Opening Bat
The choker tag is here again!
It is hard to describe how disappointed we feel at having exited an international tournament yet again, nearly at the semi-final stage. The choker tag has inevitably raised its head again.
There is no consolation for failing to make it past the semi-final of a tournament that we were actually one of the favourites to win. And a win yesterday would have certainly given the fans something to cheer about, because it would have made us the first South African team to make the semi-final of an international tournament since 1991, the year South Africa rejoined international cricket.
However, full marks to India for dealing with the extreme pressure of the situation at Kingsmead. And full marks for the way they came out fighting, knowing they had to win to stay in the tournament. Now they go on to play Australia, and I would ask people to be wary of making predictions, because the Indians seemed really charged up on the field and could give the Australians a run for their money.
Our fielding, as the world saw, was not up to our usual high standards. But what really hurt was that we failed to keep our heads and get to 126, which would have been enough to keep us in the tournament. That sort of adds salt to our wounds, because we once again stand accused of getting the maths wrong, but none of those accusing us have any idea how bitterly upset we are about the loss. We aren’t fools: we knew 126 was the total we had to get, and that we did not get there was not owing to a mathematical blunder but because India kept the screws on. We never really got to a point when 126 seemed easily reachable.
However, brooding about what might have been is pointless. We leave for a tough tour of Pakistan on Tuesday, and need to stay focused on that. In fact, we are quite looking forward to starting over and taking on the fresh challenge. I reckon this team has a point or two to prove. Not that we expect Pakistan to be an easy outing, particularly now that their bowling seems to be coming together nicely, and we will have to play out of our skins if we want to make an impact. Knowing this team, that will not prove beyond them.
(Gameplan)