They’ve tried ignoring it, they’ve tried shunning it, and now the Proteas are taking a complete new method to carrying the ‘chokers’ tag they simply can’t appear to shake: They’re going to attempt embracing it.
In one other brutal chapter to a long-running story of South African groups at Cricket World Cup tournaments, the Proteas crashed out in the Super 12 stage of the T20 showpiece in Australia final week, once more failing in their attempt to raise a maiden international title in any format.
ALSO READ: Proteas skipper Bavuma nonetheless in shock after World Cup exit
And although it’s clearly not one thing they need to carry – an unpleasant heirloom handed down by their predecessors who’ve repeatedly stumbled at essential moments in World Cup matches – a crushing defeat to the Netherlands ensured the nationwide males’s group prolonged some of the disconcerting and prolonged droughts in South African sport.
No shying away
“As a group, we’ll have to accept that we’re going to carry that ‘chokers’ tag again, and I don’t think it’s something we need to shy away from. I don’t think it’s something we need to pour water over. It is what it is,” mentioned Proteas captain Temba Bavuma.
“The way to overcome it is by seeing yourself in the final of an ICC event and winning that competition. I think that’s the only way… but for me as a leader it’s something I have to carry with this group of guys until we do something different.”
Cricket SA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe admitted the federation couldn’t simply ignore the core cause that followers had misplaced religion in the nationwide aspect. They wanted to step up and safe a trophy.
READ MORE: Cricket SA takes ‘full accountability’ for Proteas failure – Enoch Nkwe
He believed that they had the flexibility, nevertheless, to overturn the Proteas’ troubled World Cup previous, with one other alternative awaiting on the 50-over showpiece in India subsequent 12 months.
“It is a tag that we carry, but I have no doubt this group of cricketers moving forward, and the next generation, will make a difference and overcome these types of moments and situations and make sure they are always putting themselves in a position to win matches and World Cups,” Nkwe mentioned.
“It’s important not to focus on the noises outside. We’ll go back, internally, and find the best strategies to help every single player moving forward.”
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