The new Twenty20 Mzansi Super League (MSL) could just be the springboard to another level for South African cricket.
We haven’t come to grips with the shortest format of the game despite it being around for over a decade.
We haven’t come to grips with the shortest format of the game despite it being around for over a decade.
What could the problem be? Are our concentration spans too short? That would be ironic.
South Africa was at the forefront of the game when it went international in 2007.
We hosted the very first World T20 that year but missed out on the semifinals after losing our nerve in the Super Eights.
NEEDS TALENT: Proteas coach Ottis Gibson. Photo: SYDNEY MAHLANGU/BACKPAGEPIX
Since then the furthest we’ve been is to the semifinals - twice (2009 and 2014).
(Here’s a weird stat, the West Indies have lifted the T20 World Cup twice. But they have played only one more game than us in tournaments and have a better winning record by just one game).
And after the Indian Premier League was launched in 2008, SA offered to host the second tournament in 2009 due to security reasons in India.
Even after that, the game just hasn’t taken off here. And yes, we just aren’t very good at the game.
We are ranked sixth in the world as a team and only Imran Tahir (bowling) and JP Duminy (allrounder) make the top 10 in the individual rankings.
MAVERICK: Proteas ace T20 spinner Imran Tahir. Photo: RYAN WILKISKY/BACKPAGEPIX
The T20 Challenge has been pretty popular among fans in recent years. I mean, what’s not to like about ouens swinging for the ropes at every ball in the tournament?
But this year saw a downturn in SA’s T20 fortunes. During the IPL auction, there were fewer South Africans in the draft than in previous years.
Hopefully, our own version will ignite a new interest in the game. Rubbing shoulders with star imports could help the next generation of cricketers.
That’s how India, the Windies and England have gone about it and it’s worked wonders for them.
Also, the skills required for the game sharpen your game if you take it seriously.
Batting-wise, you can up your strike rate, lengthen your hitting distance off different deliveries and improve your shot selection to become a Mr 360 - just like the ultimate entertainer, AB de Villiers.
MUST BE REPLACED: Mr360 AB De Villiers. Photo: CHRIS RICCO/BACKPAGEPIX
While it’s often said that the game is mik en moer, the above batting skills are essential in every format. In the longer forms, all you need to add is endurance and patience to build and manage your innings.
But where does that leave bowlers? They often get the short end of the stick in cricket with the game becoming more and more batsman-friendly.
Bowlers can learn to be more unpredictable, with the ball staying firm for virtually the entire innings.
Varying line, length and pace is part of the arsenal of every bowler at every level, as well as performing under pressure.
And with batsmen being so desperate to score runs, it’s easier to outfox them with a bit of intelligence and some innovative field settings.
We’ve never been great at thinking about game plans and executing them in limited-overs cricket, but if we really take this format seriously, we may just become good at this and even better at the rest.