The Proteas have been here before — in a World Cup semifinal, with a trophy beckoning, the glory of a return to a hero’s welcome a genuine prospect.
They were “here” as recently as in last year’s 50-over World Cup in India in October and November. The dreaded C-word — the chokers’ tag — could not be applied fairly to South Africa as they lost to a simply stronger Australia — who went on to beat another excellent side in the hosts in the final.
It is sport. Teams lose. That the Proteas have earned a label many see as unfair stems from them so often promising so much, progressing to the semis, then bombing out. The most glaring example of potential brittleness at an advanced stage, and where the label originates from, was Allan Donald’s run-out in a horrific mix-up with Lance Klusener at the 1999 World Cup, as South Africa lost to Australia in their semifinal. Then again, Donald’s job was never really batting or running between the wickets.
Last year’s semifinal was the Proteas’ fifth in the nine 50-over World Cups they have entered. Monday morning’s thrilling Super Eight stage win against West Indies in Antigua means they have now reached three in the T20 World Cup at the ninth attempt. From those eight semifinals, not one has transferred into a place in the final.
It’s a historical anomaly and an injustice reminiscent of Netherlands never having won the Football World Cup.
The Proteas have a chance to rectify it in this far-off World Cup played in strange venues separated by thousands of kilometres at the bizarrely subdued grounds of the US and far more cricket-friendly stadiums of the West Indies.
The Windies’ hopes were dashed by South Africa on Monday morning in a match where the winner would progress and the loser exit.
It was another indicator of the Proteas’ strange luck and fortunes they have encountered in World Cups that the permutations would have seen them exit had they not beaten the co-hosts, despite having gone unbeaten in the tournament.
Yet here they are again, and the path has been a nail-biting one. All their wins have come in thrillers. That seems to indicate two things — first, the brittleness remains under the surface; but second, this team has a backbone.
The economic climate means no South African media houses has sent reporters to cover the far-flung event in expensive, far-apart destinations. Sometimes there are as few as two attendees at the Proteas’ post-match press conferences and one of those is an International Cricket Council official.
That, the early hours of the games and strangeness of many of the venues, might have had the effect of separating the South Africans from the hype, chatter and criticisms back home, as captain Aiden Markram’s side have gone about their job and notched workmanlike narrow win after narrow win.
Perhaps they will get another in Thursday’s semifinal against Afghanistan, and reach their first World Cup final. Perhaps they will get two and even lift the trophy. Perhaps they will hit their stride and canter to those wins.
And perhaps they will lose. It’s the fun, the entertainment and the heartbreak of sport that we cannot know. After a remarkable year-and-a-half for team sports in South Africa, the country will be hoping this time the Proteas can go that step, or two, further, exorcise their fragilities and rectify past inaccuracy.
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