Posing with Faf du Plessis at the start of the tournament is as close as Steve Smith got to the trophy. Photo: Gallo Image
I was chatting to my colleague Billy Seyffert this morning. He was at Newlands yesterday when the Proteas swamped the world’s number one ODI cricket side five love.
“Let’s look at the Sydney Morning Herald headlines”, suggested Billy.
· “The rest of us weren’t good enough”: Smith laments ODI rout
· Ed Jackson: “How do our cricketers rate when we’re beaten 5-0?”
· Paul Cully: “Why the Wallabies aren’t even in the game.”
· Linda Pearce: “Kyrgios says: “I don’t owe them anything” after another meltdown.
Also from the SMH:
South Africa captain du Plessis, who will lead the Proteas in next month’s three-Test campaign in Australia with AB de Villiers recovering from elbow surgery, was delighted his team didn’t ease up after sealing the series in game three at Durban.
“We, as a team, obviously before this series didn’t expect 5-nil,” du Plessis said. “We wanted to beat the Aussies but when we got to 3-nil in Durban, it was important for us to try and make sure we don’t take our foot off the gas.
“This group of players wanted to make history and we did that today. It’s a special feeling.”
Proteas five, Australia Nil
Why do we find it so easy wallow in despair when our sides lose, and battle to enjoy victory?
Yes, the Aussies toured without a number of key players who could have made a difference, but we also blooded a number of untried players who came out tops, as opposed to the new kids in the Aussie side.
We also missed a player or two, most notably AB de Villiers, about whose absence and presence nothing more needs to be said.
The highlight of the series for me was the return to form of our top order batsmen, particularly JP Duminy and Rilee Rossouw. This will work wonders for their confidence when facing the full Monty (or should that be Bruce?) in the test series down under next month.
The Aussie bowling coach also heaped praise on our batsmen, maar dit kon mens seker verwag, né?
Let’s bask in the glory of the moment, and not start worrying about whether they will be able to repeat this in Australia next month.
Rugby Lament
Hier by ons gaan dit op die rugbyfront ook nie veel beter nie as in Australië nie.
Die Burger het dit selfs goed gedink om in die redaksionele kommentaar die stand van rugby in Suid-Afrika te bespreek te midde van die chaos by universiteite en die klugtige regstappe teen die Minister van Finansies te midde van die dreigende afgradering van ons ekonomie.
Genadiglik kan ons vir eers afstap van rugby as onderwerp en ons toespits op krieket. Gelukkig is daar, volgens David Mellvil, darem ‘n nuwe borg vir die Bokke wat pas by hul huidige spelstyl.
