The Reverse Sweep

South Africa choke in the World Cup - Part V

 
Whilst credit should go to New Zealand for ruthlessly exposing the mental fragility and brittleness of the opposition, this had to be the worst choke of all in a World Cup history littered with chokes for South Africa.

To put it bluntly, South Africa couldn’t have self-asphyxiated any better if they had all been wearing suspenders, put oranges in their mouths and tied a belt around their throats.

South Africa has still to win a knockout match in the World Cup.

In 1992, they were plain unlucky.

In 1996 they won their group and were then stunned by the fourth placed team from the other group in the quarter final (sounds familiar?). But in their defence, it took a hundred by Brian Lara at the peak of his powers to defeat them.

Three years later they had two chances to extinguish Australia. Herschelle Gibb’s infamous drop and a superlative hundred from Steve Waugh in the first game and keystone cops running between the wickets by Allan Donald and Lance Klusener in the semi-final saw the Proteas splutter once again.

When they hosted the tournament in 2003, South Africa exited at the group stages after fatally misunderstanding Duckworth Lewis.

And then in 2007, it was old nemesis Australia again in the semi-final and a right royal thrashing.

But even with that chequered history, Friday was something special.

South Africa were on easy street at 108/2 with only 114 needed from 26 overs.

They faced a New Zealand attack of Nathan McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram and Tim Southee; which with all deference to Vettori is hardly the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Even when Jacques Kallis was out, South Africa should have eased to victory.

But they didn’t.

What unfurled can only be described as mental disintegration. How else can you explain the run out of AB De Villiers?

And that is why the South African cricket team will continue to be tagged as chokers.

Sounds fair enough to us.

Where next?

Lay off England after World Cup proves a bridge too far

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

World Cup Zeroes: Herschelle Gibbs

South Africa: Don't mention the 'C' word...

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

World Cup Team Previews: New Zealand - Can SuperDan save the day?

 
Having lost 14 of its last 17 ODIs – including a chastening 4-0 reverse in Bangladesh last autumn, New Zealand will enter the World Cup with some trepidation. In previous tournaments, the sum has proved greater than the parts and the Black Caps have done generally well reaching the semi-finals five times. In 2011, they will be relieved if they progress from the group stages where a very tricky encounter with Zimbabwe awaits them.

Strengths

The Black Caps may lack strength in depth, but they do have some quality players in Vettori, Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Ryder and Oram. If these five perform well and inspire the lesser players in the side to contribute then New Zealand may prove to be the dark horses they have been in previous tournaments.

Weaknesses

Vettori apart, the bowling attack is weak and as the warm-up against India showed is susceptible to conceding big totals. The batting too has proved to be brittle and collapses are all too common. Their recent record on the sub-continent does not bode well either.

Main man

In his last assignment as captain, old SuperDan himself – Daniel Vettori – will yet again have to perform a passable impersonation of Atlas if the Black Caps are to progress past the quarter-finals.

Look out for…

With plenty of air travel between the games, watch out for more stories about unlikely lothario Tim Southee. Fathers all over the subcontinent will be locking up your daughters in anticipation. Jesse Ryder is also unlikely to emerge unscathed from a six week sojourn without at least one shameful drunken episode.

Prediction

It wouldn’t come as a huge surprise to The Reverse Sweep if New Zealand made an early exit, but we tip them to scrape past Zimbabwe into a quarter-final with India, where they will be well and truly mullered.

Where next?

World Cup Team previews: Part 1 - India: Glory or effigies?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 2 - South Africa: Don't mention the 'C' word...

World Cup Team Previews: Part 3 - Bangladesh: Shock & Awe

World Cup Team Previews: Part 4 - West Indies: Calypso or Collapso?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 5 - England: How far can resilience take them?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 6 - Ireland/Canada/Kenya/Netherlands: Last chance for the minnows?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 7 - Zimbabwe - An army of spin

World Cup Team Previews: Part 8 - Australia: Four in a row?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 9 - Pakistan: Tigers or Pussies?

World Cup Team previews: Part 10 - Sri Lanka: Will lightning strike twice?

Our XI to shine at the World Cup

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep