Does this team never learn... every world cup the same.... some mental lapse. A lot of question marks around some of these players in the squad. Bavuma not a T20 player, we leave out Reeza Hendricks who was in the form of his life in the lead up to the tournament. Rabada got whacked for boundaries upfront in all the games and by all the opposition (including the associate nations). Yet he is part of this "much-feared" pace quartet? Why did Bavuma/Boucher not mix up when he entered the attack etc. Lastly, QdK - good for runs against minnow teams, but has failed to play a substantive innings in a world cup when it is needed. Always throws his wicket away with an unnecessary shot at the time - today against the Dutch it was no different. It is too late for tears I am afraid - we need more steely characters like Kepler Wessels who instilled discipline and a solid work ethic in the team. Once we had beaten India, our path to the semi-finals was surely one of the easiest we have ever had at a World Cup event. We had the luxury of only needing to win one of our last two games.
We all share your frustration, Kevin. I can't really disagree with any of your points. I suspect we need to investigate the motivation of many players for being there. I'm not suggesting they don't want to win, or represent their country, but the life-span of a sporting career is short and they all need to make as much money as possible while they're still playing...
Thanks once again for an excellent article. As a team, the proteas should keep in mind that you can only really solve a problem if you acknowledge it. And after this defeat, the proteas need to front up and be honest with themselves that once again, it chocked. They need to embrace this fact, celebrate and come to terms with it, otherwise it will always be buried in their subconscious only to rear its ugly head when it really matters. Taking the first step to acknowledge this mental weakness, might help unburden the team of their painful history in knockout competitions. The other thing that might work, is to get an Aussie coach, but this might be taking things a bit too far.
I can't think of an 'approach' which hasn't been adopted by captains, coaches and teams over the last 20-odd years. There has been 'denial', 'acceptance', 'embracement', 'talk therapy' and 'acquiescence.' I'm not sure what else there is.
Hi Neil. Yes, apart from the shock and exhaustion due to lack of sleep, my other immediate thought was 'is that the end of any chance of having our best players (except RVD- injury and Faf...) together at a WC'? I think we will go the same way as the Windies. Many top players will and have become 'guns for hire', and there is little attraction playing for a team that cannot match overseas salaries & appears to be cursed at world cups. I believed we had our best T20 side ever. But we cracked. I think of Afghanistan & Pakistan and all the terrible challenges those countries have had- ours pale in comparison. Proteas can go the Windies way (losers) or the Pakistan way (winners). We are on the precipice cricket-wise. Unlike the Springboks, the Proteas appear fragile mentally and its only getting worse. They all need to see a good psychologist and have a good rest! On another note- we are playing so few tests in 20123 compared to Eng & Aus- so what incentives there for the likes of Elgar, Erwee & Peterson to stick around? Not happy.
Heart-rending for Bavuma . . . .and cricket followers in South Africa. I'm wondering if this is not the beginning of the end for international cricket , , , at T20 level and in time at ODi and Test match level. Money is king today. Why commit to international cricket when IPL type cricket is the moneyspinner and talented young cricketers can make a fortune in a few years? The drivers behind T20 cricket surely foresee a club world championship to make even more money . . . and I for one will find my interest dwindling
The formats will survive, but in 'exhibition' fashion. There will be a one-off Test match during (some) bilateral tours and perhaps an ODI inbetween the five T20Is. It's bleak, but it's the future and I guess we have to embrace it - or be left behind.
These T20 leagues will be the death of international cricket - but eventually too many of these leagues will cannibalise themselves and take the game with it.
Does this team never learn... every world cup the same.... some mental lapse. A lot of question marks around some of these players in the squad. Bavuma not a T20 player, we leave out Reeza Hendricks who was in the form of his life in the lead up to the tournament. Rabada got whacked for boundaries upfront in all the games and by all the opposition (including the associate nations). Yet he is part of this "much-feared" pace quartet? Why did Bavuma/Boucher not mix up when he entered the attack etc. Lastly, QdK - good for runs against minnow teams, but has failed to play a substantive innings in a world cup when it is needed. Always throws his wicket away with an unnecessary shot at the time - today against the Dutch it was no different. It is too late for tears I am afraid - we need more steely characters like Kepler Wessels who instilled discipline and a solid work ethic in the team. Once we had beaten India, our path to the semi-finals was surely one of the easiest we have ever had at a World Cup event. We had the luxury of only needing to win one of our last two games.
We all share your frustration, Kevin. I can't really disagree with any of your points. I suspect we need to investigate the motivation of many players for being there. I'm not suggesting they don't want to win, or represent their country, but the life-span of a sporting career is short and they all need to make as much money as possible while they're still playing...
Hi Neil
Thanks once again for an excellent article. As a team, the proteas should keep in mind that you can only really solve a problem if you acknowledge it. And after this defeat, the proteas need to front up and be honest with themselves that once again, it chocked. They need to embrace this fact, celebrate and come to terms with it, otherwise it will always be buried in their subconscious only to rear its ugly head when it really matters. Taking the first step to acknowledge this mental weakness, might help unburden the team of their painful history in knockout competitions. The other thing that might work, is to get an Aussie coach, but this might be taking things a bit too far.
Hi Ghalieb,
I can't think of an 'approach' which hasn't been adopted by captains, coaches and teams over the last 20-odd years. There has been 'denial', 'acceptance', 'embracement', 'talk therapy' and 'acquiescence.' I'm not sure what else there is.
As an aussie, you can have Ronald McDonald!
We performed much better with JL the Hamburgler.
The kids may not have liked him, but kids rarely know what's best for them :)
Hi Neil. Yes, apart from the shock and exhaustion due to lack of sleep, my other immediate thought was 'is that the end of any chance of having our best players (except RVD- injury and Faf...) together at a WC'? I think we will go the same way as the Windies. Many top players will and have become 'guns for hire', and there is little attraction playing for a team that cannot match overseas salaries & appears to be cursed at world cups. I believed we had our best T20 side ever. But we cracked. I think of Afghanistan & Pakistan and all the terrible challenges those countries have had- ours pale in comparison. Proteas can go the Windies way (losers) or the Pakistan way (winners). We are on the precipice cricket-wise. Unlike the Springboks, the Proteas appear fragile mentally and its only getting worse. They all need to see a good psychologist and have a good rest! On another note- we are playing so few tests in 20123 compared to Eng & Aus- so what incentives there for the likes of Elgar, Erwee & Peterson to stick around? Not happy.
Well written as always. Really feel for the players, especially Bavuma. He was in an almost impossible position.
Fragmented at admin level might/ has permiated through to the team…. unity is an issue…
Quite right. :(
Heart-rending for Bavuma . . . .and cricket followers in South Africa. I'm wondering if this is not the beginning of the end for international cricket , , , at T20 level and in time at ODi and Test match level. Money is king today. Why commit to international cricket when IPL type cricket is the moneyspinner and talented young cricketers can make a fortune in a few years? The drivers behind T20 cricket surely foresee a club world championship to make even more money . . . and I for one will find my interest dwindling
The formats will survive, but in 'exhibition' fashion. There will be a one-off Test match during (some) bilateral tours and perhaps an ODI inbetween the five T20Is. It's bleak, but it's the future and I guess we have to embrace it - or be left behind.
These T20 leagues will be the death of international cricket - but eventually too many of these leagues will cannibalise themselves and take the game with it.
Spot on Kevin Freeman