BAD DAY FOR SA CRICKET !!

[Shi]

At tea today, India could only have wished for a draw.

Dude, how the hell can you say this, it was the 5th day of a test. Just look at the ball that got Amla out and you will have an indication of how wickets misbehave on the last day of a test match. The batting performance was phenomenal.

 

[Arthur]

Look, I understand the attraction of a draw. I understand that it's a real result in Test cricket, and all that.

Also, I never abandoned hope and support for the team, even when things looked very bleak for us at the end of the Indian 2nd innings.

I also understand that the evolved game plan must've been that once the last recognised batsman goes, absolutely hold on at all costs and take the draw.

I understand that the draw is itself a historic achievement, and right up their in the record books for a 4th innings. Well done, boys. An immense achievement. Real grit, tenacity and character shown. And all that.

And yet. And yet.

With two wickets in hand and 16 required from 20 balls, it would have been marvellous to see a real push to win. So close, it seems a pity not to have tried. Heck, even Morkel was padded up to hold on at all costs, if needed.

Yes, the draw was a gutsy achievement. But a win - ah, that would have been sublime.

 

[blahdihel]

I really don't get how anyone can be content with this result. Today, we had the chance to make history, to break records, to reinforce our dominance in test cricket... Instead, our cowardly decision revealed nothing more than our lack of confidence in our own abilities.

+1
Their thought process: rather than risk choking, let's just bat out the final overs. That way, choking can't come into play.

Either way, i'd rather we lost knowing that we had tried than drawn knowing that we had given up. At least we could have proudly said that we tried. There would've been no shame in losing a match when chasing 458, nobody could've expected us to get it.

+1
Is the "choking" tag just magically going to disappear by itself? No, you face your fears, conquer them, or if it doesn't work out, try again when the opportunity arises again. They might pat each other on the back now, but they will keep thinking: "What if...?"

We could have proudly held the highest successful run chase records in ODIs and tests. What confidence that wouldn't have given us when faced with intimidating odds in a World Cup eliminator? People can go on about this being a proper result and not an ODI., but it is the psychological result, that could have been to so much greater benefit to them and it is this which transcends the format of cricket, be it test, ODI or T20.

I have never before doubted Smith's role as captain. But if we wish to remain number one, we cannot do so with a wimp of a leader.[/B].

+1 again
When AB got to his century, he didn't celebrate joyously , no, it was obvious to see he was determined to see the side through to victory. I like to believe that if he was captain and if the final decision was made by the captain, AB wouldn't have wimped out. The easy (cowardly) route was taken, when a hard (brave) decision was needed.

Only time will tell if this decision hurts us down the line, when the pressure's on...

 

[Hemi300c]

Well done Protea's
A great display if what we can do.
In my eyes we drilled India because we were clearly losing the game and took it from them.

My disappointment was the almost 6 bouncers bowled in the second and last overs. That is not disallowed but it is bad sportsmanship IMO.

 

[Wimhotep]

Yes and if South Africa gets beaten by India at Kingsmead we will lose the series. Then we will look back at this as an even worse result.

The Indians will be happy they got out of jail and that their batsmen were able to come to the South African pitch and face Steyn and the gang and knuckle down and score some solid runs. Which they gave hardly ever been successful at in their tours here.

Agree 100%

Imagine if it rains in Durban ? ( What !! Rain in Durban during Summer ?? never gonna happen ! )
And it becomes a no result game or another draw .... and SA looks back in hindsight to what could have been.

 

[Rubberpigg]

Fantastic result for South Africa.
Well done!
They pretty much pulled the rabbit out of the hat just by drawing the test match.
After all the hard work Faf and AB did, thank god they didn't chuck it away in the last few overs.

Very bad example of sportsmanship , after an amazing batting performance by some of the Protea batsman , the captaincy / management decide to "give up" the run chase when they have all the opputunity and time to win.

Leaves a very bad taste in one's mouth. Not the example I would want to be taught to the youngsters who are interested in being the next great SA cricketer.

