The City Goat Herder

And SA's road to semi finals

    Unwritten protocol somehow dictates that each day on this column begins with cricket rather than a herd of goats, sheep and the collective noun of the interbred, ‘geep’, so Rob Walter will be the lead today.

    Covid’s gift to journalism was the online press conference, and it keeps on giving. The team hotel may be ‘only’ 10 kilometres away from the mighty Hotel Solitaire, but the majority of the day would have been ingested by India’s infrastructure getting there and back. So, we joined our colleagues back at home for an online chat.

    South Africa’s head coach answered all the questions – ‘pressure’, possible semi-finals, the ‘panic’ of the run-chase against Pakistan, the Springboks victory in France and taking time off.

    “Giving my two sons throwdowns at the swimming pool, that’s how I’ve switched off, although my shoulder hasn’t. If you love the game and you’re a cricket ‘nuffy’ then you find yourself watching it anyway,” Walter said. “Your next opposition, any information on venues, that sort of thing.”

    It’s not widely reported but the national squads are severely restricted in their personal movements throughout the 45 days – or less in the case of England and the other minnows. They can’t simply go for a walk or visit a market, like the rest of us. Leaving their hotel requires the submission of a ‘request to leave’ document and the assignment of a security detail. They are routinely refused.

    “There is a strong emphasis on players getting away from the game,” Walter said, “but leaving the hotel is tough. It’s fortunate that partners and families arrived recently so they’ve been spending time together. It’s been great to see the larger Proteas family together. It’s not about skill development right now, it’s really about being physically and mentally strong for the battles ahead.”

    Should South Africa stumble against New Zealand here in Pune on Wednesday and against rampant India at Eden Gardens on Sunday, they could very feasibly face a knock-out game against Afghanistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in their final group match.

    On a brighter note, here is Manish, chief barrister at the ‘Kiosk Kaffee’, a mere 300 metres from the Mighty Solitaire. After my first order, he has been preparing my next Americano upon 30-metre sighting for the next two days. I have paid him double every time. He will understand, before I leave, who the tips come from. Thank you, coffee buyers! (Especially Claire who bought five yesterday.)