Cricket World Cup 2011

The same old story repeated again and the big tournament’s ghost has returned to haunt them, leaving them out of the world cup this time also. The problem continues and added more fuel to the agony of Graeme Smith. They again failed to hold on to their nerves. Their jinx for the knock out stage and big tournaments crucial matches is not going to take them to any helm of the Cricket World Cup. Even in this cup they were not able to remove the tag of chokers from their “hall of fame”.

No one can forget their 1999 World Cup Semi-final debacle against Australia, Klusener’s played a cameo to bring his team back into the game after losing quick wickets but Allan Donald made a mess of this Golden chance. Same story being repeated in next two consecutive World Cups and even in Champions Trophies. South Africans are still struggling to figure out the solution for their big tournament’s jinx.

This might be the last cup for Kallis and South Africa seems to have no replacement for such a legend. They were already lacking the experience of Mark Boucher in this world cup and the next world cup could be even more difficult because they will be lacking some more experienced players. To clinch crucial encounters their senior players should play the role of motivators and pacifiers for the rest of the team members.

South Africans were looking fine in their bowling and half way through their chase in the match; they bowled superbly to restrict the Kiwis to a modest total on a slow low turner. All the bowlers rose to the occasion and gave no room for the kiwis and making them earn every run. They looked in the driver’s seat until Kallis and de Villiers were batting; even Smith got a start but failed to capitalize on the same. Once the partnership was broken, the wickets tumbled like nine pins. From 107/2 to 172/10, Plessis did try to give some fight with his small cameo but his effort went in vain as Kiwis got the better of South African Batsmen.

South Africa is too good a team to be without a World Cup trophy. They are the most consistent side in current age of cricket and their strength is backed up very well by very good bench strength. Smith said in a post match conference that his words won’t change the fate of his team. He was looking in utter despair and this array after this debacle.

Tags: Chokers, Cricket, Cricket World Cup, ICC, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Proteas, World Cup