Johannesburg – The curtain closes today on another South African cricket season. In many respects, it has been a long and draining campaign, with much meat on the bone to take us through a winter of discontent.
Even as the dust settles, the premier four-day competition has finished with a stutter, the best teams seemingly finding new ways not to secure the Sunfoil Series. To their credit, the Titans found the means to dig out a final, monumental effort to outlast the Cobras by 10 runs and confirm their domination of the local scene this year.’
For those – and there are far too many – who care little for domestic fortunes, the various national teams have also endured a season to forget. The women’s side provided the main sources of encouragement, with a T20 series win over West Indies, which earned more gloss when the islanders went on to win the WorldTwenty20.
Of course, the biggest point of interest is always how the Proteas fare, especially in a season that has a tournament as its centre-piece. The Test series losses to India and England would have been digested a little easier by an increasingly pessimistic audience, if the last act of the summer, the World Twenty20, had brought a smile to the masses.
As it was, the Proteas showed they are still far from graduating at match-finishing school. Great players, with terrific records over their careers, but there is a glaring chasm in those averages when regular matches are stacked up against those that truly matter.
The only exception, and by a long way, is Imran Tahir, who seems to be emboldened by the glare of the bright lights. Tahir, for several years now, has become the focal point of the South African attack in tournament cricket, and he has seldom failed to deliver.
More is the pity that he is the oldest member of that squad, because his greatest legacy may yet be to pass on the ice that runs through his veins when everything matters. Then again, maybe he will surprise us and play until he’s 45; which is possible, if he somehow cuts down on his running celebrations, and retains his infectious passion for team and country.
Most of the country’s stars are at the IPL now, rubbing shoulders with many of the same men who proved too clinical, too crafty and too clear-headed for them just weeks ago. Not long after that, many are going to sample the CPL, for more of the same.
In both these slog-fests, it is very likely that South Africans will be among the best performers overall. Why? Because, frankly, those games are fun and all, but they don’t really matter. The world will not feel like it has ended if Bangalore or Trinidad lose three on the trot.
Individually fêted for their skills, South African players will always find another league, another pay cheque, and another stage to thrill upon. And yet, the world still waits for them to find a way to harness all that talent into a string of performances as a team when it truly matters.
It has truly been a summer of discontent, one which has laid bare the challenges on South African cricket’s horizon. The Under-19 side served up the worst possible defence of their World Cup title in Bangladesh recently. Given the advancing years – and changing priorities – of the senior side, that doesn’t bode well for the future.
South African cricket marks 25 years since re-admission this winter, and the occasion will be celebrated accordingly. But, once that party is over, the sleeves need to be rolled up to ensure the next 25 years produce that glaring omission from the Proteas’ CV; winning a world title.
Incredibly, wresting that World Cup crown still looks as impossible as getting 22 runs from one ball, all these years later.
It’s just not cricket.
– The Sunday Independent