The Hindu : Sport : Team spirit did the trick

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Tuesday, Dec 05, 2006
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Team spirit did the trick

S. Dinakar

Every S. African contributed to the winning cause

Potchefstroom: Team spirit underlined South Africa's stunning success. The side was resilient and it found men for every occasion in a sweeping 4-0 triumph.

A lack of fighting spirit underlined India's surrender in the MTN ODI series. There were not many who stood up to be counted.

Before the game at Centurion, Graeme Smith was a captain under fire. Now, he is a skipper in control.

Smith has both admirers and opponents. The lack of runs from his bat meant he was in the line of fire. The left-handed opener's blistering effort in the final game silenced his critics.

He is a tough, assertive captain who backs his men. Smith is also the kind who can rub those in authority the wrong way.

South Africa needs its skipper to boom. On Sunday, he appeared to have sorted out his backlift and the fluency of old returned. While Smith can be explosive with the willow, there is an unmistakable touch of solidity in his ways.

Falling in place

The pieces are falling in place for South Africa. Abraham de Villiers, a natural striker of the ball, promises much as an ODI opener.

Jacques Kallis, who batted and bowed with heart, continues to be an influential cricketer. Herschelle Gibbs returned to form when his side needed runs. And Justin Kemp revealed he is more than just another big striker of the cricket ball.

All of them made runs in adversity. All of them are match-winners.

Shaun Pollock can swing matches around too. He is not the youngest of men, but has sweated it out on fitness. He looks leaner and meaner, and is a yard quicker than he was same time last season.

His two-way movement and an unwavering off-stump line exposed the technical limitations of the Indian batsmen. It was he who opened the sluice gates.

Makhaya Ntini is strong and quick, has a truckload of energy. He hustled the Indian batsmen with his speed and bounce and complemented Pollock wonderfully. Andre Nel hit the Indians where it hurts them the most — around the rib-cage area from just short of a good length.

The admirable Kallis also extacted lift. Importantly, for South Africa, the two maintained the pressure in the middle overs. Behind the stumps, Mark Boucher snaffled up the snicks. Jonty Rhodes has raised the fielding levels of this already athletic side. Outstanding catches, close-in or deep, are commonplace for South Africa.

Robin Peterson's left-arm spin is of the harmless variety though. Nicky Boje might be the answer.

This team could threaten Australia's crown in the World Cup.

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