Way below potential

"Cr*p" and "rubbish" were among the words Graeme Smith used to describe the reaction to South Africa's pathetic display in the first Test against India. Similar terms were applicable to too much of the cricket Smith's team played in 2006. A drubbing - home and away - at the hands of the Australians, a thrashing in Sri Lanka, a barely acceptable performance in the Champions Trophy, and then a first innings of 84 against India at the Wanderers on the way to utter defeat.

Cr*p and rubbish? Many South Africans thought so, too.

New man on the block It's tempting to put this prize at the feet of Ashwell Prince, whose old-fashioned approach to Test batting earned him 905 runs at 47.63 in 2006. Centuries against Australia, New Zealand and India would strengthen his claims. "We need some backbone, and here it comes," was one South African observer's analysis as Prince strode out to prop up another teetering innings. But Prince is entering his fifth year as an international cricketer. Perhaps, then, we should look to Morne Morkel, who made his debut in the last Test of the year against India in Durban. Morkel's first ball in Test cricket was a no-ball and his third was a wide, but he soon settled to take three wickets in the first innings. Not only that, he delivered timely innings of 31 not out and 27 with genuine poise. A tall, lanky fast bowler with a no-frills, chest-on action, Morkel extracts awkward bounce from most surfaces and he isn't short of gas. Allan Donald rates his bowling, Mark Boucher likes his batting: better references would be hard to find.

Fading star Time was when all Herschelle Gibbs needed to do to earn the adulation of South African crowds was to flash that bling grin. Times change. The public's patience is rapidly running out with the erstwhile batting prodigy who, they feel, refuses to grow up and play like a man.

High point 438. That's what South Africa scored to beat Australia in the series-deciding fifth one-day international at the Wanderers on March 12. They made it with one ball remaining, and with one wicket standing. It was the day that Smith's team proved that they could beat the best in the most pressured of situations, and that they could achieve the impossible. It was a day that will live forever in our hearts. Trouble is, it was just that: one day.

Low point Haroon Lorgat is an intelligent, thoughtful, articulate man. But those fine qualities would seem to be smothered in most who take on the job of selection convenor in South Africa. How else do we explain the ludicrous recall of Paul Adams? How else do we explain the crassness with which Lorgat bemoaned South Africa's dearth of attacking spinners? Nicky Boje is the personification of left-arm ordinary but his decision to retire in the wake of Lorgat's lapse into George W Bush-speak was entirely understandable.

What does 2007 hold? Here's a wish list: 1. That Smith, along with regaining his form, regains his smile. The scowl that has soured his face recently could vaporise a bolt of lightning. Captaining South Africa, particularly when they are not winning as often as they should, is a job from hell. But, Graeme, you're a bloody good bloke and a fine South African. Don't give anyone the excuse to think, say and write otherwise. 2. That the miserable ranks of the old fogies who have limped from the playing field to the commentary box or columnist page should be stripped in public to discover which of them have Swastikas tattooed in strange places. Once the racists have been outed, we should ship them off to some place truly terrible. Like Perth. Or the vast and sterile space between Kevin Pietersen's ears. 3. That Smith, Gibbs, Lorgat et al keep a grip on who they are and what they're trying to achieve. That way South Africa have a chance of playing to their potential in the World Cup. Imagine that ...