Cricketing fraternities refer to them as "Proteas". They have always had one among the best line up all these years. But it makes one wonder how this team hasn't made it to even a single world cup final yet, let alone winning one. They have made a mark for themselves though, carrying a dubious distinction of being eliminated from WC semis thrice which has earned them the "Chokers" tag". (If you are wondering about any other team with better stats, Kiwis make it there with 6 WC semi apperances. But dont bother; they lack the consistency in their line up that SA have).
This team have always had the right mix of what experts call as "ideal". A fiery bowling attack which makes almost every batsman on earth concentrate a lil bit harder at the crease, set of batsmen with a touch of elegance & finesse, batsmen of calibre with equally good brutal hitting powers, electric fielders who fly across as if they were in a swimming pool, all-rounders who'd give Intel a run for their money on multi-tasking. Starting with Cronje and Wessels to the recently capped Quniton de Kock, there were (and are) quality players all along - Donald, Kirsten, Pollock, Rhodes, Gibbs, Boucher, Kallis, Amla, deVilliers, Steyn and the list doesnt end there.
A dream mix as we could call, yet the fact remains that World Cup or for that matter any of other major tournament title has evaded them ever since they first appeared in a WC in 1992. The 2003 WC turned out to be an embarrasment for such a class unit with them being ousted in the very first round. What followed was rather a valiant move that stunned the cricketing world for once. A 22 year old who had just completed one year in International cricket was named the captain, stripping the responsibility of the then captain Shawn Pollock.
Graeme Smith came to light. He faced his first test in Bangladesh when South Africa toured for a one-day tri-series and a two-Test match series. In the very first ODI he led, South Africa were battered and bruised and the picture did not look all that good. The rest of the tour panned out well for the Proteas and Smith lived to fight another day. But the first real test awaited him in England. That tour changed Smith’s career and cemented him as a leader and a batsman. He smashed two double hundreds on that trip and assured the fans that he was here to stay.
Ten years forward, South Africa under Smith has moved to the pinnacle of Test rankings. Winning two consecutive Test series in England and Australia is no mean feat. Add to that, two drawn series in India. Irrespective of the opponents, irrespective of the conditions, he has imposed belief into a side with skills and aspiration and has led them by example. There is a sense of fight and grit about him that can inspire the others in the side to raise the bar. There have been positive reports about the his rapport shared with his teammates which augurs well for any team play. And as stats suggests, he is a class-act with bat, he averages over 50 in tests making the reason for the team's No.1 position all the more obvious. A performing leader is always bound to inflict his team with winning habits. He had to however give up his mantle in the shorter formats that demanded a rather different approach. Turned out good for him and the team. Have quite made the team well on course to shy away from so called the Chokers tag.
The champion leader is now on verge of making history. A rare milestone awaits him which I may assume to believe that no other cricketer could practically achieve. It will be his 100th time captaining a test side when South Africa take on Pakistan today in Johannesberg. (technically 99th for the green and gold suit; 1 other being for the ICC World XI in a Super-Test against Aussies in 2005). One more thing makes it all the more special for him, today being his 32nd Birthday. Many more happy returns Smith.
Way to go SA!!!
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