It has been all negative on The Roar this week. But cheer up mates, everything’s not over.
The entire cricket section is filled with negativity after Australia’s dismal outing in the second Test against South Africa, which saw them conceding the series to the under-rated Saffers.
The entire week has been about whether or not the Aussies have hit the bottom, who are the players who should move out and who are the new guys that can replace them.
So, while the boys rummage their think-tank to find the right solutions, we ‘the 22,000 selectors outside’, as recorded by Rod Marsh, can watch the ladies game for some time.
While Australia’s poor batting performances dominated the recent headlines, another cricket series Down Under is already underway.
The Southern Stars are up against the Proteas women for a five-match series, with the first one already concluded at Canberra.
The likes of Meg Lanning, Elise Perry, and Dane van Niekerk would be all on the same ground.
By the way, anyone knows the result?
Well, at least they played better than the boys. Unlike the boys, they did not underestimate van Niekerk and co, something which led to their downfall in Perth.
The ladies from South Africa were high on confidence, having secured two historic wins against New Zealand and England at home.
They won the toss and batted first.
A decent half-century from opener Sune Luus got them past the hundred run mark, in under twenty-five overs. They had only lost a wicket.
However, as soon as Luus got out, the momentum shifted to the Stars.
Mignon Du Preez, van Niekerk, and Marizzane Kapp all got starts, but none converted them into a fifty.
They had to end their innings at 226/5.
After the break, the Southern Stars lost EJ Villani in the first over.
Meg Lanning was the next to go, with Nicole Bolton following her to the pavilion, at 49/3.
Then started the process of resurrection.
Ellyse Perry and the evergreen veteran, Alex Blackwell steadied the ship, as the van Niekerk and co sought inroads.
A 52-run stand took them past the hundred mark. Yet Blackwell could not hold on longer and had to perish for 25.
However, that did not stop the 3-dimensional Perry, who had returned from her injury, to score an unbeaten 93 to clinch the victory, on the penultimate ball. Not to forget, they had contributions from the lower-middle order as Healy and Grace Harris scored the twenties, to keep them in the game.
So while the ladies celebrate a close-fought win, what can the boys learn from them.
A couple of things.
First, never underestimate your opposition. Even though Proteas women are a team on the rise and fifth on the table, the Southern Stars did not take them lightly.
As a bowling unit, they bowled well to put the brakes on South Africa’s blistering start.
Though Elise Perry was the woman of the match, they played as a team and barely relied on her solely.
If Australia knew these basic lessons before, they would not have lost in Perth. While the return of Starc was definitely a bolster, yet they overestimated their talent on their home pitches, against South Africa, who were missing their key star-AB De Villiers.
They perhaps felt Mitchell Starc would roll over the Proteas top-order; yet nothing of that sort happened.
Secondly, don’t always try to dictate the terms. Sometimes, it’s better to keep yourself in the game, waiting for a moment to pounce on. The Southern Stars did exactly that. They were behind the eight-ball at 30-over mark having lost four wickets, yet they hung in there, waiting for South Africa to lose the momentum. Once their main bowlers, Ayabonga Khaka and Marizanne Kapp finished their quotas, Perry and co took the offensive.
Third, always be prepared for a game, no matter whether there are any chances of rain.
That is precisely what contributed to their dismal first-innings collapse in Hobart. It’s true the South Africans were bowling their tail up, yet the lack of mental preparedness was palpable, especially in the dismissal of David Warner.
Nevertheless, the ladies have given you something to smile about, now learn some lessons and I’m pretty sure the boys would fare better next week in Adelaide.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
Marcus Stoinis produced his first IPL century and it was a beauty. He went 6, 4, 4, 4 to finish off the Lucknow Super…
Xavier Bartlett has been permission to extend his cricketing education with a spell of T20s in England, playing in the Blast competition for Kent…
Three-Test spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has signed with Tasmania in a bid for red-ball game time ahead of Australia's tour of Sri Lanka next summer.…
Last week, you read about the Matt XI, a compilation of the best cricketers ever to represent the name Matt. And to be fair,…
The Aussie needed every centimetre of his height and reach to reel that one in!
Royal Challengers Bengaluru needed 21 off the final over...but after three sixes, a caught and bowled and a run out, Mitchell Starc's Kolkata had…
