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Arthur Turner
How good are the Proteas after the recent two series’ against Australia, who still remain the benchmark? Forget about the Newlands Test, it is purely academic; the only positive is that South Africa has averted a whitewash in the 'home' Test series. It has become a norm that the team that wins the series before the final Test fails to compete in the 'dead rubber'.
Prior to the Australian tour expectations in South Africa were high that the Proteas would win the Test series after a successful tour of Australia where they won both the Test and One Day International series’. It was expected that the Proteas would become the undisputed world champions by claiming the top position in the ICC standings for Tests like they did in Australia in the One Day International’s. So what has gone wrong?
There is a school of thought that the Proteas were lucky to win the Test series in Australia. This school of thought was shared by knowledgeable cricket personalities like Robin Jackman and Omar Henry on the SuperSport programme Inside Edge recently. The feeling is that the Proteas got out of jail in both Perth and Melbourne to win the series. I do not agree with this point of view as South Africa won both Test matches easily in the end, by six and nine wickets respectively. No luck was involved in this series win, only character and a never-say-die team spirit.
There are probably four reasons for the loss at home to Australia namely expectation, selection and lack of depth and under rating the Aussies.
For the first time the Proteas started as favorites against Australia and the expectations form the public were massive to beat Australia at home for the first time in nearly 40 years. Add to this the prospect of becoming the undisputed world champions and this was uncharted waters for the Proteas.
The selectors must also shoulder some of the blame for leaving Ashwell Prince out of the team for the first two Tests. They failed to pick their best batting line-up and denied the team one of its great fighters. He was certainly missed. Also, the lack of confidence and form of Morne Morkel created problems and exposed South Africa’s depth in fast bowling. South African cricket has some exciting talent but lacks depth, the two are vastly different.
This Australian team is a much better team than given credit for as we have seen on this tour. In fact there is not much to choose between the two teams. They have regrouped well when one considers the rebuilding phase they are in and the injury problems they have had to deal with. Once again they have proved that there is no such thing as a weak Australian team.
South Africa and Australia are by far the best two teams in world cricket. The gap between them and the rest is big. India will claim that they are in the same league but I do not agree. They are an old team that has never won a Test in South Africa or a series in Australia. They are only a force on the sub-continent.
South Africa has enjoyed a wonderful run in Test cricket since 2006 and defeated all the Test playing nations in the world. The time will shortly arrive to start building a new Test team much like Australia is currently busy with. The selectors will have to find replacements for players like Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Makhaya Ntini in the near future, probably after the England tour next season.
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.
How good are the Proteas after the recent two series’ against Australia, who still remain the benchmark? Forget about the Newlands Test, it is purely academic; the only positive is that South Africa has averted a whitewash in the 'home' Test series. It has become a norm that the team that wins the series before the final Test fails to compete in the 'dead rubber'.
Prior to the Australian tour expectations in South Africa were high that the Proteas would win the Test series after a successful tour of Australia where they won both the Test and One Day International series’. It was expected that the Proteas would become the undisputed world champions by claiming the top position in the ICC standings for Tests like they did in Australia in the One Day International’s. So what has gone wrong?
There is a school of thought that the Proteas were lucky to win the Test series in Australia. This school of thought was shared by knowledgeable cricket personalities like Robin Jackman and Omar Henry on the SuperSport programme Inside Edge recently. The feeling is that the Proteas got out of jail in both Perth and Melbourne to win the series. I do not agree with this point of view as South Africa won both Test matches easily in the end, by six and nine wickets respectively. No luck was involved in this series win, only character and a never-say-die team spirit.
There are probably four reasons for the loss at home to Australia namely expectation, selection and lack of depth and under rating the Aussies.
For the first time the Proteas started as favorites against Australia and the expectations form the public were massive to beat Australia at home for the first time in nearly 40 years. Add to this the prospect of becoming the undisputed world champions and this was uncharted waters for the Proteas.
The selectors must also shoulder some of the blame for leaving Ashwell Prince out of the team for the first two Tests. They failed to pick their best batting line-up and denied the team one of its great fighters. He was certainly missed. Also, the lack of confidence and form of Morne Morkel created problems and exposed South Africa’s depth in fast bowling. South African cricket has some exciting talent but lacks depth, the two are vastly different.
This Australian team is a much better team than given credit for as we have seen on this tour. In fact there is not much to choose between the two teams. They have regrouped well when one considers the rebuilding phase they are in and the injury problems they have had to deal with. Once again they have proved that there is no such thing as a weak Australian team.
South Africa and Australia are by far the best two teams in world cricket. The gap between them and the rest is big. India will claim that they are in the same league but I do not agree. They are an old team that has never won a Test in South Africa or a series in Australia. They are only a force on the sub-continent.
South Africa has enjoyed a wonderful run in Test cricket since 2006 and defeated all the Test playing nations in the world. The time will shortly arrive to start building a new Test team much like Australia is currently busy with. The selectors will have to find replacements for players like Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Makhaya Ntini in the near future, probably after the England tour next season.
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.
