Cricket’s rising stars run gauntlet
Both the Proteas and the Black Caps are on the up, which promises an exciting challenge
AB de Villiers and Brendon McCullum laid their sporting souls bare before the epic World Cup semifinal at Eden Park in Auckland two years ago when they both said they would play the game as though it was a matter of life and death — but that they would have a beer together afterwards, win or lose.
All they wanted was a clean, fair contest to decide the winner and, infamously, the visitors believed they were denied that when their preferred starting XI, based on form and fitness, was vetoed in favour of a preferable look.
By the time McCullum was ready to open the batting and start the run chase, he knew exactly what had transpired in the opposition camp and vowed to make them pay despite chasing a steep target of 298 in just 43 overs: “They think they can dick around with the team in a World Cup semifinal?” he muttered. “They’ll regret it.”
The Black Caps captain smashed 59 from just 26 balls in an extraordinary assault against Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander and put his team so far ahead of the required rate that they remained in charge of the innings right up to those dramatic closing moments when both teams’ nerves were frayed. But South African-born Grant Elliott held his best for last to hit the winning six off Steyn in the final over.
No wonder De Villiers referred to “unfinished business” on arrival in the New Zealand capital where the tour starts with a one-off T20 International at Eden Park on Friday, before moving an hour’s
drive south for the first of five oneday internationals. Three Tests round off the tour in Dunedin, Wellington and back in Hamilton.
The respect that was so evident two years ago remains intact. New Zealand’s all-time low came four years ago when they were dismissed for 45 in a Test match at Newlands, a result that McCullum and recently appointed coach Mike Hesson used as a springboard for a complete overhaul of preparation and approach.
The Proteas’ post-isolation low point was to come two years later in New Zealand and, although it took a year for the players to truly confront what they refer to as “the politics”, they finally did so in August last year when they held a “culture camp” at which every one of their doubts, suspicions and resentments was aired. The “politicians” might label them white, black and African, but that is not how they saw each other.
It was powerful stuff, as was McCullum’s plea to his beleaguered players to remember the days of their youth when they played cricket because they loved it and it was fun.
New Zealand’s results in the past three years have outstripped those of any other period in their history and South Africa’s have been nothing short of astonishing since August. They are ranked first and third in the world and are both improving.
Once again, they will prepare with precision and professionalism, contest every moment and leave no questions about themselves unanswered. When stumps are drawn, they will, once again, visit each other’s changing rooms to share their stories of battle with a beer. Part old world, part new world, it’s what modern sport should be.