Management and the SA Cricket Board need to rethink their priorities. This behaviour is not what i would expect from the No.1 team in world rankings.

Sad day for SA Sport + SA Cricket.

You are obviously clueless about test cricket.
Just stick to 20/20.

We're all fuming in the cricket thread. It was absolutely fscking pathetic. Proudly brought to you by Graeme Smith.

That SOB is lying to save face.

Bitter and twisted about something.
Clueless about test cricket.
Also,maybe just stick to 20/20.

 

[Shi]

We also don't know in what state Morkel was, yes he was padded up but can he have been relied on to see out 3 overs, could he be asked to run a quick single to win the game?

 

[Shi]

We also don't know in what state Morkel was, yes he was padded up but can he have been relied on to see out 3 overs, could he be asked to run a quick single to win the game?

article on cricinfo quotes Smith as saying that Morkel couldn't run between the wickets if he went in to bat.

 

[Kabraal]

Looking at the comments on sport24 (and some here), this is a prime example of how T20 poisons the mind. People are looking for that instant gratification. They see tail-enders hit 6 after 6 in a T20 and don't understand that batting on a surface that's 5 days old (which was already a dodge batting pitch on day one) with a red ball is totally different than batting on a piece of concrete with a white ball.

Loosing Tahir and Morkel within a few balls was a VERY real risk.

The hate for the proteas is sickening. The hate for Graeme Smith is sickening. I don't have words to describe how embarrassing the booing was yesterday. This test team has performed extremely well over the last few years. Yesterday they made a unpopular decision. They did not loose nor the they screw it up.

Off course I would've loved it if we won yesterday. Who wouldn't have? But there is only one thing wrong with our cricket at the moment, and that is CSA spineless inability to arrange for test match series with more than 2 games.

 

[Drifter]

In SA's defence, Morkel's injured and Tahir's ****. In these extremely difficult conditions, it was super easy for SA to lose wickets in a clump after Faf's exit. So I guess there was nothing wrong with them going for the safest option at that particular time. A loss would be huge gut-wrenching.

Hit the nail on the head. This way we still have a chance to win the series in Durban, instead drawing it, or heavens forbid, losing. Tahir cant bat at all, and with Morkel injured, they made the correct decision I think.

 

[sand_man]

Looking at the comments on sport24 (and some here), this is a prime example of how T20 poisons the mind. People are looking for that instant gratification. They see tail-enders hit 6 after 6 in a T20 and don't understand that batting on a surface that's 5 days old (which was already a dodge batting pitch on day one) with a red ball is totally different than batting on a piece of concrete with a white ball.

Losing Tahir and Morkel within a few balls was a VERY real risk.

The hate for the proteas is sickening. The hate for Graeme Smith is sickening. I don't have words to describe how embarrassing the booing was yesterday. This test team has performed extremely well over the last few years. Yesterday they made a unpopular decision. They did not loose nor the they screw it up.

Off course I would've loved it if we won yesterday. Who wouldn't have? But there is only one thing wrong with our cricket at the moment, and that is CSA spineless inability to arrange for test match series with more than 2 games.

Agree 100%!!!!

There is no sporting fan in the world more fickle than a South African sporting fan. Disgusting!!

Just hope players don't read those comments! Must be so deflating to give so much of yourself for such an undeserving, uninformed and unappreciative fan base!!

 

[sand_man]

We also don't know in what state Morkel was, yes he was padded up but can he have been relied on to see out 3 overs, could he be asked to run a quick single to win the game?

Exactly!! What these morons don't understand is batting with a sprained ankle is almost impossible!! Not only can you not run but how do you move in the crease when trying to play your shots? Whether it's simply a forward defensive shot or ducking under a short one, being unable to put any weight on your right leg is going to seriously compromise your ability to protect your wicket. So with an incompetent Tahir and a unfit Morkel how could SA risk it?

Anyway as many have already stated, we have the T20 mentality at play here, coupled with a gross ignorance regarding the game, the rules and how it is played...

 

[AfricanTech]

Agree 100%!!!!

There is no sporting fan in the world more fickle than a South African sporting fan. Disgusting!!

