South African cricket team, the Proteas, will head to Newlands for the third one-day international against India probably still shell shocked but more determined to get on track after last Saturday’s miserable defeat. ( I was so convinced of a Proteas win that I stopped watching – a salutary lesson with regards to fat ladies and singing I can tell you!).
Plenty of fiery accusations that the Proteas choked again are still doing the rounds on sports forums.
Fans were disgruntled with India’s sensational one-run victory staged at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, and would need a series win to boost the country’s morale ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup, next month.
South Africa took charge of the game in style when they restricted the Indians to a mere 190 runs on a normally high scoring ground.
Chevrolet Warriors Paceman, Lonwabo Tsotsobe put on a great show taking four wickets for 22 runs – also his career best -while Yuvraj Singh (53) and Virat Kohli (22) were the only noticeable run scorers for India.
Captain Graeme Smith led from the front with a formidable 77 runs off 98 balls. South Africa were cruising to victory on 120 for three in the 25th over.
But India’s fightback which silenced a boisterous Johannesburg crowd saw the home side losing their last seven wickets for 69 runs which started with JP Duminy losing his wicket.
Without singling out any players Smith said at a post-match conference, “We needed to be a bit more solid, instead of searching for those glory shots”.
South Africa’s batting line-up will no doubt fall under a microscope ahead of the World Cup.
Jacques Kallis’ stable presence was missed and Proteas fans will be hoping for a speedy recovery from the all rounder for the tournament on the sub-continent.
The two youngsters, Colin Ingram (Port Elizabeth, Chevrolet Warriors) and David Miller, find themselves under much pressure as the fight for places in the World Cup squad wages on.
Should the Proteas selectors keep the duo on, it will be most interesting to see where they will be used.
Miller displays great potential especially with his zeal for boundaries but questions are being raised if he has done enough to cement his place in the team.
There will have to be a reshuffle in the middle order to avoid disasters similar to Saturday’s game.
Ingram, who is filling in for Kallis, will be required to settle in much quicker should he be moved down the batting order.
It also remains to be seen if Faf du Plessis will have an opportunity to showcase his talent – he has been selected for this series but not yet started for the Proteas.
Meanwhile, India suffered a huge blow after cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar pulled out of the series with a hamstring injury.
Parthiv Patel will serve as a replacement for Tendulkar, leaving them with only one recognised opening batsman, Murali Vijay, for the final three games of the series.
After the game at Newlands the Proteas travel to St Georges, Port Elizabeth for the fourth ODI on Friday 21 January 2010 and an autograph signing session on 19 January at Greenacres.
Alan Straton
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