Durban – Cheers, Misbah, it’s been real. It’s a wonder that the Pakistanis haven’t been granted honorary South African citizenship after spending seemingly half their year here.
With South Africa’s luck, the two nations will draw each other in the World T20 in Bangladesh. Who knows, Cricket South Africa may yet organise one last hurrah against them, for old time’s sake, perhaps.
Had the series against Misbah ul-Haq’s side stopped after the Emirates, the Proteas would have felt confident going into their next meeting, wherever that may be.
But cricket has a funny way of planting fresh seeds of doubt overnight. Suddenly, it’s Pakistan who leave these shores with a spring in their step, with their adaptability credentials enhanced. And it’s the Proteas who suddenly have areas of concern.
Chief among these must be the infuriating manner in which they take one step forward, and then quickly take two back.
When they left Sri Lanka in August, the Proteas’s reputation against quality spin was in tatters. They remedied that in the UAE, playing Saeed Ajmal with confidence and clarity.
But during all their consultations with the spin guru, they have now forgotten how to close out a game. The cricket world, always quick to leap onto a suspected weakness, will be watching with interest how South Africa still stutter under pressure.
The role of David Miller as a finisher is another growing concern for South Africa. Russell Domingo and his brains trust missed an ideal opportunity on Wednesday night when AB de Villiers departed.
That was the ideal scenario for the “finisher” to come in, settle, and then close out the game. The Proteas had momentum, but they allowed Pakistan to get back off the ropes and then wrestle control of a game that they had just about given up, by presenting them two batsmen who operate in the same gear.
Instead of JP Duminy, the Proteas ought to have displayed more tactical nous under pressure and handed the developing Miller a chance to show his worth to the side.
Few batsmen have the ability to walk into a pressure situation and hit out at will. Even the mightiest hitters, like Lance Klusener, needed a brief settling-in period before bludgeoning their side to victory.
Suddenly, it’s Miller’s place that is under observation. His potential is undoubted, but he hasn’t taken his side over the line often enough. Just like the squad for the 2011 World Cup, he may be the one to miss out.
But the real problem with the Proteas at the moment is that they seem to be a side trying to accommodate too many senior players. The one-day side is top-heavy with specialist batsmen, and Quinton de Kock’s sensational form has seen to it that he won’t be the sacrificial lamb, with De Villiers taking back the gloves.
The nuptials of Faf du Plessis gave them some breathing space, and the resting of Jacques Kallis after two, exhausting one-day internationals has further delayed the inevitable. There will come a time when Domingo has to show his ruthless streak and make a big decision.
And while the Proteas gorge themselves on pyjama cricket, the Ashes have provided riveting action, with no holds barred.
The English have long been regarded as a nation that can give it, but can’t take it when the opposition fires a few choice words in return.
Their reaction to David Warner and company bordered on childish. It was ironic that Dr Warner actually stumbled upon the fact that Jonathan Trott looked lost out in the middle, but to suggest that he had crossed the line, as Stuart Broad wailed, was farcical.
England need to get back to doing their talking with bat and ball. Their constant whining so far has created that unlikeliest of scenarios, where South Africans are actually rooting for an Aussie team to win.
Roll on Adelaide.
Sunday Tribune