P Robinson: South Africa Learn Art Of Leading From Front (29 Apr 1996)

South Africa Learn The Art Of Leading From The Front

By Peter Robinson in The Star

Even Bob Woolmer, not a man short on ambition or lacking in self-confidence, seems astonished by South Africa`s march through the summer of 1995-6.

Only time will tell, but this season may yet prove a watershed in the rehabilitation of South Africa as a major force in international cricket.

"It`s been an amazing season", said Woolmer after arriving back from Sharjah with the Pepsi cup at the weekend. "If anyone had told me last September that we would win 18 of 20 one-day internationals and beat England in a test series, I would have told them they were crazy.

In one sense South Africa may have ended their World Cup campaign with a record comparable to that of England - beaten quarterfinalists. Another way of looking at it , however, is that through the course of the past season South Africa earned enormous respect for their organisation and their application. It may even go beyond respect.

At home South Africa are a team to be feared. They yield very little, they have eliminated many of the mistakes and outdated theories which were a legacy of isolation and, crucially, they have added a swagger to the toughness which has been Kepler Wessel`s great gift to South African cricket.

All this and the good news is that this side will probably get better. In Sharjah, South Africa played one day cricket from the front, dictating the course of games instead of , as was the case 2 or 3 years ago, waiting for the opposition to make the running before trying to head them off at the pass.

It is this confidence, this self belief which is the most encouraging aspect of the last 6 months. Throughout the summer one player after another stepped forward to take on additional responsibility whereas a year ago they might have been happy to allow someone else, Wessels possibly, or Alan Donald, to score the runs and take the wickets.

The greatest progress was made by Gary Kirsten, South Africa`s player of the season, who moved up at least one and possibly two levels. Last winter Kirsten got himself fit and the benefits quickly became apparent. He averages over 50 in the tests against England, scoring a century at the Wanderers, but it was his from at the World Cup and in Sharjah which made the rest of the world sit up and take notice.

On pitches which suited his technique (there wasn`t a great deal of lateral movement off the wicket and away from the bat) Kirsten blossomed. You`d still describe him as gritty and determined, but ht added fluency to his personal list of adjectives. A World Cup batting record against the United Arab Emirates was followed by two centuries and a 50 in Sharjah. No one could have asked for more consistency and ,in Woolmer`s words, he became the pillar around which South Africa built their batting.

There were other pluses though. Andrew Hudson rediscovered his confidence and the whereabouts of his off-stump; Darryl Cullinan began to play like a man who has at last realised that he is as gifted as everyone has spent the last ten years telling him he is; and Brian McMillan reaffirmed his stature as one of the world`s leading batting all-rounders.

Hansie Cronje had a disappointing Test series against England, partly because he refused to move himself down the order when common sense suggested he should. In his defence, Cronje was clearly trying to make a point to the opposition and his own team by leading from the front and when the season shifted into oneday mode he showed an encouraging flexibility, both in regard to himself and to his team`s batting line-up.

If the batting made the greatest advances, south Africa`s bowling and fielding were nearly always immaculate and at times breathtaking. At Faisalabad against New Zealand, South Africa conjured up a performance in the field which was as close to perfection as it may be possible to achieve.

As always the bowling was primarily seam up but it is worth noting that for much of the summer South Africa made do without Fanie De Villiers and Brett Schultz. In Sharjah, De Villiers appeared to have regained his old snap and there might be a season or two left in him, but Schultz`s future remains clouded in uncertainty.

It may be that South Africa will come to view Schultz as Bruce Reid was seen by the Australians - he might never make two series in succession, but he remains a match-winner when he is fit and firing.

Donald, though, added control to his pace this summer and was never less than formidable while Shaun Pollock adapted easily to international cricket. At 22, Pollock has much to learn and at times he seemed bemused by unresponsive pitches. But he seldom made the same mistake twice and he the talent to become one of the world`s top players. In time he may lessen his pace after the fashion of Richard Hadlee, whose easy, economical action he shares, and his batting will serve South Africa to greater and greater effect, particularly after McMillan retires.

Along with Pollock, Jacques Kallis (20) and Paul Adams (18) broke into international cricket. Kallis is a magnificent prospect and once he stops being over-awed by the company that he is now keeping he will become an exceptional Test and one-day batsman.

Adams, of course, is everybody`s darling, but it is difficult to say at his point whether his progress has been rushed a little.

It is worth remembering that Shane Warne was 22 when he made his test debut before being omitted for the 1992 World Cup.

Adams may not be another Warne, but he could become a matchwinner provided not too much is asked of him.

The single biggest weakness in the South African side at present is the lack of an obvious replacement for Dave Richardson. This is reflected by the selection of two-and-a-half wicketkeepers (Palframan, Pothas and Liebenberg) for this year`s South African A tour of England. If someone eventually comes through the entire country will heave a sigh of relief, not least Richardson himself.

There are only so many times that he will allow himself to be coaxed away from his family and profession even though every 50 that he makes seems to add at least another month to his career.

Source :: The Star