The Enigma That is South Africa
Why are big names picking South Africa as World Cup favourites? Is it surprising? Or do the experts genuinely believe that the Proteas' World Cup jinx can finally be broken?
- NDTV
- Updated: February 03, 2015 09:10 PM IST
It's World Cup time again and the pundits, both certified and self-proclaimed, are busy analysing the chances of all the big teams which could stake a claim for world cricket's biggest prize. Australia and India feature on the favourites list of many experts, but so does South Africa. Former Australian captain and NDTV World Cup expert Ian Chappell has put Australia, India and South Africa on his list. Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe has said "My heart says the Black Caps, my head suggests the Proteas." But why are these big names picking South Africa? Is it surprising? Afterall, the Proteas have never won the World Cup in 6 attempts. In fact, they have never even made the final.
South Africa's relationship with the ICC World Cup can at best be summed up as so close yet so far. In the 1992 semi-final vs England at the SCG, South Africa needed 22 runs off 13 deliveries. Twelve minutes of rain changed that equation to an impossible 21 needed off 1 ball, as per a new rain rule. The 1992 edition was the first ICC World Cup with South Africa in it and they were the dark horses everyone was cheering for, but their campaign ended in heartbreak. England captain Graham Gooch, who chose to come off the field when the rain came down, later admitted, "I'd be lying if I didn't think that maybe we should stay on. The South Africans must feel very dejected to lose like that and my heart goes out to them."
If luck did them in in 1992, they shot themselves in the foot in 1999. In the final match of the Super 6 stage, Herschelle Gibbs dropped Steve Waugh on 56. Waugh's apparent remark, "You've just dropped the World Cup" has become a part of cricket folklore, but Waugh never really said that to Gibbs. The Australian captain's 120 took the Aussies into the semi-finals.
The semis was a repeat of that encounter as the two teams faced off again. The equation boiled down to 1 run needed off 4 deliveries for South Africa to win. Off the 4th delivery of the over, Lance Klusener went for an easy single, but Donald was ball watching. He was run out and the match was tied in dramatic fashion. Australia went through to the final by virtue of having beaten South Africa in the Super 6 stage. Bill Lawry's unforgettable words from the commentary box, "Donald did not run, I cannot believe it. Australia go into the World Cup final. Ridiculous running with two balls to go. Donald did not go, Klusener came, what a disappointing end for South Africa" will never be forgotten by any Protea fan. Former South Africa captain Clive Rice in fact said, "The 1999 semi-final gave us the ideal chance to go for glory and we missed it quite badly." Once again, South Africa were so close yet so far. Once again, they were very unlucky. The tag of chokers was firmly attached to a team with some incredible talent in all departments.
Now, 23 years after their World Cup debut, South Africa return to where it all began for them. Their squad for the 2015 ICC World Cup has the world's best ODI batsman in AB de Villiers, one of the world's most lethal fast bowlers in Dale Steyn, a run machine at the top of the order in Hashim Amla and 12 other players who will be focussed on just one thing - proving to the world that they can go all the way. They have the arsenal, but do they have luck on their side? Former South African player Barry Richards has said, "We have a good enough team to win the competition. Luck always plays a part in the World Cup. We just have to hope that we don't play on a day that belongs to a Virat Kohli or a Chris Gayle."
Perhaps fresh in Richards' mind is the memory of the 2007 World Cup semi-final when they ran into Australia again. That day belonged to Shaun Tait and Glenn McGrath who took 7 wickets between them to dismiss the Proteas for 149. South Africa were the No. 1 ranked team, but once again they fell one win short of making the final.
Over the years South Africa has produced some excellent players. Hansie Cronje, Brian McMillan, Alan Donald, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn. But, call it luck or the inability to perform under pressure on the big stage, the tag of chokers is something none of them have managed to help their team shed. The only big ICC tournament that the Proteas have won was the inuagural Champions Trophy in 1998. But despite their track record, South Africa are the second favourites on the bookmakers' list this time. Maybe that's because of the conditions in Australia and New Zealand, maybe it's because of their recent 4-1 rout of the West Indies or maybe it's because people genuinely believe that AB and his boys might be the first team in over two decades to finally break their World Cup jinx.