World cup review thread

[stephen]

Not sure about the exact distinction between underperforming and choking but the reality is that this is a team that has a dominant record between WCs that somehow proceeded to fluff things up in a big tournament again. We can sugar coat it and call it whatever you want but players like Amla, QDK are quality players who have again failed to step up in big games and who's records at the WC are clearly inferior to their overall ODI record.

Underperformance is systemic, choking is a singular act of monumental failure in a moment of pressure. South Africa didn't choke this tournament, they were simply woeful from the start. It doesn't help that they've fielded their worst side in world cup history with basically only de Kock and du Plessis being their only batsmen of note (I'm ignoring Amla who has been past it for over a year).

The bowling attack of Rabada, Ngidi, Phehlukwayo and Tahir is quite good but Ngidi has been injured and Rabada has been rubbish (is he carrying an injury too?) But it's the batting that has meant South Africa have been rubbish this world cup. Never enough runs.

 

[Victor Ian]

After choking for so long they fell into a coma.

 

[zorax]

 

[StephenZA]

SA chokes, 1999, 2011, 2015.

The rest not really chokes, 1992 had nothing to do with choking, ran into Lara in 1996, 2003 we did not play great and messed up a cheat sheet. 2007 we came up against a far superior Aus team in semis.

2019... crap team that then also under performed.

 

[Howe_zat]

2015 was another conventional loss against a better team.

 

[OverratedSanity]

2015 was another conventional loss against a better team.

Kind of.

But they also screwed up a lot of things in the field at the end of the game which would've swung the game the other way.

 

[StephenZA]

2015 was another conventional loss against a better team.

Nah. We put up '300' in a semi final and had a pretty decent bowling attack... should have won. Both sides made plenty of mistakes that match.

 

[vcs]

2011 also was a "choke" only in the sense that they were favoured on paper, and generally the more talented, accomplished side. They never actually got into a clear winning position at any stage.

 

[StephenZA]

2011 also was a "choke" only in the sense that they were favoured on paper, and generally the more talented, accomplished side. They never actually got into a clear winning position at any stage.

We bowled NZ out for 221, on a tough pitch, but still should have chased that down with that lineup. We crumbled the minute we lost a few wickets.

 

[Dendarii]

Nah. We put up '300' in a semi final and had a pretty decent bowling attack... should have won. Both sides made plenty of mistakes that match.

We also got undone by the rain a bit. If we'd been able to bat 50 overs then with AB in peak form we probably would have posted a higher target than Duckworth-Lewis predicted. But we had plenty of other opportunities to win the match, so in this instance rain wasn't the reason we lost.

 

[Dendarii]

We bowled NZ out for 221, on a tough pitch, but still should have chased that down with that lineup. We crumbled the minute we lost a few wickets.

We were 108/2 after 24 overs with Kallis and De Villiers at the crease. That's a match state that should have resulted in a victory.

 

[StephenZA]

We also got undone by the rain a bit. If we'd been able to bat 50 overs then with AB in peak form we probably would have posted a higher target than Duckworth-Lewis predicted. But we had plenty of other opportunities to win the match, so in this instance rain wasn't the reason we lost.

Rain did not help, but Miller innings pretty much countered that. Berhardein dropping Elliott cost us that match.

 

[trundler]

Rashid Khan took 6 wickets at 69. Guess all those fastest to X wickets records he broke meant nothing.

 

[stephen]

It's been the absolute worst tournament for spinners I've ever watched. None of them have been even reasonable this tournament with the exception of Tahir.

 

[wrongun]

Not sure about the exact distinction between underperforming and choking but the reality is that this is a team that has a dominant record between WCs that somehow proceeded to fluff things up in a big tournament again. We can sugar coat it and call it whatever you want but players like Amla, QDK are quality players who have again failed to step up in big games and who's records at the WC are clearly inferior to their overall ODI record.

The distinction is quite simple . Choking would only occur if the team had any massive expectations. How do you choke or dissapoint when you don't have any? Any cricketing fan with half a brain would've seen this coming with SAF. Their past records in WC does not have any baring on this WC....it's the same 92 nonsense with Pak.

 

[tooextracool]

The distinction is quite simple . Choking would only occur if the team had any massive expectations. How do you choke or dissapoint when you don't have any? Any cricketing fan with half a brain would've seen this coming with SAF. Their past records in WC does not have any baring on this WC....it's the same 92 nonsense with Pak.

I’m glad that your half brain was able to predict well in advance that SA would finish below Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the standings.

AFAIC, it’s pretty simple. Any team with Rabada, Amla, QDK, Faf, Ngidi and Tahir has no business finishing at number 8. This may well be the weakest side that they have sent to a World Cup, but there is enough talent there to compete IF they had the mental game to perform under pressure. Teams with half the same talent have finished above.

 

[wrongun]

I’m glad that your half brain was able to predict well in advance that SA would finish below Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the standings.

AFAIC, it’s pretty simple. Any team with Rabada, Amla, QDK, Faf, Ngidi and Tahir has no business finishing at number 8. This may well be the weakest side that they have sent to a World Cup, but there is enough talent there to compete IF they had the mental game to perform under pressure. Teams with half the same talent have finished above.

Actually it took less than half my brain and simply eyes to watch South Africa games to understand that they would end up near the bottom. Only team I would’ve counted lower would’ve been Lanka. Why do ppl keep dissing Bangladesh when they finished above SL, Pak at the Asia cup? SA has a terrible time getting their squad right. Again you simply name players, but many of them weren’t in the greatest of form. Rabada has been disappointing and Tahir unlucky. You can shift the goal posts all you want but this wasn’t a choke job Mr. burns....this was simply world cricket releasing their hounds on a hapless squad.

 

[ankitj]

SA chokes, 1999, 2011, 2015.

The rest not really chokes, 1992 had nothing to do with choking, ran into Lara in 1996, 2003 we did not play great and messed up a cheat sheet. 2007 we came up against a far superior Aus team in semis.

2019... crap team that then also under performed.

2007 was actually the most comical choke. Game barely started and they showed up how much choking thing was playing on their mind. There was a lot of make belief talk about playing positive cricket from SA before the semi and they really had no plan on playing positive.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Ponting calling Kallis a liability because of his SR before the match, leading to Kallis attempting to charge down the wicket to McGrath was hilariously great mindgames

Ponting wants slowcoach Kallis in early | Cricket | ESPNcricinfo.com

 

[Borges]

It's been the absolute worst tournament for spinners I've ever watched. None of them have been even reasonable this tournament with the exception of Tahir.

In a tournament where spinners have generally struggled, Shakib has been excellent. If you think that he hasn't had a reasonable tournament as a bowler, there is something wrong with you.