South Africa need strong opposition, who can give them a hard game??
By Geomos
@Geomos (322)
South Africa
June 12, 2009 2:34am CST
South Africa have not been tested yet in the T20. In the warm up games they did exactly that (they warmed up). In the pool games they were never under any pressure. Even the game against NZ was used as an experiment in the batting line-up which backfired but Graeme Smith decided that it would be good for the team to defend the low total which they had posted. It worked !! We beat NZ by one run !!
England were just no match for SA yesterday.
The only team which might give Graeme Smith a some thinking to do is WI on Saturday. I am sure we have a plan for Chris Gayle, besides the fact that he is also under pressure to keep up the performance.
Who will give SA a good competitive game and push them to the limit in every department and how will they do it?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
12 Jun 09
The game against NZ was real excitement and South Africa did really well to defend a low total. However, I would root for SL and Pakistan...both are real fighter teams and they could give SA a run for their money. India is there too, but I have no idea as to how fit the team is after the recent IPL games.
@Geomos (322)
• South Africa
15 Jun 09
The game against NZ was very exciting and was very good practice for SA to defend low scores.
I would look at SL as the biggest threat to SA. The IPL should have had a more positive effect on the Indian players because it kept them "in the zone" and it would have kept them fit, besides there were many other players who played in the IPL, not only Indian players.
@Beertjie (976)
• South Africa
12 Jun 09
I agree that India might be the test for SA, but, as mentioned, the players know one another from the IPL. It will be a very interesting match. West Indies might also give SA a bit of thinking to do, but I don't think any of the other teams has what it takes.
SA is in good form with a good team. I just hope catain Smit doesn't blow things again. SA need to keep their cool now and their chances are good to bring the cup to sunny SA.
Blessings.
@Geomos (322)
• South Africa
15 Jun 09
Well Beertjie, India is not going to be in a position now to test SA. They will be going home after they play us on Tuesday.
Tuesday's game will be of no consequence to SA and will probably be treated as a practice game.
SA's chances are looking stronger by the day. I think the one team to worry about now is Sri Lanka.
@gvaisakh (421)
• India
12 Jun 09
Hi to all......... I think India is the only team that can match South Africa...... All the Indian players played in the second edition of Indian Premier League..... They know most of the South African players style too.......... Most probably, India will beat West Indies convicingly today....... That will destroy the confidence of other teams too..........
HAVE A NICE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY MYLOTTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Geomos (322)
• South Africa
12 Jun 09
I suppose that is one of the advantages (or disadvantages) of IPL, is that a lot of the players get to know each other quite well. They would have learned each others strengths and weaknesses by either playing with or against certain players.
It will surely be a humdinger of a game between SA and India if they play each other in the final !!!!
@pratik87 (1927)
• India
12 Jun 09
South africa have done well till now in the tournament but going by what happened last time i am not too sure if they really want to be tested. If you remember in the last t20 world championship in south africa in 2007 the south african team was unbeaten till they ran into india. And i think you might remeber not only were south africa tested but they were knocked out of the tournament as well. And how can you say they have not been tested in the tournament till now after they beat new zealand by just one run. That is the lowest margin you could win by if the match does not go into the superover. New zealand, srilanka,west indies,pakistan and india are all teams they can get tested against.
@Geomos (322)
• South Africa
15 Jun 09
South Africa are still un-tested !!!
I have mentioned before that SA have a habit of choking in the big matches and you are right about them having been knocked out in the last T20 WC.
SA was not exactly tested in the game against NZ. If you remember, Graeme Smith fiddled with the batting order which simply did not work (it actually backfired). This, in turn, forced Graeme Smith to come up with a bowling plan to defend a very low score. So I would say that SA put themselves under a bit of pressure and not NZ. Any other team would have chased down that kind of score.
@Geomos (322)
• South Africa
12 Jun 09
I hope they do. This will be good for SA as well as India. A tough game will always bring out the best in the SA team.
India should give WI a good go today if they can get past Chris Gayle and I will say the same for SA on Saturday against WI.
Good Luck ;-)
