The art of losing : why the Proteas choke at the Cricket World Cup

Why the Proteas Choke at the Cricket World Cup. How is it possible that the Proteas have never won a single knockout match at a World Cup? Are our cricketers unable to think on their feet? Is it fair to call them chokers? What can be done to win at last? Since South Africa's readmission to world cricket in 1991, the Proteas have played in six World Cups (and four World T20 tournaments) and have been knocked out in all of them. The reasons range from the weather and misreading the DuckworthLewis table to being outwitted on the field itself. In the most recent tournaments, though, they have shown a scandalous lack of nerve in the pressure-cooker of international knockout cricket. Drawing from interviews with the major protagonists and behind-the-scenes officials, The Art of Losing recreates the drama of these matches. With fresh anecdotes, stories and insights, it also attempts to explain why World Cup failure has become a habit. Does the problem lie with coaching, with communication issues, or with a lack of independent thinking among the players? Is it the product of a pampered professional environment, or of the South African schooling system? The Art of Losing will ruffle feathers but will also attempt to explain the choker tag that has become so widespread. Is it fair? The Proteas, after all, win a high proportion of their one-day matches and have some of the best cricketers in the world. Why, then, do they invariably fail to clear that final hurdle? "How is it possible that the Proteas have never won a single knockout match at a World Cup? Are our cricketers unable to think on their feet? Is it fair to call them \2018chokers\2019? What can be done to win at last? Since South Africa\2019s readmission to world cricket in 1991, the Proteas have played in six World Cups (and four World T20 tournaments) and have been knocked out in all of them. The reasons range from the weather and misreading the Duckworth\2013Lewis table to being outwitted on the field itself. In the most recent tournaments, though, they have shown a scandalous lack of nerve in the pressure-cooker of international knockout cricket. Drawing from interviews with the major protagonists and behind-the-scenes officials, The Art of Losing recreates the drama of these matches. With fresh anecdotes, stories and insights, it also attempts to explain why World Cup failure has become a habit. Does the problem lie with coaching, with communication issues, or with a lack of independent thinking among the players? Is it the product of a pampered professional environment, or of the South African schooling system? The Art of Losing will ruffle feathers but will also attempt to explain the \2018choker\2019 tag that has become so widespread. Is it fair? The Proteas, after all, win a high proportion of their one-day matches and have some of the best cricketers in the world. Why, then, do they invariably fail to clear that final hurdle?"--Jacket How is it possible that the Proteas have never won a single knockout match at a World Cup? Are our cricketers unable to think on their feet? Is it fair to call them "chokers"? What can be done to win at last? Since South Africa's readmission to world cricket in 1991, the Proteas have played in six World Cups (and four World T20 tournaments) and have been knocked out in all of them. The reasons range from the weather and misreading the Duckworth-Lewis table to being outwitted on the field itself. In the most recent tournaments, though, they have shown a scandalous lack of nerve in the pressure-cooker of international knockout cricket. Drawing from interviews with the major protagonists and behind-the-scenes officials, The Art of Losing recreates the drama of these matches. With fresh anecdotes, stories and insights, it also attempts to explain why World Cup failure has become a habit. Does the problem lie with coaching, with communication issues, or with a lack of independent thinking among the players? Is it the product of a pampered professional environment, or of the South African schooling system? The Art of Losing will ruffle feathers but will also attempt to explain the "choker" tag that has become so widespread. Is it fair? The Proteas, after all, win a high proportion of their one-day matches and have some of the best cricketers in the world. Why, then, do they invariably fail to clear that final hurdle?"