Too Easy, mate...

The vapeless commentators

    It is counter-intuitive to suggest that South Africa have won ‘too easily’ in the tournament so far, but that’s exactly how it feels. They might have benefitted from a scrap here and there, a few more moments which required them to fight back other than the one when they were 44-4 against the Netherlands.

    The blueprint for success during the tournament was clear from the outset, and it is one which no other team at the World Cup can match when it is enacted with the clinical brutality that has seen victories by 102-runs against Sri Lanka, 134-runs against Australia, a staggering 229-run against England and now this 149-run demolition of Bangladesh.

    If there were a few more ‘emotional’ characters in the Proteas XI there might be cause for concern. If there were, in fact, any members of the squad likely to get carried away with the level of success so far, there might be reason replant some feet on the ground.

    Quinton de Kock appears to accept victory and defeat in either hand, in equal measure. You wouldn’t know from his body language which he’d just received. Aiden Markram sounds like the Cricket World Cup, for now, is just something they have to do in between watching the Rugby version and Marco Jansen is far more excited by scoring runs than taking wickets or the margin of victory.

    Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen could be described as ‘emotional’ but only in the sense of passion and commitment rather than over-excitement. The concept of them getting carried away with the early success, however eye-catching and eye-watering it has been, is unimaginable. The former is a clinician, the latter a classic focuser on the next ball.

    Amongst the bowlers, the super-emotional ‘baby’ of the squad, Gerald Coetzee, need only glance at the super-laid back Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi to be reminded that all is fair in love and war – and this is not war but a cricket tournament.

    All that being said, they will benefit significantly from a couple of robust tussles, and at least one run-chase, in the next three games against Pakistan (who look ‘finished’), New Zealand and India. The final match is against Afghanistan. They dare not leave confirmation of a last-four place until then.

    *One of the great attractions (frustrations) about India are the contradictions and hypocrisies, scattered everywhere. A couple of high-profile commentators, former captains of their national teams, are dedicated vapers. They were unaware that the smoking alternative was strictly against the law in the country and both had their collection of devices and flavours confiscated at the x-ray machine before the first of many domestic flights.

    In a country containing hundreds of millions of tobacco smokers, the rationale that the ‘vape ban’ was for the betterment of the nation’s health infuriated the commentary duo. “It’s fine to ride around with sleeping babies and no helmets on motorbikes, but you can’t have a puff on a vape?!” It may have more to do with the revenue the India government draws from the tobacco industry.

    *What a pleasure to meet one of my first paid subscribers on a ninth-floor roof terrace in downtown Mumbai. Jonathan grew up in Cape Town but has lived in London for many years and reads this column as part of his weekly (daily at the moment) cricket fix. Fascinating chat between the four of us – Jonathan, me and two large Kingfishers.