White Washed Windies
The Proteas have made amends for their abysmal performance in the T20 World Cup. White washing the West Indies in both the T20 and ODI formats will certainly go some way towards taking the team into a new era. New combinations have been tried, the top order have been in blistering form, but as good as The Proteas were in this series the West Indies were woeful. We need to be cautious in celebrating this victory. Chris Gayle, an individual talent stands head and shoulders above his team. And not just literally. His frustration with his team was exemplified in his blow out with spinner Suleman...
Read MoreSammy wears a huge heart on West Indian sleeves
Hashim Amla may have walked away with his second man-of-the-match award in as many matches but Darren Sammy’s eleventh hour heroics stole the show in Antigua last night. South Africa’s 300 looked an imposing total and though the wicket was an excellent one for batting, the West Indies’ reply was repeatedly stilted by the fall of wickets. (Read more)
Read MoreOne small step for SA, one giant leap back for Boucher?
Once more Chris Gayle won the toss and once more he chose to bowl first. Hashim Amla and AB De Villiers were in prolific form as they both raced to centuries in the first One Day International between South Africa and West Indies in Antigua. It is promising that while Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis failed Hashim and AB were able to rescue the innings calmly. South Africa were in trouble at 57 for 2 with the good start made my Amla and Smith nullified by the fall of two quick wickets. Amla and de Villiers stayed the course though, seeing off the West Indian fightback and were soon in control...
Read MoreAussies choke on English medicine
If you’re not keen on joining the adulation of the English cricket team steer clear of British media for the next week. Paul Collingwood’s men have become the darlings of the nation, saviours of English cricket, restorers of national sporting pride, etc, etc. It is the first time England have won an ICC competition but in South Africa the talk is curiously about whether it’s an English victory at all. ‘They say SA are chokers, we’ve just won the T20 world cup!’ says a friend. (Read...
Read MoreAdvance Australia Fair
Chasing a mammoth 192 in twenty overs on a slow pitch against world-class slower bowlers, few would have backed Australia to beat Pakistan in the second semi-final in St Lucia last night. Losing their openers cheaply and then continuing to lose batsmen at critical junctures, Australia’s cause seemed doomed to failure.Pakistan looked indomitable for most of the game but it was Australia that went on to score a resounding victory. (Read more)
Read MoreCall the sangomas, something needs to change
It was painful to watch the Proteas slump to yet another defeat. After cussing AB for what must rate as one of the silliest ways to get out, I wondered if perhaps a visit to the sangoma by upper echelons of South African cricket had yielded some undesired effects. Dressing room muti gone wrong? There is just no way we can naturally be this useless. Like sluggish automatons, we just cannot seem to put a more virile approach to our batting. We’ve been woeful this tournament. Sure, our bowling hasn’t been brilliant. Langeveldt and Steyn are head and shoulders above the rest of the attack...
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