New Zealand have qualified for the cricket World Cup final with a pulsating win over South Africa on Tuesday at Eden Park.
A massive crowd was on hand to see one of the most intense games of cricket in recent memory that saw Grant Elliott smash a six with one ball remaining to send his side into the MCG final.
Looking at the side that South Africa brought with them, this may have been the Proteas’ best chance of winning their first World Cup. AB de Villiers, Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn were at the top of their game coming into the tournament, and none of the three are guaranteed to be there in 2019.
AB and Steyn, arguably South Africa’s two best players, are both 31, while Morkel is 30. South Africa’s second and third best batsman in Faf du Plessis and Hashim Alma are 30 and 31 respectively.
Incredibly 2015’s campaign was the equal furthest the South Africans have ever ventured into a World Cup, having fallen at the quarter finals more time than they care to remember.
The losses had earned them the tag of cricket’s chokers.
Make no mistake about it though, last night’s game was no choke from South Africa, they were simply outplayed by the Black Caps.
AB de Villiers came into the tournament on an absolute tear, and continued to belt opposition bowlers around the grounds right up until last night. He made batting look easy throughout the tournament, and ends his campaign as the third-highest run scorer.
Morne Morkel has been the South African bowler of the tourney, coincidently being the third-highest wicket taker.
Looking at the side, it’s hard to see where they fell short. Imran Tahir is a spin bowler with a quality South Africa haven’t had in recent years, so if anything they came into the tournament stronger than ever before.
Australia and New Zealand aside, there isn’t a better pace attack in world cricket than the South African trio of Steyn, Morkel and Vernon Philander. The aforementioned Tahir has been in incredible form, while Kyle Abbott is hardly bad back up.
Meanwhile, Amla, de Kock, du Plessis, Miller, de Villiers, Duminy and Rossouw are hardly a bad bunch with the willow.
Simply put, this was the South Africans’ best chance to win a World Cup in their history as a cricketing nation. Whether or not they can develop players in the next four years to rival the squad they brought with them this time around will determine their future chances.
Will their main stars will be around in four year’s time? And will they be playing at the same level?
South Africa were definitely a top four side in the tournament but were they good enough to make the final? Grant Elliott said no.
Shaun
Guest
Most of the batting team can stay in tact and still perform at a high level at the age of 35/36 excluding the likes of Rossouw/Miller/de Kock who are young and will only get better. I don't see any of the bowlers being around next year and hopefully the youngster showing promise can become greats i.e. Rabada, Morris, de Lange etc. Proud of the way they played and they can definitely be proud of their performance!
Griffo
Guest
I watched the highlights of that the other day. If South Africa had have won then the choker tag would probably have been tied to Australia. Paul Reiffel dropped 2 catches in that match. The first one was Kallis off Warne's bowling. It didn't cost too much because he was out later in the over but in the penultimate over he dropped Klusener when South Africa were 9 down. He also managed to have the ball carry over the rope for six. It would have landed inside the field of play had Reiffel not layed a hand on it then the ball would have landed in the field of play and saved at least 2 runs and had he caught it Australia would have won by 15 runs
Griffo
Guest
I tend to agree that they were better collectively in 99. To answer the author's question I think yes they did blow their best chance to win the world cup but that was 16 years ago. I do however think that if South Africa had won the world cup in 1999 then it would leave a bad taste in the mouth knowing that the winning captain was subsequently banned for life for match fixing and I believe that world cricket was lucky to avoid an even more uncomfortable situation than it had once the details of match fixing in cricket came out in the years that followed. BBA I don't know that Pakistan could have been beaten much more easily than were. They were bowled out for 132; Australia won by 8 wickets and with 29.5 overs to spare.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
There's no guarantees for most of this SA side that they'll be around to get another crack at the World Cup though. By the time the next one comes around Tahir will be 40yo, De Villiers, Steyn and Amla will be 36yo, Du Plessis and Duminy will be 35yo, and Morkel and Philander will be 34yo. It's quite possible as many as 5-6 of those key players could be gone by next WC.
wardad
Guest
This is how horribly the not really justified 'chokers 'tag has stuck to SA ,just looking at the wee synopsis on foxtel RE::the 1999 SA vs Oz semi and it says 'famous for the Proteas choke in the final over ' Harsh ,very harsh......
Grahame
Guest
"The losses had earned them the tag of cricket’s chokers." The only reason SA has earned the tag of "chokers" is because you and other journalists keep promoting this b.s. that they are a team of chokers. There was nothing that resembled choking yesterday. There was some unfortunate misses and option taking yesterday, by both teams, right down to the second to last ball. It could have gone either way. It was a brilliant match spectacle. I could easily see some shallow thinkers throwing the "choker" tag on the NZ team if they missed those 4 runs needed in the last two balls of yesterday's match.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
The bouncing sharp return can be flawed, even though both AB and De K were responsible, they are trickier to take. On the full, over or near the bails, is much easier to gather.
Nick
Roar Guru
The core of the team - poor form aside - will definitely be around. De Villers, Amla, Morkel, De Kock, Miller, Russoww all will be around in 4 years. Plently of time to solve the 5th bowler problem.
Bobbo7
Guest
Biggest issue was the fitness of thier fast bowlers Steyn and Philander were not fully fit and this cost them big time
SP
Guest
Bad luck SA. They have been the number 1 team in ODI's for a few years and a WC would've been the icing on the cake. They had enough chances to win it though. Great to finally see a competitive NZ side.
13th Man
Guest
Nah you should be proud of your boys BB they fought hard last night, never gave up and had a few things go against them. NZ just played the big moments a bit better! SA did not choke It was just a fantastic game between 2 great cricket teams! They will be therabouts in 4 years time, don't worry about that!
13th Man
Guest
He has made himself a 'great' after last night!
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
I think the core of SA's team will still be there next time.
chucked
Guest
Great Game,played in a Fantastic Spirit - epitomized by Elliot assisting Dale Steyn up off the ground, after the winning runs scored. As said on other blogs, it doesn't need to get nasty to be good. In all honestly NZ batsman looked very confident from the word go - there own run out of Guptill hurt them terribly - MCCullum laid the platform and from the 6th Over the asking run rate was only 6 per over all in all a great advertisement for cricket
Don Freo
Guest
Yeah...you, too, might have "greats" like Elliott.
Targa
Guest
No, they will be back. NZ's run this tournament has been a combination of veterans and talented youngsters playing without fear. The South African greats are not that old (look at Sangakkara, Vettori, Elliott and co) and could be firing in 4years, the likes of De Kock, Miller, Rossouw and Abbott are going to get better and South Africa WON the World Under 19s last year, so a couple of young geniuses could emerge. Keep your chins up South Africa - we (NZers) respect you so much as players and people. I suspect there will be another semifinal between the 2 countries in the 15 man game later this year and that too could go either way.
Bamboo
Guest
Try having George Gregan say it to you before the final whistle!
BBA
Guest
I think the 1999 team was better collectively when compared to the opposition at the time, plus I think they would have accounted for Pakistan in the 1999 WC more easily. While the 2015 team is excellent, the standard of competition is better in 2015 as Australia or India will be formiddable competition in the final if they had gotten through this year.
Could you not just give us a break and wait a week? a bit soon to be rubbing it in, eh?
Don Freo
Guest
They'll have another chance. It's not as if the World Cup will cease to be. Who is to say they won't have better players than Steyn or De Villiers? It's not as if Steyn offered anything this time. Greater players will always appear...one day.