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World Cup Cricket: From choking to courage

World Cup Cricket: From choking to courage

South Africa won’t come home from the 2015 Cricket World Cup with a medal. They might have failed to deliver on the bottom line, but they have taken one small step which should resonate with future teams. By ANTOINETTE MULLER.

It’s a pity there’s no trophy or medal for trying really hard – because, by Jove, South Africa did try hard in their semi-final against New Zealand. So hard, in fact, that all that trying and concentrating led to a number of mistakes, some in the heat of the moment, some simply because that is what happens under pressure. The final over knockout also dealt the death punch to the Proteas’ emotions. Tears, shock and severe disappointment were evident as the jubilant New Zealand crowd celebrated reaching the final of the World Cup for the first time ever.

“I have absolutely no idea what to do from here on in. I don’t even know when we’re going home. It’s going to take some time to get over this,” a visibly shell-shocked AB De Villiers said at his post-match press conference.

The simple answer to De Villiers would be simply to move on. But this is not a simple situation. This was South Africa’s chance, their chance to put the wrongs to right. But they blew it, right?

On previous occasions, South Africa have often been accused of not trying and choking under the pressure. Cynical observers will argue that the pressure got to South Africa this time, too, especially when assessing their errors in the field.

On one occasion, Farhaan Behardien had settled under a ball at deep backward square leg, but was barged down by JP Duminy who was charging in from fine leg. The man who hit that ball was Grant Elliot, the same man who would eventually hit the winning runs. Rilee Rossouw, too, could have been involved in two run outs, were his throwing different on those two occasions; or had AB de Villiers had the mind to pluck a stump from the ground as he was tumbling over after missing the ball. Were Vernon Philander 100% fit, maybe things would have been different. Perhaps if selectors had stuck with Kyle Abbott, one of South Africa’s best bowlers so far, the outcome would not have been so heart-breaking.

But the flip side is just as true. When Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock were dismissed early, De Villiers and Faf du Plessis stepped up. When the rain halted momentum, David Miller came to the party, something which he had failed to do on other, ordinary occasions. Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir bowled as well as they had been throughout the tournament. South Africa were, barring a few errors, fielding out of their skin. Dale Steyn pushed on despite an injury. Not once was South Africa’s commitment in question.

Was the pressure of the occasion, the 41 000-strong home crowd and the albatross that has been around the team’s neck for some time, too much once more? Maybe not.

Choking is not simply succumbing to pressure – that is just sport; the pressure builds and sometimes it gets too much. Choking is far more complex than that. Choking is throwing away a winning position; completely losing the plot and forgetting everything you’ve been taught. Choking is inexplicable. South Africa’s efforts were anything but that. South Africa was committed, courageous and the loss can be easily explained: it’s sport; mistakes happen.

Sport is also cruel and unforgiving. Sport requires a little bit of luck and on Tuesday, South Africa had none. Very few members of this South African team will play a World Cup again. In the Test arena, they are legends. In the one-day ring, they had not yet cemented such an illustrious status. This was their chance to shine and, perhaps, in some ways, they did. They shone because their commitment was believable, their emotions afterwards were tangible and infectious.

They might not come home with a trophy or even a runner’s-up medal, but maybe, just maybe, they will be remembered as the South African team who started the catharsis that freed the one-day side of the choking monster. They have shown that even when team selection is dodgy, when Lady Luck deals you a bad hand and when Mother Nature conspires against you, you can fight to the end.

They have shown future generations that the South African one-day side has moved from choking to courage. That will be their legacy, and it’s up the next team to carry that forward. DM

Photo: South Africa’s wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock (R) reacts after New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill was run out during their Cricket World Cup semi-final match in Auckland, March 24, 2015. REUTERS/Anthony Phelps

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