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Great achievements in sport lead to patriotism, national pride and emotional support - as seen with the Springbok victories in the 1995 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. We have once again witnessed this with the Protea series victory for the first time in Australia. This great victory is probably the third best achievement in the history of South African sport after the two Rugby World Cups.
The national pride, the support and acknowledgement by all South Africans for what the Proteas have achieved has been outstanding. They deserve nothing less as this team has now become truly world class.
I suffered at the hands of a few people who commented on the fact that I doubted that the Proteas would win the series down under. One person suggested that I apologise to the nation and another went further suggesting I should be flogged. I must say I enjoyed these comments - they made me laugh and added value to my festive season.
Yes, like many other South Africans, I had my doubts about winning the series and I am delighted to have been proved wrong. These doubts were based on sound cricket principles and not with the benefit of hindsight or emotion. I was no different to over fifty percent of the readers who voted on Sport 24’s survey regarding the series result. This does not make us less patriotic.
South Africa have shown in this series that they are the best team in the world and will remain such for at least the next five years, and I base this on the team having a healthy balance of experience and youth. Also, the domestic system is starting to produce some very good young talent in all disciplines. It is interesting that Cricket South Africa over the years has developed its cricket system along the same lines as that of Australia. Both countries have a good development program, youth excellence programs, a national academy and a six team domestic system.
South Africa is starting to reap the benefits of this system like Australian cricket has for years. In the foreseeable future South Africa, India, Australia and to a lesser degree, England, will dominate world cricket because of their pipe line systems to international cricket. The gap between the top four and the rest in international cricket is growing and the International Cricket Council needs to ensure that the gap does not become a divide.
And to close - I am very impressed with the manner in which both Graeme Smith and Mickey Arthur have handled this moment of greatness. Their humility is commendable. They have shown respect to the Australians as a great cricketing nation, and also to their predecessors who failed in their quests for victory - not because they were inferior but often by virtue of circumstance. Smith especially has matured since the last tour when he tried to be more Australian than the Australians. He has become an ambassador for his country.
I wrote a column after the England tour saying that I thought Smith was headed for greatness, and I believe he has taken a meaningful step in that direction with this victory in Australia. However, to achieve true greatness as a captain and South African he needs to win the Cricket World Cup in 2011.
Arthur is a former cricket administrator and current player agent.
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
