Wait until the next World Cup to see the real Proteas.
That’s what they always says right?
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
And so it goes for South African cricket, who have lost all confidence after winning the opening two Tests against India.
New coach Ottis Gibson is about to feel what it’s like losing a series on home soil. And it’s not nice.
The Proteas are 3-0 down in their ODI series. And while there is still hope to draw the six-match contest, it doesn’t look likely.
If watching the Green and Gold being used as a skroplap by the Indians makes you feel bad, it must be a familiar feeling.
SA are back to looking clueless against spin.
And they can’t seem to adapt to the lack of pace and variation of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, who have now taken 21 of the 27 Proteas wickets that have fallen in the last three matches.
In the battle of the bowling attacks, Gibson’s manne have failed to execute their planning against the Indian batsmen.
Yes Virat Kohli is a total freak. He has scored 318 runs in the series at an average of 318 thanks to two unbeaten innings.
But they can’t let the pak they are getting from the India skipper stop them from getting at the rest of the batting line-up out.
ROOKIE SKIPPER: Proteas' Aiden Markram
They have to be disciplined and continue to fight.
What’s also been a big worry is the lack of bottle shown in by our batsmen.
With the likes of Quinton de Kock painfully out of form, Faf du Plessis out injured and AB de Villiers only returning to the team this weekend, we’ve looked completely lost.
There has been talk from the management that testing the depth of the squad and blooding the likes of Aiden Markram and Khaya Zondo in the middle order will help us in the long run.
GIVEN HIS CHANCE: Batsman Khaya Zondo
But we’ve seen very few positives. SA are obviously a work in progress, with Temba Bavuma - earmarked as a possible ODI opening batsman - also on the injury list.
However, specialist batter David Miller has looked off colour.
Let’s hope they get their tails up in the next three games and find some form before Australian get here next month.
Otherwise we have to wait until the next World Cup to see the “real Proteas”. And we all know how that goes.