Follow UsTwo versions of us exist in this world: one, which resides in our head, and the other, which is perceived by others. Now, perception isn’t something which is in our control; only actions are. Unfortunately, more often than not, these perceptions impact our self-image and eventually our actions and mannerisms.
South African cricket has a similar ring to it.
The ‘C’ word has followed them like a ghost in every single big game that they have played in this millennium.
Frankly, their actions also don’t help them, because losing a T20 game when 30 runs are needed off 30 deliveries with the two best hitters at the crease is low-key diabolical. The fact that it was the World Cup final added concrete to the cho*ers tag. Not only that, after playing like a superb spirited outfit in the 2023 ODI World Cup, they blew their chances into smithereens in the semi-final against Australia.
And let’s not even get to the happenstances in the last decade when South Africa became the victims of the too-near yet too far syndrome. Safe to say, their perception of being a cho*er team has become their reputation now, and as a result, that is what everyone is talking about right before the World Test Championship final that begins in less than 24 hours.
However, just because of that tag, Temba Bavuma’s stellar record as a skipper, where he is yet to lose a Test match, is muddled. Black South Africans, until Bavuma, have mostly been bowlers, doing the more arduous job on the cricket field. Hardly anyone is talking about the fact that a black batter captaining South Africa in a Championship final is a historic feat in itself because of the racial history of cricket in South Africa.
Moreover, people forget that Kagiso Rabada is one of the best bowlers in Test cricket right now, and even after the drug fiasco, the spirited pacer would be ready to bowl venom at the Australian batters. He’ll have the 2.06 metres tall Marco Jansen aiding him by swinging and bouncing the ball like a madman on steroids at the hallowed turf of Lord’s cricket ground.
Batters like Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs adorn that batting lineup, who have spent almost half of their lives so far batting on tracks where the ball moves a lot more than any Australian pitch. They legit bat till number nine, with the dogged Keshav Maharaj walking out then.
Additionally, with the English spring and summer being rather dry so far, it’s estimated that the track at Lord’s might help the spinners at some point. The Proteas are playing Maharaj, who is adept at bowling on such tracks with a lot of guile and gumption.
Considering all these strengths of the South Africans, by no means should the buildup to the WTC final have been as Australia-centric and calling them favourites. However, here we are, with the cho*er question being asked to them in every single press conference leading up to the final.
“Yes, there will be that tag [cho*ers] that gets thrown our way until we win a trophy. You're not going to get rid of the tag. Is it deserving of these youngsters coming through? No, it's almost like they're carrying the burden of what happened in previous years, which is always going to be tough on them, but they're the ones in control of their futures at the moment.”
This is former South African cricketer Mark Boucher in a conversation with ESPNCricinfo. Not only is he right in pointing out the unfair burden, but he’s also right in saying that they have the chance to change that perception. And how will they do that? By believing in themselves! By believing that their performance between June 11 and 15 will defy all the perceptions and tags that are so cruelly associated with them.
Bavuma, himself, and his team are at the cusp of history. Australia have been their nemesis in previous ICC knockout games. They’ll be their nemesis yet again at the Mecca of cricket. A win here will not establish the victory of their belief over the perception that was imposed on them; it will ensure that the cho*ers' tag is removed from them once and for all.
If that happens, it won’t only be cathartic for the current bunch, but also the Smiths, the Kallises, the de Villiers’, the Steyns, the Ntinis and the Pollocks who have served South African cricket like devotees.
It’s the ultimate battle of perception vs belief at the Lord’s, and by winning that, the Proteas can also continue the trend of firsts (Tottenham, PSG, RCB) in the sports world.
Won’t that be the most romantic redemption for the Rainbow Nation?