It was indeed a special week, this last one.
I was chuffed to see South Africa finally get a long-due and well-deserved #1 Test ranking. Despite a gritty display from the English on the final day of the last test (and the series), the Proteas managed to come up trumps.
Unless you were a completely jingoistic Englishman or totally anti-South Africa (for any personal reason), you would have no reason to grudge them their victory.
Right since their re-introduction to cricket in 1992, the South Africans have always looked champion-material in whichever format, whichever tournament they have participated in. However, for reasons best known to no one, they have always finished second-best.
Further, more than any team, it is they who seemed to have almost patented the concept of a team having all the ingredients to win anywhere against anyone, but still managing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at the most inopportune, crunch moments.
No wonder, the C-word almost stuck to them.
It is because of all these reasons, therefore, that they have remained atleast (if not for most impartial supporters') favorite team to win.
If ever I wanted to see a team win besides my own country, it has been South Africa.
Being popular, long-deserving and also emotional favorites, it was nice to see them on top of a podium finally.
Hopefully, this should also help them realize that they are champions and perhaps they might not inexplicably C (choke) anymore in those big finals when it matters the most!
Guess what, as it turns out, the so-called 'choker' have been able to become No.1 in the world in cricket's toughest and most prized format - that too, by beating the reigning World Champions in their own backyard! Boy, it doesn't get better than this.
Dear England, as I had written earlier, it's much easier winning at home and being # 1.
I did not detest their becoming # 1 (though yes, being Indian, it was disappointing to see India lose. But we got what we deserved, for not playing well, and later in Australia too).
However, the Englishmen thought only Indians have follies, and that they can never play well outside the subcontinent.
Well, dear Englishmen, as things stand, we even stayed # 1 longer than you did (including drawing with the same South Africans in their own den).
And, facts have proved: atleast we do win (convincingly) at home :)
By the way, see you in India next!!
As I said, well-deserved and thank you, South Africa!!
I was chuffed to see South Africa finally get a long-due and well-deserved #1 Test ranking. Despite a gritty display from the English on the final day of the last test (and the series), the Proteas managed to come up trumps.
Unless you were a completely jingoistic Englishman or totally anti-South Africa (for any personal reason), you would have no reason to grudge them their victory.
Right since their re-introduction to cricket in 1992, the South Africans have always looked champion-material in whichever format, whichever tournament they have participated in. However, for reasons best known to no one, they have always finished second-best.
Further, more than any team, it is they who seemed to have almost patented the concept of a team having all the ingredients to win anywhere against anyone, but still managing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at the most inopportune, crunch moments.
No wonder, the C-word almost stuck to them.
It is because of all these reasons, therefore, that they have remained atleast (if not for most impartial supporters') favorite team to win.
If ever I wanted to see a team win besides my own country, it has been South Africa.
Being popular, long-deserving and also emotional favorites, it was nice to see them on top of a podium finally.
Hopefully, this should also help them realize that they are champions and perhaps they might not inexplicably C (choke) anymore in those big finals when it matters the most!
Guess what, as it turns out, the so-called 'choker' have been able to become No.1 in the world in cricket's toughest and most prized format - that too, by beating the reigning World Champions in their own backyard! Boy, it doesn't get better than this.
Dear England, as I had written earlier, it's much easier winning at home and being # 1.
I did not detest their becoming # 1 (though yes, being Indian, it was disappointing to see India lose. But we got what we deserved, for not playing well, and later in Australia too).
However, the Englishmen thought only Indians have follies, and that they can never play well outside the subcontinent.
Well, dear Englishmen, as things stand, we even stayed # 1 longer than you did (including drawing with the same South Africans in their own den).
And, facts have proved: atleast we do win (convincingly) at home :)
By the way, see you in India next!!
As I said, well-deserved and thank you, South Africa!!
