Heyneke turned Tom into a hooker

AB admits Proteas ‘choked’, but wants to move forward

ONE person clapped as the Proteas emerged through Arrivals Hall A at OR Tambo Airport shortly before 5.30pm yesterday.

AB de Villiers, the captain of the latest incarnation of a South African limited- overs team to fall away before the final hurdle, smiled shyly as the clapping quickly died away.

There was no sign of the vilification on social media that marked the Proteas’ tame exit from the ICC Champions Trophy after their defeat by England in the semifinal this week. There was, though, more use of the C-word and the definition thereof.

It was suggested to De Villiers last night that perhaps his team, did not choke. Perhaps they had just not been good enough.

“That’s not a bad point,” said De Villiers. “We didn’t play as well as we liked to. We went there thinking we could win, thinking we had the talent and the game plan to win. On Wednesday we went out with a very positive mindset. But we had poor shot selection and played poorly. The top order probably cost us the match.”

The C- word was not far away. It came in the very first question De Villiers was asked. And then it was used in the second. By the time the third question came, it had run its course.

“We probably choked in a way on that morning against a very good England attack,” he said. “I don’t get upset at all hearing it. I’m a true believer you have to get into a winning position before you can choke. Pressure got to us before we got there. (People using the choke word is) something that doesn’t bother us. Maybe we’re not as good as we think we are.”

There were, said De Villiers, some positives. The manner in which Aaron Phangiso took to tournament cricket was one, as was the form of a few others. The team spirit was good and the captain is more of a captain than when he left.

“I’m feeling stronger than ever now (in the captaincy),” said De Villiers. “I want more now. I’m getting a feel for what it is now. I’m loving the responsibility, the batting, keeping and setting the fields. It’s the first tournament I started mingling with my players properly.”

Gary Kirsten, the outgoing coach, did not return home with the team, remaining in England for a holiday with his family.

Team manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee, went to some length to explain why – the decision had been taken before the Champions Trophy.

Kirsten had fronted up to the media after the match in London. “We are also at a stage where we need to move forward,” said Moosajee, and, thus, passed the head-coaching baton unofficially over to Russell Domingo.

He agreed that the South Africans had perhaps not been good enough to be “deserved winners” of the Champions Trophy.

Domingo’s immediate concerns are naming assistants, which it is understood will happen in the next few weeks, and finding a balance between the past, present and future.

The workload of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel is one concern, managing their IPL commitments with national duties.

“If we can find more guys who can bowl like them then we will be in a good place,” said Domingo. “Without them the attack is a bit the same. Graeme (Smith) not being there as an opener, you can’t underestimate that. Whatever his future holds we will find out. We’d love Jacques Kallis to play every single game, but there’s no way he can do it. Test cricket is his main priority and we want him to play all the Tests.”