Just hope players don't read those comments! Must be so deflating to give so much of yourself for such an undeserving, uninformed and unappreciative fan base!!

I don't think the comments will bother them too much.

Armchair cricketers have no idea of what it's like out there in the middle, on the last day, in the gloom, with an injured player and a #11 to come.

Now if the umpire had not clocked up twice, or we had DRS, .....

 

[Wimhotep]

Fantastic result for South Africa.
Well done!
They pretty much pulled the rabbit out of the hat just by drawing the test match.
After all the hard work Faf and AB did, thank god they didn't chuck it away in the last few overs.

You are obviously clueless about test cricket.
Just stick to 20/20.

Not exactly , more like they started pulling the rabbit out the hat and said ... oopps ... lets keep it in the hat and MAYBE pull it out when we get to Durban. :erm:

Sad how us cricket fans don't all have the same opinion .... really sad state of affairs when people think differently from others.

 

[FrankCastle]

Had the Peoteas pushed for the win and lost they would've been labelled chokers by the very same bunch saying they they were wrong to go into defensive mode.

The instructions were that they only go for the win if there are enough wickets 10 overs before the close.
Unfortunately we lost AB, JP and Faf in quick succession and with Morkel injured and Tahir's confidence in the toilet, another 2 wickets and it would've been game over.

How tragic would that have been.

Most were expecting a draw so lets take it.

 

[sand_man]

People still defending the draw all high and mighty based on what they think they know about cricket.
Final innings you had 458 to chase, you made 450 and blocked the last 2 overs.
This is why they say test cricket is dieing. All the emotions fight and skill with no result.

A draw is a result in test cricket. I think test cricket is dieing because people don't understand the idea of a draw being a credible result in particular circumstances, FOR EXAMPLE, a team required to bat the best part of 140 overs and score the highest 4th innings total ever to achieve a victory with only 10 fit batsmen!!!

Perhaps test cricket is dieing because people judge an enter 5 day match on what happened in the last 2 overs?

Seems like it was all to play for with nothing to lose really!

Just the series...?

 

[BobsLawnService]

This is why test cricket is dying. Nobody seems to understand the subtleties of the 5 day game. That draw was a victory for South Africa.

At the end of day 4 we were written off and at the end of day 5 the Indians were panicing and trying not to lose.

Going into the next test that sort of psychological mindf@#kery is going to be a huge advantage for us, but had we lost we'd have been screwed in the series.

A few rash attempts to win almost cost us the game. If Steyn or Philander had gone out with 2-3 overs to spare we would have been staring down the barrel.

It was a good decision in the middle there.

 

[Mike7]

What some of the "real" cricket supports on here dismissing everyone as 20/20 supporters don't get is we didn't need to "go for it". Going for it is needing to score 10/over. We didn't need to "go for it". Scoring 16 runs in 3 overs is not "going for it".

We needed to just put bat on ball and take a few quick singles with he odd boundary, which Vernon was well capable of hitting.

After faf got out 15 dot balls was bowled.

We needed 8 runs to make history.

 

[BobsLawnService]

What some of the "real" cricket supports on here dismissing everyone as 20/20 supporters don't get is we didn't need to "go for it". Going for it is needing to score 10/over. We didn't need to "go for it". Scoring 16 runs in 3 overs is not "going for it".

We needed to just put bat on ball and take a few quick singles with he odd boundary, which Vernon was well capable of hitting.

After faf got out 15 dot balls was bowled.

We needed 8 runs to make history.

All this with 1 wicket in hand on a snakepit of a pitch. (Morkel was injured.)

You people are making me a bit sad. We watched one of the greatest nailbiter tests between the two best teams in the world.

It would have been awesome to make history but we didn't.

 

[Billy]

Given that India dominated the match, SA were lucky to get the draw. After Faf's dismissal there was more chance of losing than winning.

This was not a one day match where teams can score lots of runs in the final overs. India would have played defensively and the only way to score would have been sixes. At least the option to bowl underarm has now been removed.

A draw was a fair result, if disappointing for SA fans.