Auckland – The sun rose beautifully yesterday morning, just like Russell Domingo said it would, and hopefully his wife still loves him too like he said he hoped if South Africa did not return with the World Cup.
The Proteas will certainly need lots of love upon their return home – which has still not been decided as yet due to the overflow of Kiwis flocking to Melbourne this weekend – after their heart-breaking semi-final disappointment at Eden Park two nights ago.
Most of the players and management did not really know what to do with themselves yesterday.
Some lounged around the hotel waiting for the call to pack their bags, others did some last-minute shopping which was more a random walk around the malls with family members than any constructive purchasing and others simply sought the sanctity of their rooms to digest the trauma they had experienced, which one management member described as “a death in the family”.
The main theme obviously floating around was how as a group they came so close to glory, but yet again failed to cross the line when it mattered most. It certainly begs the question whether South Africa in fact had the correct personnel from the start to deliver the first World Cup title to the rainbow nation.
“I think guys chucked everything at it and just didn’t work out. All credit to New Zealand, they played good cricket in their own backyard, and it could’ve all been different with a catch here or a run out there,” national conveyor of selectors Andrew Hudson said.
“I think we had the right guys in the pod. I think we had the best XV available to us.”
A fickle selection point was no doubt Vernon Philander being recalled at the expense of Kyle Abbott to then starting XI for the semi-final. Philander had been the incumbent coming into the tournament, but due to consistent hamstring troubles, he was forced to withdraw from a couple of games allowing Abbott the opportunity to stake a claim for a regular place.
The KwaZulu-Natalian certainly made full use of the opportunities that came his way, taking key wickets upfront with the new ball, and delivering accurate yorkers at the back-end to offer AB de Villiers another bowling option at “the death” in the three matches he did play.
Hudson stressed that while it was a “tough decision”, the choice to go with the former World No1 Test bowler was based upon the all-round skill he could potentially add to the starting XI.
“It was a tough decision, but I think when Vern was fit and came back from injury and with Kyle being the form man, it was always going to be a tough ask,” Hudson explained.
“But we have to remember Vern has also performed for us over the years, and I think we were hoping that in New Zealand conditions he would have nipped it around a bit and do some damage. I also think that he gives us extra batting option at No8 which helps us with our tail.”
With another World Cup campaign now having had its closing chapter written without a happy ending, South Africa can only look forward to another four years of planning for England 2019. Hudson shone some light on the Proteas’ immediate plans that are set to be unveiled going forward.
“With tours coming up to Bangladesh and India, there will be opportunities to rest guys and a bit of rotation as well. We’ll definitely be starting the building process to give guys more matches and to get the guys close to 40/50 caps by the time the next World Cup come around”. - The Star