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South African cricket on a high

Brad Morgan

4 February 2009

South Africa's national cricket team returned home on the weekend to rapturous applause from a 2 000-strong crowd at OR Tambo International Airport after winning a test series on Australian soil for the first time, and taking over as the world top ranked one-day international team after handing the Australians a 4-1 series defeat.

Coach Mickey Arthur had termed it a "good" tour after the Proteas won the test series 2-1; after adding victory in the one-day international series, he called it a "great" tour. Many experts and fans of the team would agree with him.

When the Proteas head off to Australia in December 2008, they were ranked second to Australia in both the test and ODI world rankings. They returned to South Africa number one in the shorter form of the game, knowing that a similar success in the tests when Australia tour Australia later this month would lift the Proteas to number one in the test rankings too.

A remarkable tour

It was a remarkable tour, made up of remarkable successes and remarkable performances, sometimes under the toughest of conditions. Yet, somehow, the Proteas found the talent and the toughness of mental strength to come through almost every obstacle that stood in their way. Their victories may have signaled a change in the order of world cricket.

So often in the past, South Africa had tried to take on Australia with aggression, both on and off the field, with a bloody-minded approach that had ultimately led to the Australians imposing their collective will on the South Africans. This time around, the approach was different, and so too were the results.

Graeme Smith, who had traded barbs in the press with the Australian team on South Africa's last tour Down Under, returned with a very different demeanour. He never allowed himself to be drawn into any sort of mudslinging. He was humble, focused on the Proteas' team effort and, individually, led by example with his performances on the field. His captaincy was astute and his teammates backed up his decisions well by sticking to the tasks asked of them.

Respect

It didn't take long for the side to earn the respect of the Australian players, public and press; and whereas the Aussie press had been viewed as the enemy in the past, this time around they sang the praises of the tourists because they had earned the plaudits with their courage and performances.

It all started with the first test at the Waca in Perth. Batting first, Australia posted 375 all out. When South Africa managed 281 all out in reply - a deficit of 94 runs – it seemed the Aussies would simply continue doing to South Africa what they had been doing to touring teams for the past 15 years. After all, the last time they had lost a test series on home soil had been in 1992/92, to the West Indies.

The Australians tallied 319 in their second innings and the writing was on the wall; the Proteas would need to achieve the second highest fourth innings victory target in test history to win the game. With Mitchell Johnson having knocked over 8 for 61 in the South African first innings, Graeme Smith and company were staring down the barrel of a gun. Somehow they won the stare down ... with ease.

Led from the front

Smith led from the front, making 108 at the top of the order to give South Africa a sniff of victory. Together with Hashim Amla he added 153 runs for the second wicket. After the captain departed, Amla was out seven runs later for 53.

Instead of buckling under the pressure, the Proteas rose magnificently to meet the challenge. Jacques Kallis made 59. When he dismissed AB de Villiers was joined at the crease by JP Duminy, who was in the team because Ashwell Prince had sustained a thumb injury in practice.

The two 24-year-olds produced a masterful partnership as they took the game away from the Australians, sharing in an unbroken stand of 111 to take South Africa to 414 for 4 and a convincing six-wicket victory. De Villiers was named man of the match after finishing undefeated on 106, while Duminy, in his first test innings, ended on 50 not out.

Amazing victory

It was an astounding victory, but in many ways not as amazing as the Proteas' win in the second test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia batted first again and amassed 394 all out despite a fine performance with the ball by Dale Steyn, who captured 5 for 87. South Africa, in reply, were on the rack at 198 for 7 after the second day's play. Duminy was at the crease with number-nine batsman Paul Harris. It looked as if Australia would take a big and decisive first innings lead in the match, but one of the most remarkable turnarounds in a test match occurred on the third day.

Harris and Duminy took the score to 251 before Harris was dismissed for 39 after a partnership of 67. Steyn came in at number-10 and slowly, but inexorably, together with Duminy, took the game, and the series, away from the Australians.

South African lead

They added 180 for the ninth wicket before Steyn was out for his test best 76. By that time South Africa had built up a lead of 37 runs.

Duminy added another 28 runs to the total with Makhaya Ntini before he was out for a sensational innings of 166. It was an innings of the highest order and Duminy displayed a level of maturity seldom found at test level among newcomers. The newspapers proclaimed the story: a superstar had been unveiled.

Australia failed to fire in their second innings, managing only 247 all out as Steyn once again led the way with the ball. He picked up 5 for 67, giving him match figures of 10 for 154 to go along with his batting heroics.

Mind-blowing

Smith gave the Proteas the direction they required in their run chase, cracking 75 from 94 deliveries before he was out with the total on 121. That left the Proteas needing a further 62 runs for a series victory. Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla saw them through and South Africa celebrated a mind-blowing win. In a difficult decision, Steyn was named man of the match ahead of Duminy.

