Exceptional series win is an understatement for the way SA came back from difficult situation in both the test matches and turned it around to win the series. Smith and team made history in Australia winning the series for the first time in Australia and Australia has lost a home series after 17 long years.
South Africa's preparation for the series showed that they are going to fight till the last in every game and they have proved that to perfection. One should really feel happy for SA coach for his professional approach to make sure that the team had all that needs to win the mighty Aussies in Australia. He hired Fletcher (under whom the England beat Aussies in 2005) as an consultant and worked with him before the tour, he also took expert advice from Indian Coach Gary Kirsten on how Team India prepared and executed against the Aussies this summer. I would say it was a special moment for South Africa Cricket and hit the last nail on the coffins of the Aussies number one spot.
South Africa did many things right in the series and the whole of 2008, 3 of their top batsmen have crossed the 1000 runs in the calender year and their strike bowler in Steyn (74 wickets in 2008) has been exceptionally good this year and has struck when ever they needed wickets. The real find of the series is J.P.Duminy. The 24 year old has just played like an experienced campaigner under difficult situation and proved that he is here to stay for a long long time with the SA team. His half century in the fourth innings in WACA showed that he can play under pressure and the 160+ in the first innings when SA was 190+ for 7 and behind some 200 runs played a gem of an innings to turn things for SA. Steyn's all round show fetched him the Man of the Match but i thought the trophy should be shared. Maybe the big one "Man of Series" is reserved for this youngster. I don't think i should write about Smith, he has played the major role in every SA surge to top. The innings he played in the wearing pitch in the 4th innings to beat the England was incredible and the powerful strikes in Perth led from the front and should say a role model for a person to lead from the front. It was a brilliant team effort and each and every member of the team contributing for the victory.
South Africa was accused of poor performance in the ODI's against the England after they won the test series and the British media wrote that it was a one of series win. I am sure the same media will hail praise and take back their words and start writing off Australia as they will be touring for the Ashes next summer. I was very sure that the ODI series loss for SA was just because of the hangover they had after winning the test series and they have proved that now.
On the lighter side, i am not sure if South Africans are so jubilant as Indian fans are :) :) All the News Channels had the SA victory covered and also highlighted the downfall of the Mighty Australians. It was kind of a sweet revenge for the Indian fans to see the Aussies come down cropping.
For the Australians nothing seems to be going their way, giving away 400+ in the 4th innings and letting the advantage from 200 + ahead with the tail in the middle to settle for 60 + behind shows that the Aussies just lack everything, bowling,confidence and the fighting spirit which was long associated with the Mighty Aussies. Ricky Ponting and Johnson are the 2 players who will go to Sydney with some confidence with personnel success but Ricky must be feeling very bad to lose a test series at home.
Australian media will make sure that at least few heads roll out from the team. All the senior players are under pressure with the poor show and i think Hayden will be forced to retire at Sydney and strong message for other players but you cannot turn around the bowling department overnight. So Aussies will have to go through this period of transition and should be looking for young talent to come back as a strong team.
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4 comments:
@vasu All Indian fans must be really happy as you have mentioned. Actually this home series loss must have come to the Aussies during the last season when they played India. But due to an unfair test in Sydney Indians were not able to give the Aussies the taste of loss. Now the proteas have managed to do that.
Test cricket is going to be interesting than ever in the upcoming season. Good for cricket lovers.
Vasu,
You hit the nail on the head when you said "it was a brilliant team effort". This is exactly how the Indians beat the Aussies and the Poms. And much of the proceedings in these 2 test matches had a similar flavor, where a team fought back from a position of weakness to win and everyone contributed their bit. I have never followed a non-India series/game so eagerly as this one, so it was all the more exciting that way for me to see the Proteas crush the Aussies :-)
As for Matt Hayden, I will definitely feel sorry for him if they let him go. It just seems like he is a bit out of touch. Something similar happened to Jacques Kallis a while ago and closer to home, to Rahul Dravid as well. And both these players sort off came out of their slump as they had an extended run. They kept their heads when the chips were down and when the critics were going berserk.
These are great players and they are sure to bounce back and I sincerely hope the Aussie selectors do not pressurize Hayden. He might just be an innings or two away from his usual glory days. For me, Matt Hayden is a destroyer, and a treat to watch. He needs to apply himself a bit more, and concentrate harder in the nets. I am sure he will fight his way back in true Aussie spirit. Let us wait and watch.
Btw, anyone betting a 3-0 sweep by the SAs? :-)
VJ
Just as I hoped. Hayden is in the scheme of things. Smart move by the Aus selectors. http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ausvrsa2008_09/content/story/384695.html
VJ
Yeah vasu.. its a exceptional series indeed.. seemed Australia's fairytale victories are a thing of the past. Usually its the aussies who come back from difficult positions to a position where they can dictate the match. But now the coin has reversed.. and even Ponting accepted the fact that "the southafricans have done an Australia on us".
Credit should be given to Duminy for staying cool and composed and building partnerships with the tail in such a bad state. Their bowling has always been their strength in helpful conditions. Last but not the least.. its SMITH.. the marauder who should be credited for such a turnaround in South African cricket. He has completely scrapped the chokers tag. All his field placements/bowling changes have worked and he has led from the front in all the innings, thus setting the tone for the others to follow.
Seems the tests are not going to be one sided in the near future with good teams building up like India, southafrica, srilanka and england and ofcourse australia.. good for test cricket.
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