Quiney announces his arrival
Quinton de Kock has arrived in empathic style, knocking 3 ODI tons within a month, two of which were back to back against the world number 1 ODI team! Mike Haysman and HD Ackerman tried to justify that Quinton was not quite ready for test cricket. I disagree strongly: he boasts a first class average in excess of 50 and it’s the manner in which he scored his runs – measured aggression, mixed with a calculated approach.
He is perfect to fulfil the “Gilchrist” kind of role, batting at 6 or 7 in our national test side. It is better to include him in the test side now, as we might need his bravery and skill to counter punch when we face the Australians in March. If Mitchell Johnson keeps on doing what he’s doing, the lower order might be in for a torrid time! Mitchell has simply been ferocious, but more on the Ashes in Thursday’s blog.
What a difference a week makes! The Proteas recovered in spectacular style after their series defeat to Pakistan a week or so ago by beating the Indians in the first two ODI’s to seal the series in some style! What was most impressive is the way they did it – clinical, ruthless and with great authority!
I expressed my doubts about the ODI’s in my previous blog, but Quinton de Kock and the rest of the batting line-up stepped up to the plate to enable Steyn and company to unleash a hostile barrage at the Indian top order, almost taking wickets at will.
Not to take anything away from the Proteas, but I hope the BCCI takes note of this! Not only did they let the South African public down with their dogmatic and autocratic approach to shorten the tour schedule – they also let their own national side down. After all, the Indian side is the current World Cup Champions and the World Number 1 ranked ODI side.
Arriving in SA with no time to prepare and adapt to local conditions, MS Dhoni and his men were left to rely only on experience of previous tours, which was hardly a match for the determined Proteas squad, who seems intent to prove a point.
Perhaps it was a cost they (BCCI) were willing to pay to enable Tendulkar to play his final test match in Mumbai and, don’t get me wrong, I am a massive fan of the little master, but the way the BCCI manipulated the schedules was a slap in the face of the cricketing public – no individual is bigger than the game and they might have created a dangerous precedent.
Bokke Blitz ABs by Paul Kruger
Toe ons na 5 minute 14 – 0 agter is, dag ek by myself: “Here we go again. They have a mental hold on us”. Gelukkig was die Blitsbokke se geloof in hulself, baie sterker as myne.
Die statistiek wat gedurende die wedstryd gewys is, het egter bevestig waarom ons so goed gedoen het. Ons verdediging was die beste in die kompetisie. Dit het ook gelei tot frustrasie by die afbreekpunte, waar die Kiwi’s knaend gestraf is, iets waarvan hulle niks gehou het nie.
Is dit net my verbeelding, of word daar nou in alle vorms van die wedstryd minder toegeeflik teen hulle geblaas?
Desnieteenstaande bly hulle nog, as mens die hele jaar in ag neem, die pasaangeërs in wêreldrugby, ongeag watter kode.
Maar die jaar is verby, 2014 wag, en ek is versigtig optimisties oor die pad vorentoe.
Request for an Audience
I received a call on Saturday morning to make myself available for a meeting with four gentlemen who wished to express their appreciation for the positive support they received in our blog during the year.
Pieter-Steph du Toit, Willem Alberts en Frans Malherbe probeer my intimideer, maar Duane Vermeulen het dit veiliger geag om eerder ‘n onderhoud met Bok-Radio te voer.
Op ‘n ernstiger noot: hulle is al drie ongelooflike beskeie, nice mense.
