choke, bleed and blue.......

The most irritating yet inevitable question will continue to be asked to the Proteas. Thanks to the dramatic collapse at Mirpur against the Kiwis. I had to eat the humble pie when I went overboard after India lost 9 for 29 the other day saying – it happens only in India. Little I knew then that I would proved wrong by the Proteas, one of the favourites for the 10th edition of the World Cup being played in the sub-continent. Pat Symcox says, “ the answer lies not in batting, bowling and fielding, but in the fourth aspect of cricket: in the mind. And at crucial times, it seems that it's the opposition who have the upperhand in that department, despite all the changes South Africa have made”. Hence the only way to shed the inevitable tag is by winning a major ICC trophy.
It was horrendous, least to say, to witness a team collapsing from 108/2 to bundle out for 172. The likes of Kallis, Duminy and also Smith would throw themselves in towel for playing some of the nightmarish shots of their lives. Taking nothing away from the Kiwis, Proteas have only themselves to blame for or may be the history to failing at the knock-out stage. On another note , Kiwis lifted their games when it really mattered. Oram emerged from nowhere to pick Smith and then followed up with 3 more wickets. Much against the run of the play Smith and Kallis were back in the dressing room. As if one of the freakiest dismissal ( of Amla) was not enough for the fate of the Proteas, du Plessis and AB messed up things at the middle. DP tried to wage a lone battle, played sensibly during the batting PP, but guess it was too little too late and the inevitable was already scripted. Kudos to john wright, the silent assassin.
Now going forward, with the mother of all battles shedding its cast over the subcontinent it is going be a edge-of-the-seat battle at Mohali where history is waiting to be written. The great run of Pak notwithstanding, the semi would be a battle of nerves more than cricket. On one side we have a charged up young brigade led by a geared-up Afridi, while on other is a far more balanced team which is so determined to gift the cup to their God. A mouth watering clash indeed in prospect. Just need to see who takes the battle to whose camp. The mere thoughts of mini-battles of Veeru vs Gul, Sachin vs Hafiz/Azmal, Yuvi vs Afridi, etc. are enough value for money. The uncertain game that cricket is, it is surely going to offer the classic battle of the top run-getters so far vs the top wicket taker of the tournament. Not for a moment I am thinking of ‘let the best team win’. You may call me selfish or whatever you choose for that matter. But I want to see the cup that has long eluded the kit of the greatest cricketer of our (modern) times...so for me personally its not 03/30 , rather 04/02- the J-day, the D-day.....! Go, boys go........its all abt blood, sweat and blue now. .bleed blue.........cheers.