--BOOK JACKET. Who has the worst swing of any successful golfer? Which novice helped Bruce Fordyce win his first Comrades? How will Eskom improve Bafana Bafana's chances in the 2010 FIFA World Cup? Which Springbok rugby personality sidestepped Australian passport control ... twice? Talking Balls answers these questions, and more, in a collection of entertaining writings by some of South Africa's top sports journalists—and a few enthusiastic gatecrashers—about the lighter side of sport. Edward Griffiths, Andy Capostagno, Peter Roebuck, Neil Manthorp, Dan Nicholl, Lungani Zama, Ben Trovato, Ray White, John Bishop and the late Peter Robinson are among those featured alongside such sports personalities as John Smit, Graeme Smith, Trevor Immelman, Mark Andrews, Makhaya Ntini, Bakkies Botha and Hashim Amla. Covering a variety of sports, Talking Balls offers insight into sporting life both on and off the field, from the drugging of Nick Mallett and the Proteas' spoiling of Australia Day in 2009 to the hilarious antics of professional soccer players and behind-the-scenes banter. Light-hearted and playful, the stories in this collection capture the unique spirit of the sporting world and are guaranteed to amuse, inform, uplift and entertain. Who has the worst swing of any successful golfer?Which novice helped Bruce Fordyce win his first Comrades?How will Eskom improve Bafana Bafana’s chances in the 2010 FIFA World Cup?Which Springbok rugby personality sidestepped Australian passport control ... twice?Talking Balls answers these questions, and more, in a collection of entertaining writings by some of South Africa’s top sports journalists – and a few enthusiastic gatecrashers – about the lighter side of sport.Edward Griffiths, Andy Capostagno, Peter Roebuck, Neil Manthorp, Dan Nicholl, Lungani Zama, Ben Trovato, Ray White, John Bishop and the late Peter Robinson are among those featured alongside such sports personalities as John Smit, Graeme Smith, Trevor Immelman, Mark Andrews, Makhaya Ntini, Bakkies Botha and Hashim Amla.Covering a variety of sports, Talking Balls offers insight into sporting life both on and off the field, from the drugging of Nick Mallett and the Proteas’ spoiling of Australia Day in 2009 to the hilarious antics of professional soccer players and behind-the-scenes banter. Light-hearted and playful, the stories in this collection capture the unique spirit of the sporting world and are guaranteed to amuse, inform, uplift and entertain. Who has the worst swing of any successful golfer? Which novice helped Bruce Fordyce win his first Comrades? How will Eskom improve Bafana Bafanas chances in the 2010 FIFA World Cup? Which Springbok rugby personality sidestepped Australian passport control twice? Talking Balls answers these questions, and more, in a collection of entertaining writings by some of South Africas top sports journalists and a few enthusiastic gatecrashers about the lighter side of sport. Edward Griffiths, Andy Capostagno, Peter Roebuck, Neil Manthorp, Dan Nicholl, Lungani Zama, Ben Trovato, Ray White, John Bishop and the late Peter Robinson are among those featured alongside such sports personalities as John Smit, Graeme Smith, Trevor Immelman, Mark Andrews, Makhaya Ntini, Bakkies Botha and Hashim Amla. Covering a variety of sports, Talking Balls offers insight into sporting life both on and off the field, from the drugging of Nick Mallett and the Proteas spoiling of Australia Day in 2009 to the hilarious antics of professional soccer players and behind-the-scenes banter. Light-hearted and playful, the stories in this collection capture the unique spirit of the sporting world and are guaranteed to amuse, inform, uplift and entertain. For 30 years, batsmen around the world have feared the slow and deliberate way Rudi Koertzen raises his left arm to give them out – so much so that it has given rise to his nickname, Slow Death. Despite the sinister sobriquet, Rudi Koertzen remains one of the most loved and respected umpires in world cricket, and certainly one of the most experienced: to date, he is the only umpire to have stood in 200 One Day Internationals, and he has 100 Test matches under his belt. Now Rudi takes the reader back to some of the highlights of his career in Test, ODI and T20 matches, including several World Cups and Ashes series. From his unique perspective, he rates the cricketers he has umpired over the years – the best batsmen, bowlers and fielders – and gives reasons why they stand out from other players. He shares players' hilarious on-field antics and, on occasion, histrionics. And he doesn't shy away from discussing the controversial side of international cricket, from match fixing to terrorist attacks, while giving his frank and possibly controversial views on the use of technology in the game. Humorous, informative and nostalgic, this is the book every cricket fan will want to own. Rudi Koertzen is one of world cricket's most experienced and respected umpires. In a career spanning 29 years, he has stood in 100 Test matches and 200 One Day Internationals. (To date, he is the only umpire to have stood in 200 ODIs.) The slow and deliberate way in which he raises his left arm to give a batsman out has given rise to his nickname, Slow Death, which gives this memoir its title. The title takes the reader back to some of the most important highlights in Test, ODI and T20 matches over the past three decades, including several World Cups and Ashes series. It also covers the controversial side of international cricket, from match fixing to terrorist attacks. And Rudi gives his views on the use of technology in cricket, looking at the pros and cons of the umpire decision review system (UDRS).