Four factors blamed for SA’S early exit at World Twenty20

‘Fear of failure’ and selection were issues in big games, say former stars

A WEAK side, lack of bravery, under-utilisation of spin and tricky subcontinental conditions are the four factors that led to SA’s failure at the World Twenty20.

That is according to former Test tweaker Paul Harris, maverick opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs and previous national convenor of selectors Mike Procter.

SA’s exit before the semifinals kept their record of big tournament blowouts intact. They have not won a knockout match at an International Cricket Council event, never mind reached a final or clinched silverware, since 1998 in the Wills International Cup.

Their most recent shortcoming was not a result of the oft-occurring choking syndrome, but rather a consequence of being outplayed in the Super Eight stage by three of the teams Harris called the “strongest” in the competition.

Defeats to Pakistan, Australia and India did not surprise him because he “did not think SA was strong enough to win it”.

Previous national cricket sides have been known to be mentally weak but the AB de Villiers-led squad that went to Sri Lanka was thought to have broken through. With Gary Kirsten at the helm, SA came on top of crucial moments in their tour of England, which saw them earn the No 1 Test ranking, and the progress they made was thought to be enough to yield a limited-overs trophy.

But Gibbs does not think so. He launched a tirade on social networking site Twitter in response to questions about SA’s performances in major tournaments.

“Their fear of failure was an issue for them in big games,” he said, also doubting whether any mental leap had been made at all.

“What’s the point of having a mental coach if they continue to be tentative in their approach?”

He also questioned the selection saying: “There a few one-dimensional players and players that shouldn’t be there. Can’t have (Jacques) Kallis and (Hashim) Amla in same Twenty20 team.”

Between them, the No 2 and No 3 batsmen scored 95 runs in five matches and 44 in the Super Eights. Only Johan Botha, Dale Steyn and Morné Morkel, who each batted once, scored less.

With Richard Levi proving inept in the opening berth, the only firstwicket partnership SA had which was worth more than eight runs came against Zimbabwe.

As a result, their innings always started badly. Combined with a floating middle order, SA posted belowpar scores against both Pakistan and Australia and left their bowlers with too much to do.

Had their Super Eight matches been played in Hambantota, where they were stationed for the group stage, Procter thinks that may not have been a problem.

“That wicket was bouncy; it swung around; it suited us perfectly. It was too easy and that may have had a psychological effect,” he said.

“Then in Colombo the conditions were completely different.”

Harris called the surface in the Sri Lankan capital a “spinner’s playground”, and it was on that strip that SA’s faith in the discipline dissipated. That was particularly evident in their match against Pakistan.

With a modest 133 to defend, De Villiers opted to use Albie Morkel and left Botha two overs short of his quota of four. Morkel conceded 20 runs in the over that handed the advantage to Pakistan.

“In that match, Johan could have bowled more,” Harris said. “But AB’s gut feel was to go with Albie. We sometimes come unstuck in limitedovers tournaments in the subcontinent with the spin issue. In Tests, it’s not a problem at all.”

Incidentally, that was the only match in which SA actually choked. Despite their below-par showing with the bat, the bowlers got the team into a winning position and then, through tactical error, they managed to lose.

De Villiers admitted that he had made mistakes in that game and on SA’s departure.

Although his captaincy was criticised, Harris does not think the experience will scar De Villiers. Instead, he believed it could make him stronger.

“The AB I know will come back an even better player. He is not arrogant, he just backs himself so well,” Harris said.

“I still back him to do a great job if people are willing to be patient with him.”