5 famous batsmen who failed to deliver in South Africa
Proteas pace attack is still lethal as always‘Great’ is a term thrown around like a filthy old rag in modern cricket. It’s promiscuity is abominable. There is an irate tendency, almost an edginess to go searching for the next Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara or Ricky Ponting. The media feeds of the same sensationalism, a distressing reality of our times.Mere numbers aren’t the sole determinant of greatness. The hackneyed maxim that runs are runs can be discounted here. Another infuriating aspect about modern day cricket coverage just manifested, that bowlers are blatantly snubbed. For the greater purpose of this article, though, let’s overlook that grave injustice.Runs are not runs. The harder the circumstances, the more valuable they are, or should be considered. Brian Lara’s talismanic 153* against Australia springs to mind. Adaptability is another criterion, so, runs scored overseas are perceptibly tougher, hence rated higher. Backs against the wall runs are precious gems, Ricky Ponting’s 156 at Old Trafford was one such innings. Overcoming inner demons to produce something of note takes every ounce of mental spunk, another aspect of the game the celebrated conquer. Sachin Tendulkar’s 241* at Sydney is a canonical example.While it is impossible to talk about players from different time frames in the same breath, considering vastly contrasting environs, certain allowances are necessary for analysis and comparison. This, however, isn’t a comparison. It is an analysis of a peculiar nature. It concerns the enduring mystery surrounding the unfathomable failures, of undisputed Pharaoh’s of batting, in South Africa.Since reinstatement, South Africa have been one of the top three Test nations in the world. One of the hardest challenges for a touring team, Proteas have boasted a top-notch pace attack from their nascent years. Alan Donald and Shaun Pollock covered the first phase of South Africa’s return to Test cricket while the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have carried forward a rich legacy of fast bowling. So, there’s never been an ephemeral moment of respite for opposition batsmen since 1992.The idea of a rainbow nation mirrors the heterogeneous character of pitches around the country. Of the major grounds, Johannesburg boasts one of the quickest pitches in the world, Kingsmead Durban changes character with the shift in sea tide, while Newlands Cape Town is a friend to all facets of the game, offering seam, spin and runs.Five good men globe-trotted and gathered a wealth of runs along the way. South Africa, however, remained a bridge too far. The author uses a time turner to visit their abstruse reality.
#5 Michael Hussey
Why Michael Hussey’s entry into Test cricket was years behind time is beyond the realm of earthly comprehension. It took a decade-long grind in domestic cricket for his efforts to eventually bear fruit in the form of an International call up.
The ordeal in domestic cricket helped Hussey develop an insatiable appetite for runs, and a squamous skin, both prerequisites to cope with the rigours of International cricket. You’d think grown up playing at the WACA, Hussey’s toughest challenge would have been posed by the slow low turners of the subcontinent. But reality they say is infinitely stranger than fiction. Hussey was the torchbearer for the adage.
| AT HOME | IN SOUTH AFRICA | REST OF THE WORLD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATCHES | 45 | 8 | 24 |
| RUNS | 3794 | 449 | 1923 |
| AVERAGE | 60.19 | 32.07 | 45.78 |
| HUNDREDS | 14 | 0 | 5 |
Surprisingly, his most unprofitable tours were that of South Africa. He was afflicted with similar maladies such as Dravid, except, that he failed to register a single hundred in eight Test matches. One-third of his South African adventure was in fact, a balmy English afternoon before the story quickly turned a page. After three consecutive fifties on the 2006 tour, he managed just one more in his next 10 innings.