford it…happy to buy you one, if not. 😊