They say catches win matches.
And the Proteas failed to do just that in their humbling by Sri Lanka at Newlands on Wednesday.
Farhaan Behardien’s manne should really have won that match.
Instead, they gave the Lankans their first-ever series win on South African soil.
Even though I don’t really care about Twenty20 matches, South Africa should really be winning them.
T20s are just a spectacle in my eyes. It’s exciting for the crowd and lucrative for the players.
But let’s be honest, it’s just not cricket.
The T20 squad was full of rookies and newcomers, so maybe it’s forgivable that they lost the series.
That being said, you can’t forget the basics. Like catching a ball.
Failure to do those things makes me kwaad.
At least we have the ODIs to look forward to and a look at what sort of strength in depth and synergy we have in the South African team.
With Kyle Abbott kla ar with the Proteas and no Vernon Philander, we’ll see a new bowling attack.
There will be a lot of pace to call on, but not a lot of control or experience.
Lungi Ngidi has been added to the squad and should get a look-in over the next five games.
Allrounders Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius will help out with their heavy medium pace.
Chris Morris will bring his bounce and variations and we have maverick Wayne Parnell, who adds the left-arm option.
Then of course we have the yster Kagiso Rabada.
With one eye on the future, this attack will have to become greater than the sum of its parts if these are the manne who will go to England for the Champions Trophy.
Will they have what it takes to gel and execute their game plans?
Coach Charl Langeveldt has a tough job on his hands to get these manne to move the ball and build pressure on their opposition.
All of them seem to be strike bowlers rather than the change to make their rivals think twice about taking them on.
And looking at the over- confidence or lack thereof in the T20s and Tests, will they hang onto those chances when they come their way?
Each man will have to heed his instructions when it comes to the crunch.
Maybe the fact that they are such an aggressive bunch of bowlers, they will have the killer instinct needed at this level.
The Sri Lankans are a dangerous side when given the opportunity to get on top and any weakness could get the sort of punishment it deserves.