The Conventional ‘Chokers’

 

Wins and Losses just happen, they never define the true character of a team. However, failing continuously at crucial junctures leave teams with a few interesting tags behind them. With South Africa becoming the first team to be eliminated from the World Cups, after a disastrous loss against Pakistan, the title ‘CHOKERS’ has thus resurfaced across the globe. Ever since the Proteas busted onto international scenes in 1992, they have been mighty impressive and skillful in their approach. However, all prestigious multinational crowns have avoided them, across formats.

One often relates South Africa as the real underdogs in world cricket. Be it with the bat, with the ball or in the field, over the years, the team has managed to pull out many stellar performances and has been home to a few of the world’s most talented cricketers. However, as a unit they’ve just not managed to gather their best when it mattered. In ICC competitions, semi-finals World Cup 1992 and 2015 remains their best showcase.  Though it was the rain that played a spoilsport both times then, fortune has largely kept the Proteas secluded ever since. Last year’s loss against NZ was the closest the team ever was to a WC title. The story is even more heart-breaking this year. Injury-hit South Africa could never get their campaign going. Losing to England, Bangladesh and India in quick succession, South Africa were struck with some serious blows from the start. Injuries to Ngidi, Steyn and Amla worsened the bruises further. Captain du Plessis was vocal about the problems South Africa faced but instilled some belief amongst fans that the team will bounce back come what may. However, it wasn’t meant to be. One debacle followed the other and a string of bad performances continued. The pressure was creeping up but there was no one to take responsibility, not even the experience of Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock or the talent of Kagiso Rabada.

Chris Morris has been the only positives throughout this World Cup with captain Faf du Plessis playing a few useful innings at times. The team has miserably failed to strike together as a unit. The middle order has continued to struggle and South Africa has remained out of options to find stable numbers 5 and 6. Rassie van der Dussen has been impressive in his stint at 4 but hasn’t converted his performances into match-winning knocks. The void that AB de Villiers created when he bid adieu is still pretty evident and widely exposed. Exploiting South African turmoil has been the agenda of most teams who have gained success against them. Inability of Amla, de Kock and Markram to see off the opening overs has fueled their miseries. Africa’s struggle even against the considerably minnow-nations of Bangladesh and Pakistan has been exemplary of their concerns.

On one hand, where South African Cricket Board stood tall against its team denying ABD’s return request, they have faced immense scrutiny for team’s showcases on the other. Stuck between two extremes, the team management will look to finish the tournament on a high. Despite being knocked out of the competition, South Africa will play a vital role in deciding the Top 4, when they take on Sri Lanka first and then defending champions Australia in the last match of the group stages. Having said all of that, it’s strange how the team is still loved and appreciated all over the world. At times unlucky due to the weather threat looming in the foreground, at times suppressed following injuries, at times losing crucial junctures to cricketing misfortunes and at times giving it away all when most mattered, South African cricket is a phenomenon, phenomenal only in non-ICC tournaments.

Ringing the Bails…

‘And the zinger bails go up!’

The use of lights on the wicket has added an exciting flare to the game. However, over the recent times, the zinger bails have been in discussion for all the wrong reasons. Though the flashing lights have brought an added dynamics to the game and have increased the thrill and excitement manifold, it has largely affected the game. One of the prime reasons for this has been the change of weight. Weighing almost double the conventional wooden bails, the zingers have been a tough one to be dislodged.

The ball hits the stumps, there is a clear deflection but the bail doesn’t fall off. It has been observed multiple times even before but in the heat of this World Cup, the world has witnessed it as many as 5 times in just 13 games. Though the opposition has been fortunate to win the match each time, serious doubts over its inclusion have risen. Not only is it unfortunate for the opposition but also affects the rhythm of the bowler at times. The latest casualty been Jasprit Bumrah who caught Warner off-guard as he dragged on to hit the leg stump, but for the bail to fall off. “It’s ridiculous. If an 80-mile per hour ball hitting leg stump does not fetch a wicket, its madness,” said a fuming Michael Vaughan on air.

Andy Zaltzman: “33 batsmen out bowled in this World Cup so far. 5 times the bails have neglected to fall off. That is an 87% success rate. Disappointing if you’re a bail, I imagine. You want to be up in the high 99s.”

Australia were also seen on the receiving end when Chris Gayle missed a ball that went on to clip the stumps before landing in the hands of keeper. Even a 93 mph ripper from Starc wasn’t good enough to move the bails. Quinton de Kock against England, Ben Stokes against Bangladesh and Dimuth Karunaratne against New Zealand were the other three fortunate players whom the zingers favored. The threat looms large over ICC, which is pretty much caught in no man’s land as it stays impossible to intervene in the current ICC Cricket World Cup. However, a few reinforcements will have to be made post that to ensure that cricket survives in right spirits. A few dismissals have been the talk in town thanks to these zinger bails. Dhoni’s recent run-out in IPL brought the sync in the flashing of stumps and bails in question while Jofra Archer’s 144 kmph delivery flying over the keeper for a six after dislodging the bail recently had its own lighter side.

The well thought of Decision Review System (DRS) in 2011, World Cup aftermath of changing powerplay and fielding restriction rules in 2015 and now the curious case of the immovable bails in 2019, every World Cup has had its own interesting side-story. As the resistance of the flashing bails from falling off is ought to continue throughout the World Cup, cricketing fraternity will only hope that it doesn’t hamper the result of the game by much.