SA not to stumble at last hurdle: Dussen

The South African cricket teams, be it men or women outfits, are notorious for choking at the last hurdle when it comes to global events. However, Proteas’ star batter Rassie van der Dussen believes it’s not a matter that bothers the current set of players.

Asked by Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net) if the players talk about how not to choke at the last hurdle, a notorious trait linked with South African cricket, Dussen replied: “Yes, there has been a lot of talk, especially by other people so that we will see. It’s great to be in the semi-final and it shows the consistency in our performance.”

Since their readmission to international cricket in 1991, South Africa have lost the semi-final of the 1992 World Cup in Australia due to a foolish rain rule that asked them to score 22 off the final delivery.

They then went down in the 1999 World Cup semi-final after a silly mix-up between Alan Donald and Lance Klusener. And no one can forget the blooper by the team management that asked Mark Boucher to defend a delivery rather than score a run to go out of the 2003 World Cup at home.

They also lost the 2007 and 2023 semi-finals before losing the 2024 T20I World Cup final to India in Barbados.

The South African women’s team is not far behind in choking. They lost to Australia in the 2023 T20I World Cup final and suffered the same fate in last year’s T20I World Cup against New Zealand in Dubai.

However, Dussen believes the current South African men’s team is confident of crossing the final hurdle. “We have not spoken about this, we believe that we are here to win the tournament,” said Dussen.

If South Africa beat New Zealand in the semi-final in Lahore they are likely to face India in the final in Dubai.

Dussen, who scored a brilliant 72 not out in the team’s chase of a modest 180-run target against England, believed putting pressure will be the key.

“If we do play against India, then we know they will be accustomed to the conditions in Dubai having been there for a few weeks, so the challenge for us is to acclimatize with the conditions as soon as possible so we can put them under pressure,” said Dussen in response to a question by Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net).

“I don’t think it matters if the conditions are different in Pakistan if we play New Zealand in Lahore and the final in Dubai. There is a little bit of spin so there has to be some technical adjustments made.”

“I think a few players coming here before the Champions Trophy is important,” said Dussen of South Africa playing a tri-series ahead of the Trophy matches.

“I have played in the Pakistan Super League PSL a few times so we know the conditions. The bounce is skiddier and lower so we have discussed the game plan and strategies. Not as much bounce as in South Africa so technical adjustment.”

“Results are not in your control so as a team we continue to try and do the right things. We have hard-working individuals and that translates into results and match-winning performances.”