Published: Mar 23, 2015, 05:27 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 23, 2015, 05:27 PM (IST)
There are times when international teams strenuously prepare for specific challenges in cricket, but when two of the best sides of the game clash in a knockout match — especially at a time when only a biased person would pick a favourite among the two — it gets even more interesting. By the end of the day tomorrow, only one among New Zealand and South Africa will go through to the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, while the other will continue wailing in the ignominy for at least four more years. New Zealand vs South Africa Semi-Final preview
Losing will be a matter of huge shame for both New Zealand and South Africa, given the once in a generation players they are blessed with. Both teams have high-calibre performers who can be unstoppable on their day. The first semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa — the two red-hot favourites to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 — is a match for which no preparations can be termed sufficient. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, NZ vs SA: Teams eye maiden final appearance
India and Australia do not have the kind of pressure on them that New Zealand and South Africa are under. India and Australia are not evenly matched — they have different skill sets and ways to win cricket matches. But New Zealand and South Africa have a lot in common. Explosive batsmen at the top-order, reliable men in the middle, and then dangerous-looking lower order which has the potential of going berserk on any day — both New Zealand and South Africa are blessed with this. If New Zealand have a berserker in Brendon McCullum, there is an equally destructive AB de Villiers on the other side. For the calm and composed Kane Williamson, there is fire-fighter Faf du Plessis. The experience of Ross Taylor, is matched by Hashim Amla. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, NZ vs SA: 10 match facts you must know
While New Zealand have pace bowlers who can make the most of the favourable bowling conditions, South Africa have a fearful bowling attack themselves. And, to make the matters even more interesting, New Zealand have been boosted with the inclusion of Matt Henry — the young quick bowler whose absence had been wondered over. This is just not all; South Africa’s Vernon Philander — who completes the troika of their bowling attack — has been training without any trouble, signalling that he is all set to go. Brendon McCullum’s unique appeal to NZ cricket fans ahead of semi-final against SA
While there may be vast difference in their numbers and aura, the way Daniel Vettori and Imran Tahir have gone about their job is something that cannot be undermined. Who knows, one of them might end up being the differentiating factor between the two evenly-match teams in the semi-final. AB de Villiers oozes confidence ahead of South Africa vs New Zealand semi-final match
New Zealand have played and lost more World Cup semi-finals than South Africa, but still the world sallies over the latter whenever the talk is about winning ‘when it matters.’ Unfortunately, South Africa have roamed around the world being labelled with the disparaging term ‘chokers’ for having lost two out of three semi-finals in World Cup cricket, but the cruel world has failed to acknowledge that it is New Zealand that has actually choked by losing six out of six.
One really cannot predict a ‘favourite’ for a clash as big as this between two evenly-matched cricket teams. Perhaps their mental preparations may come to rescue. But nothing can be said for sure. And no amount of preparations would be sufficed for either of the sides.
This kind of situation reminds us all of that famous cricketing lore: The team that plays better will win. The rest of the world can certainly have laugh over which team will “choke” again, but either way we will see a new World Cup finalist for the first time since 1996.
(Devarchit Varma is a reporter with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)
