INDIA'S WIN OF 2011 ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP IS MZANSI'S LESSON

And there it is, India has won the first ICC World Cup of the century’s second decade! More interesting is that their outgoing coach Gary Kirsten has become the first South African to win a cricket world cup trophy! India captain MS Dhoni hit the winning runs against a determine Sri Lanka, an awesome 6 off the park with 10 balls to spare. It’s the second time India has won the cup since their 1983 triumph over the West Indies at Lord’s in London.

In the end it was an easy ride for the Indians who suffered majorly when in the 6th over they were 31/2 chasing a thick total of 275 runs. Mahela Jayawardene was the Sri Lankans’ hero with his unbeaten 103, and with his team known for its batting prowess, most of us knew India had its work cut out right from the onset.

Despite them being favourites, my heart was with India for two reasons. Firstly, their coach is a son of the soil. Secondly, after the Proteas scored 438 against Australia in that “best cricket game ever”, chasing 434, thus setting a world record for the highest runs ever scored by any team in an international ODI, Sri Lanka went on to score 443 just four months later! Fine, it was 443 against Netherlands, but still, it was an ICC-sanctioned match. Sri Lanka took something quite precious from us and since then I always enjoy watching them lose. Strange enough, I’m a big fan of Sanath Teran Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan, so I’m very sad to see the latter retire from the game. Incidentally Jayasuriya never scored an ODI 100 against South Africa.

India’s win is incredible not just because they reached such a great total, but more importantly HOW they went about it. Any team that’s lost 2 wickets within 6 overs in a World Cup final would easily feel its backs were against the wall and probably lose its entire cache of self-confidence. Especially if one of those wickets belongs to a giant pillar like Sachin Tendulkar who came off for 18. Not Kirsten and Dhoni’s men. They went in, dug in their heels, and worked. Mind you, earlier in the day they worked their tekkies off limiting Sri Lanka, stopping sure-boundaries and bowling really tight. India doesn’t have a particularly amazing bowling pack, and their opponents went into the final with three of their batsmen featuring in the top 10 whackers of the tournament.

From the get go the new world champions fielded like their families’ lives depended on it. At times I thought I was watching the likes of Jonty Rhodes, Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten himself out there, diving, jumping, running after hits like Usain Bolt. Had it not been for some spectacular interceptions, Sri Lanka would have scored a few more boundaries than they ultimately did.

One has to look back at the Proteas’ last performance against New Zealand to see the differences in attitude between the two teams. Chasing a paltry 222, SA seemed set for a cushy place in the semis. Unfortunately it always seems that each time our boys are chasing a relatively low total, something happens to take their form away. The word “chokers” is often bandied about. In fact, 702 radio host Kieno Kammies said they are scared of success. That might actually be true. I know people who, when they see things go their way, run as fast as possible. I’m no psychologist so I don’t know if there’s a word for that.

On the other hand, we were chasing 434 runs (required run rate for that is 8.7 per over) on that amazing afternoon of 12 March 2006. Ricky Ponting’s 164 didn’t just look impossible, it felt pointless to even try to catch it. Add to Mike Hussey’s 81 and Simon Katich’s 79, and SA just didn’t appear to have any type of ammo in the box. Graeme Smith kicked off mission impossible with a solid 90, but the fall of Boeta Dippenaar at number 2 for 1 run spelled disaster at the crease. Until Gibbs stepped up with a magnificent reply to Ponting. He hit 175 with a steady, unflinching hand to give the boys much-needed confidence.

Such bravery was blatantly absent during our routing by the Kiwis two weeks ago. That Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla were off form right from the start of the world cup doesn’t give us enough excuses for our sinking. Two men cannot shoulder the entire team’s failures. We had very bright sparks in AB de Villiers and JP Duminy. We also had very good innings from every other team member when it counted. I cannot think of any one player who didn’t deserve to be in this team because they are all quite exceptional. Pound for pound they can stand up to anyone in the world. By beating India the way they did during the group stages goes to prove this.

However, something really stinks at team Protea, and it’s not just the boys’ socks. Individual players are really awesome, but they don’t seem to gel as a team. Rumours have been going around for a few years now that there are certain cliques in the house, that some of the senior players have become too big for the team. Think of the situation as akin to having 7 or 8 Benni McCarthys in the locker room. That could frustrate any coach! Someone needs to come in and smash that alleged cabal straight into a black hole.

Which brings me nicely to my conclusion. Corrie van Zyl’s short term as coach ended the night we fell to Daniel Vettori’s men. Several competent CVs have apparently landed at Cricket SA’s offices. Even a blind man can see that if Gary Kirsten’s isn’t on that pile then Majola and his men should go all out to ensure it lands up there. We’d be indescribably slow-witted to ignore Kirsten and what he has achieved in the sub-continent. How many SA-born coaches of any sport, go work overseas and come back world champions?