SA Tastes That Bitter Feeling (Again)

George Bernard Shaw, the renowned Irish playwright and always known for quipping a gem at any moment, once said "The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." How true Mr Shaw, how true.

Cynicism is or could be called 'naysaying' (the first time I heard that was in a Tenacious D song, but Jack and Kyle often speak the truth), or 'doomsdaying', since when the cheese finally hits the grater, it is just plain negative. In fairness, most people don't like a cynic hanging around when everyone wants to have a good time and sip champagne. 

But, as Mr Shaw alluded to earlier, sometimes the cynic is the only one who can see events as they are, as negative as they might be. Gore Vidal, the well known political theorist, said that realism, of which he was an arch proponent, was often mistaken for cynicism.

South African cricket fans are not unfamiliar with disappointment, one of the main ingredients for being a cynic. In 1992, the Proteas were screwed by the rain and Richie Benaud. Benaud, a chap that is rightly revered and respected in the cricket world, on that one occasion came up with a very daft rain rule that was to the advantage of one team. Nobody is perfect.

In 1996, after destroying everyone in their path on the way to the quarter finals, SA decided to leave out their best bowler, Allan Donald, in favour of two spinners (remember, this was 1996, a time when spinners were taken as seriously as clowns by the SA selectors). Brian Lara, who up to that point had been in miserable form, played a superb innings as South Africa were knocked out the competition.

When 1999 came around, the Rainbow Nation believed that it was 'our' time, considering we were the best team in the tournament back in 96, even though we didn't winner (Rafael Benetiz take a bow). Well, when we thought it couldn't get any worse, it did and some. One run. Three balls. Allan Donald ( coincidence?). Lance Klusener. A runout and the Australians. I still have nightmares about it.

In 2003, we were in South Africa and due to a mathematical meltdown, SA proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot again. Shaun Pollock showing some emotion on a rainy evening in Durban sticks in the memory, as does his subsequent sacking and replacement with the man at the held now, Graeme Smith. I will admit that our team wasn't the best in the tournament by any means. The Aussies, this time, deserved to win it.

In 2007, we lost twice to, you guessed it, Australia. The second time, in the semi-finals, proved to be very embarrassing as Glenn McGrath dismantled SA's top order to leave the Proteas on something sickening like 30-5. Game over. 

And now we have the World T20 in England, the year being 2009, and after dominating the tournament through ruthlessness and efficiency, get undone in the semis (again) by a Pakistan team that has no idea, let alone their opponents, when they play well.

This sordid history belies a good cricket team that at the moment just seems to lose the important games, either through self-destruction, or on this latest occasion as it was in 2007, to the better team. Pakistan deserved to win yesterday, but still doesn't take away hurt and betrayal South African fans are feeling.

Yes, it was only 20 over cricket, and as much as some cricket fans think the format irrelevant in the grander scheme of things, damn it, it wasn't (which is quite concerning but that write-up is for another day).

South Africa represent the ultimate flirt at any popular bar. They lure you in with expectations of excitement and what the future can hold. They usually are the best looking people in the bar and everyone is watching. You are strung along, being tamed by their charms. However, when its time for the big finish, a peck on the cheek is the best you get and you are left disappointed, and slightly unfulfilled. 

There are teams all over the sporting world that South Africa now mirror, such as the Chicago Cubs, Newcastle United or the All Blacks. One day that will change, just like it did for the Red Sox (even on the tip of Africa, good old American sporting culture has seeped its way in). But till that moment arrives, we are just going to have to rely on the Springboks to give us that winning feeling. I'm sure the cricketers are peeved off about it...

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