Year-ender 2016: South Africa’s forgettable year as a team but memorable one as individuals
Year-ender 2016: South Africa's forgettable year as a team but memorable one as individuals
Let us turn back the clock to November, when a series of events should not have happened. First, Australia should not have lost the match when they were 158 for 0 after bowling out South Africa for 242 at Perth. Second, South Africa should not have become the first team to beat Australia Down Under in three consecutive series since early 1990s. Third, South Africa should not have achieved the feat without AB de Villiers in the team. Fourth, South Africa should not have done it with their star bowler Dale Steyn taking only one wicket before his shoulder injury flared up. All this should not have happened, for South Africa had a torrid year until November 2016.
A year full of one historic high and abysmal lows, South Africa had a forgettable time as a team but memorable as individuals. Kagiso Rabada finished as the highest wicket-taker for South Africa across formats. Quinton de Kock ended up as the highest run-scorer for South Africa in ODIs. Newcomer Stephen Cook scored a century on debut, against England at Centurion, followed by one more in Australia and now against Sri Lanka at home. Then Temba Bavuma became an internet sensation with this incredible run out:
https://twitter.com/CricketVideo/status/795183175597076480
Yes, South Africa had a forgettable year as a team but memorable as individuals.
After losing to India 0-3, South Africa returned home to play a four-Test series against England — an opposition they had lost consecutive times to, in their own den. Hashim Amla was the first of their three captains in 2016.
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South Africa continued their losing spree, and lost the Boxing Day Test by a margin of 241 runs. To make matters worse, Steyn was ruled out of the remainder of the series due to shoulder injury, like he was during the India tour. South Africa entered 2017 without Steyn gun, replacing him with Rabada.
Hello, 2017
Hashim Amla started with a bang. He scored a stunning 201, followed by Bavuma’s maiden hundred. The match ended in a draw, with England leading 1-0.
But, wait…
The hush of Amla
“Naturally this decision is not an easy one but the more I think about it the more I believe I can be of greater value to the Proteas as a fully focused batsman and senior player at this time of rebuilding our team,” Amla had said after he stepped down from captaincy despite scoring a double-ton.
“I felt someone else could do a better job.”
South Africa named de Villiers, the ODI captain, as Amla’s replacement. The third Test was his first full-time assignment as the Test captain. He was once again in a do-or-die situation, for the Test would have decided the result of the series. The onus to keep the Protea Fire burning was on him now.
Will de Villiers, the better man, deliver?
After England took a 10-run lead in first innings, South African batsmen were reduced to nothingness, bowling out for 83 courtesy Stuart Broad’s 6 for 17. South Africa lost the match by 7 wickets.
The last match, more or less, was a dead rubber. But for the South Africans we know them for, they played for pride and won the last Test by a massive margin of 280 runs thanks to three centurions: Dean Elgar, Amla, and de Kock.
But, wait…
Rabada marks his presence
Rabada had unknowingly started his dominance. He was awarded Man of the Match for his stunning 6 for 32. (Rabada was still remembered for keeping MS Dhoni’s last-over heroics at bay in an ODI contest in 2015.)
Rabada, Steyn’s replacement, took 22 wickets at 21.90 from 3 matches, and thus began his remarkable journey in 2016…
Nonetheless, South African lost to England for the third consecutive time at home. South Africa lost their No. 1 ranking for the first time in three years. And that’s how 2016 welcomed them…
That was that. That was about on-the-field scenario.
“Make cricket a truly national sport accessible to all”
Off it, Cricket South Africa (CSA) made an announcement. CSA said the team will have to feature six players of colours inclusive of two black African players in the starting XI.
In retrospect, sport ministry had imposed ban on South Africa from hosting ICC’s flagship tournaments. Hence, the ‘transformation goal’ was dished out so the ban is lifted and the nation gets to host ICC World T20 in 2018.
All this, in the month of September, after their horrendous show and before the 2-1 win against Australia.
South Africa and World Cup misery
ICC World Cup 2015 could have been South Africa’ s had they not choked, like every other tournament. Enter ICC World T20 2016 in India. They stormed out of the first round.
What followed was even more troubling: they did not make it to the final of West Indies tri-nation, including Australia and West Indies (of course). South Africa, more favourites than West Indies, lost to them in a decider.
South Africa without their main man
The last time de Villiers played a Test was in January — the last Test against England, the series he was named permanent captain of the Test side. The last time de Villiers played an ODI was in June — against West Indies in tri-series, the series he sustained an elbow injury.
Having struggled with the injury, de Villiers later decided to quit captaincy, with du Plessis, their T20 captain, becoming South Africa’s third captain of the year.
Australia — South Africa’s only respite in otherwise forgettable year
A Test series defeat against England, the World T20 debacle, then failing to make it to the Tri-Series: South Africa went to Australia for a 5-ODI series with a baggage of defeat.
South Africa thrashed Australia 5-0 instead. They performed with distinction in all the departments. Rilee Rossouw was awarded Player of the Series for scoring 311 at 77.75 inclusive of 2 fifties and a hundred. Meanwhile, de Kock, their highest run-scorer in 2016, scored 300 runs at 60.
Amidst all this, 20-year-old Andile Phehlukwayo was the find of 2016 for the Proteas. He ended up as the highest wicket-taker.
November 2016 — Test match that South Africa should not have won
It it also the match that saw du Plessis giving a kiss to Rabada in adoration. But that’s a different story. du Plessis is a funny man.
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood bundle South Africa out for 242. In reply, Australia were 158 for 0, with David Warner unbeaten on 97, inching towards only his second hundred of the year.
In came Steyn, playing in his second Test only in a year’s time. Until then, he has given away 50 runs off 56 deliveries. At at other end was Shaun Marsh. Australia openers were going greats guns, coming from their first whitewash against Sri Lanka.
35. 2 Steyn to Warner. Bowls a good length. Warner edges it to Amla in the slip cordon. Steyn gets his first scalp.
37.4 Steyn to Khawaja. Short and wide. Khawaja cuts it to point. Steyn looks in pain. It seems his shoulder injury has flared up. He leaves the field to get further medical attention.
Steyn was then ruled out for the series, like he was during India and England series; all during the first Test.
It was the much needed impetus South Africa were looking for, so much so that Australia were bundled out for 244. South Africa won the match by 177 runs, eventually winning the series 2-1.
Had Steyn not broken the opening stand, the result would have been otherwise. But what was commendable was the fact that South Africa did it without their speedster. While Rabada took 6 wickets, Philander scalped 5 in the match.
However, unlike on the previous Boxing Day Test, they ended this year’s Boxing Day on a high. They beat Sri Lanka by 206 runs, with Cook awarded Man of the Match.
The turnaround
South Africa started 2016 as the No. 1 team in Test cricket, then stooping low to No. 7. And with their comprehensive win over Sri Lanka, they are now placed at No. 4.
That was that. South Africa in 2016.