Pathetic Proteas crash and burn again

The Proteas’ Champions Trophy semi-final exit against New Zealand must signal a complete rebuild of the ODI team, writes RYAN VREDE.

It’s impossible to rank the worst Proteas knockout performances. The catalogue is too extensive, and the depth of incompetency too painful for recall.

This one was bad in myriad ways, not least how poorly they bowled in the last 10 overs – which went for 110 runs. Relative control gave way to the type of cluelessness that has defined one too many Proteas’ performances in knockout games at major tournaments.

Three hundred was gettable on a placid Lahore deck. Three hundred and twenty would be a challenge, 340 a stretch but conceivable given the hitting power in the Proteas’ ranks. Ultimately, 362 would have demanded something truly special. The Proteas don’t do special at these tournaments.

Coach Rob Walter, who controls selection, deserves criticism. New Zealand used four spinners, two of them left-handers. South Africa, inexplicably played just the one specialist and bowled Aiden Markram four just four overs. Tabraiz Shamsi carried drinks for the duration of the match when it was clear his wrist spin could have, at the very least, arrested the free flow of runs that characterised the Black Caps’ innings.

A seam-bowling quartet of Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder never once exerted pressure onto batters. Their execution needed to be elite on Lahore’s tame track. It was not so. The number of boundary balls they served up in the last two balls of their over was infuriating and ensured New Zealand could tick over the scoreboard briskly.

Even so, the Proteas had them 252-3 with 10 overs to play. Then the wheels fell off. They never recovered.

REPORT: Black Caps crush Proteas to reach final

Chasing a massive score called for heroes. Instead, we got a succession of shots that betrayed the mission. Temba Bavuma, set on 56, completely lost his shape as he tried to hit Mitchell Santner over mid-off. Heinrich Klaasen then inexplicably tried to haul a full and fast Santner delivery over mid-on. Matt Henry ate it up. When Aiden Markram chipped one back to Rachin Ravindra it was all over.

Spare a thought for David Miller, who batted masterfully for a 67-ball century. He is a mental giant in a team of mental dwarfs.

He should have batted ahead of Klaasen to nullify Santner’s considerable threat. That, again, is on Walter. Shielding right-handers from a ball turning away from the bat is the type of tactical call that’s made in club cricket weekly. It was seemingly beyond Walter. It would have given them boundary potential when Miller was on strike. Instead, Santner, and later Ravindra, choked the life out of Proteas batters.

Another major ICC event, another pathetic exit.

HIGHLIGHTS: Proteas vs New Zealand (Champions Trophy)

Going into the tournament the Proteas had won just three of 11 ODIs since the start of 2024. They weren’t among the favourites, but having made a semi-final, the least a long-suffering fan base deserved was a fight. What they got was familiar in the worst way.

As the innings wound down, Dale Steyn, on commentary, remarked that there is a bright future for this team. His analysis, usually pretty astute, was wrong on this occasion. Nothing about this ODI group stirs hope. Of the six specialist batters, only Ryan Rickelton is under 30. Marco Jansen is the only player under 25.

This was an experienced group, making their feeble, rudderless performance even more infuriating. They say there’s no substitute for experience. This is not true. Experience is only valuable when it soars under pressure.

This ODI unit needs a significant overhaul. A strong argument can be mounted for a new coach. They are fundamentally flawed in ways that demand Cricket South Africa tears this down and start again.