There was a minor letdown when Australia scored a consolation 103-run victory in the third test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. However, Graeme Smith played his way into the hearts of South Africans, and earned the respect of the cricketing world for his efforts in the game.

He had needed pain-killing injections throughout the series to deal with a serious case of tennis elbow. Then, in the Proteas' first innings, he was struck a blow on the hand, which broke a bone, and was forced to retire due to the injury.

Trying to save the game

Australia again held the advantage after the first innings, having scored 445 to South Africa's 327. Smith said he would bat again if the Proteas needed him to do so to win the game or save it. As it turned out, he was called on to try and save it.

The Australians declared their second innings on 257 for 4. That meant South Africa required 376 to win. Victory was never on the cards for the tourists, but saving the test was. Smith sat in the South African change room, watching wickets fall until Dale Steyn departed with the score on 257, leaving only the last wicket standing ... if he chose to bat. He did.

To a standing ovation from the Sydney Cricket Ground, he took to the field. It was clear every time he hit the ball he was in great pain, but the SA skipper gutted it out. The fairy tale wasn't quite completed when Johnson bowled him to win the game for Australia, but Smith's courage was roundly lauded.

Johan Botha: captain

Due to the extent of his injuries, however, he was forced to return to South Africa for treatment and Johan Botha took over as captain for the two 20/20 internationals and the five one-day internationals.

When Australia won the two 20-overs-per-side games, some suspected that the Proteas had shot their bolt and Australia would get stronger as South Africa faded away in the 50-overs-a-side game. Those people were wrong.

With Botha doing a great Smith impression by leading from the front, the Proteas were the team that became stronger while the confidence of the Australians, more severely dented by each defeat, began to affect their play.

South Africa won the first ODI in Melbourne by three wickets with three balls to spare by chasing down 272 runs to win, which was no mean feat.

The one that got away

The second ODI in Hobart, Tasmania, proved to be the one that got away as Australia took a five-run victory. They scored 249 for 9 in their 50 overs and then restricted SA to 244 for 6.

In Sydney, South Africa again chased down a big victory target by reaching 270 for 7 after the Aussies had posted 269 all out.

A series win was secured in Adelaide when the Proteas cruised to an eight-wicket win. Then, in Perth, despite resting three key players - Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, and Jacques Kallis - South Africa strolled to a 39-run victory, with debutant Lonwabo Tsotsobe capturing 4 for 50.

Belief and maturity

The success of Tsotsobe reflected the difference in this South African tour when compared to other tours Down Under; vital performances and match-winning contributions came from everywhere - from newcomers and veterans alike. There was a new level of belief and maturity in the Proteas' line-up and, clearly, the squad had enough depth.

Also, the South Africans showed that they had many ways of winning matches. A bowling attack that was once criticised as being too one-dimensional was praised for its variety, while the SA batsmen clearly outplayed the Australian batsmen who for so long had been the bullies of world cricket.

Duminy, as mentioned earlier, made a bid for superstar status. It wasn't only in the test series that he excelled. In the five-day games, he averaged 61.50, trailing on Man of the Series Graeme Smith, who averaged 65.20 and totalled 326 runs. In the one-dayers, Duminy was one of the highest run scorers, contributing 175 runs at a healthy average of 58.33, with an excellent strike rate of 91.14.

Class act

But it was about more than his emergence. AB de Villiers played some special and vital innings, while Hashim Amla, who somehow failed to score a century against the Australians looked like a class act every time he visited the crease. He averaged 51.80 in the tests and 49.75 in the one-day internationals.

Jacques Kallis was solid with the bat without being spectacular in the test series, but he made up for it with strong performances with the ball. In the ODI series, he performed superbly with the bat, scoring the second most runs behind Amla, who played a game more.

Mark Boucher showed that he is far from washed up despite his veteran status and his role as a leader in the team was praised.

Spinners

Under-rated Paul Harris showed that he is a good test spinner, while Johan Botha was a thorn in Australia's side in the ODIs with his ability to stem the runs and take wickets.

Dale Steyn proved that he could devastate the world's best team in much the same manner as he had done to the likes of Bangladesh.

South African cricket's cupboard looks full. The biggest problem that coach Mickey Arthur and the national selectors might have is working out the make-up of the test team when Australia tour SA from the end of February.

Ashwell Prince

A look at the world test batting rankings reveals that Ashwell Prince is ranked 14th, trailing only Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis. JP Duminy has proved that he belongs, so who will the selectors leave out? It’s a tough question, but that's why they are paid to do the job they do.

The Australian tour of South Africa will mirror the Proteas' tour Down Under: the teams will again meet in three tests, two 20/20 internationals, and five one-day internationals.

SA coach Mickey Arthur said it will be interesting to see how South Africa handles being favourites when the Aussies tour. He is expecting a serious, hurt, and angry response from the Australians. It makes for great viewing fare, especially for SA supporters.

No doubt the country's cricket grounds will host some of their best crowds in many years. The Proteas deserve such support after their history-making success in Australia.