Feb
17
2010

Was I right…maybe

An article by mspr1nt

I should be upset. I should, but I am not. In fact, I have a smug grin on my say and I don’t hate to say it but I told you so. South Africa are quite average. They lack killer instinct and, they’ve tied the noose…all they need to do is choke now.

Good friend Purna said that the reason South Africa will win this series is because they went into it as underdogs. I pointed out that we need not worry. They’ll get themselves into the favourites position and still end up choking. And they are now a few innings away.

Most of you who read this blog (are there any of you?) will know that, even though I am a South African, I actually don’t really like the national side. I support them, of course, I have to but I am not deluded. In truth, there is more wrong with the national side than what’s right.

After winning the first Test (I dunno how they did it either) everybody was quick to praise Corrie van Zyl and say that all the changes came at the right time. Er…changes? Funny that the only changes that were made to the team saw the Saffers slump and despite Alviro (bless him) scoring 100 in the first innings the rest of the team was their normal average self. Ashwell Prince’s time is up and Duminy should either be developed into a specialist spinner or he must go. After what he did in Australia we all knew that he had set the bar too high for himself, living up to something like that match-saving knock is not easy. Let’s hope for Alviro’s sake the same doesn’t happen to him.

If Alviro’s presence does prove fruitful, the team needs to be reconstructed, drastically. It’s funny how much of an impact one single player can make, VVS Laxman has played a huge role in helping India into the position they currently find themselves in and Alviro has the chance to do the same for South Africa.

But let’s not kid ourselves. India look a much stronger, hungrier, killer instinct type than what they did in the first Test and the Saffers have Everest to climb.

PS. Did anybody watch Martin Two Toe Guptill and Brendon McCullum get out in the 180s?

Thought not.

Share/Bookmark

If you liked what you read, why don’t you vote for us at the South African Blog Awards. Vote Now!

Why don't you Subscribe to Paddle Sweep by Email?

Tags: Alviro Petersen, south africa chokers, south africa tour of india

About the Author: Ant Sims

Over-analyzer. Part-time grammar nazi, writer & disliker of capital letters. Cricket tragic, Jack Russel Lover. Future famous blogger. Online addict. Half West Indian.

6 Comments + Add Comment

David Bird February 17, 2010 at 12:13 am

Over 300 runs scored by wicket keepers today and no sign of King Kumar. Crazy. I didn’t see Guppers or McCullum get 180s because of the time zone thing, that and the fact that it wasn’t on Sky. But I assure you, there are people out there who read this blog! Keep ‘em coming! Duminy could be a spinning all-rounder to rival Swanny! Prince – blimey, that’s a slump.

What is SO wrong with your national side? Apart from the fact that Pollock should still be there, what changes would you make?

Reply
- mspr1nt February 17, 2010 at 2:25 am
  
  I’m writing a piece especially for you as to what I would do if I ran the SA team.
  
  Reply
Tifosiguy February 17, 2010 at 4:06 am

To be fair, if South Africa can get a SPINNER, then they should do all right in any surface. I think they have the best seam attack going around. Give Parnell a year to develop and in the meantime they do need to find a spinner

Prince/Duminy – think the problem is they practise against the likes of Harris, so spin wise it’s actually no practise..

Reply
berksowl February 17, 2010 at 8:22 am

My Indian friend Avtar predicted the first test win for SA because, as he told it, the Indians do better against SA in SA. I haven’t checked the records to see how right he is abou that, but I do know that for India’s test team, their own national press is always a scarier opponent than the team they face on the cricket field.

Reply
Purna February 17, 2010 at 11:45 pm

Man! I am not even watching this game. That first innings collapse was something else. And I thought Kallis and Amla could bat through the day…thankfully the weather is being a bitch.

Isn’t it ironic that now we are hoping for rain and praying for a Graeme Onions moment?
Purna´s last blog ..That Buffalo factor

Reply
Paddle February 18, 2010 at 12:23 am

What goes around….

Reply