1st Quarter Final - South Africa v Sri Lanka (18th March)

[Jimbo the giant]

According to Malcolm Gladwell, a choke is when a sportsman starts thinking too much about what they're doing to the detriment of their carefully honed skills. Donald's run-out in the 1999 WC Semi is a classic choke, because rather than just reacting to his partner's call as he'd been trained to do, he was too busy thinking about where the ball was, and what he should be doing. It's arguable that none of SA's other WC exits meets this definition though, so in their case the term choke has been used more in the sense of finding ways to lose from a position of strength.

That definition is pretty broad really it doesn't have to look as calamitous as the Donald example. Just wafting at a ball early in an innings can be due to over thinking and nerves or just missing a straight ball as well.

I reckon you's are over thinking things a bit, its pretty clear that SA has choked in the majority of their exits. Only the SL game in 2003 wouldn't be considered a choke IMO, that was just a simple miscalculation. They actually thought they had won that game until they realized they had made a mistake after the fact.

 

[Burgey]

I still don't think that run out was Donald's fault tbh. I really think Zulu panicked a bit. What a game of cricket that was. Probably the greatest ODI ever played.

 

[smash84]

How much are the bookies paying for a SA win?

 

[Bahnz]

I reckon you's are over thinking things a bit, its pretty clear that SA has choked in the majority of their exits. Only the SL game in 2003 wouldn't be considered a choke IMO, that was just a simple miscalculation. They actually thought they had won that game until they realized they had made a mistake after the fact.

My point is that it depends on how you define choke - and I think in South Africa's case it's generally used to mean losing when they're expected to win - which isn't how it's used in most other sporting situations. As I mentioned in 2011 they panicked rather than choked, in 2007 they were thrashed by a much better side and in 2003 - as you point out - they stuffed up their DWL calculations. Going further back, in 1992 they were ruined by dumb rain rules and in 1996 they were beaten by a still very dangerous WI side. IMO only 1999 (and specifically the last ball of the game) really counts as a true 'choke'.

 

[smash84]

That definition is pretty broad really it doesn't have to look as calamitous as the Donald example. Just wafting at a ball early in an innings can be due to over thinking and nerves or just missing a straight ball as well.

I reckon you's are over thinking things a bit, its pretty clear that SA has choked in the majority of their exits. Only the SL game in 2003 wouldn't be considered a choke IMO, that was just a simple miscalculation. They actually thought they had won that game until they realized they had made a mistake after the fact.

The 1996 QF shouldn't be a choke should it? They came up against a rampaging brian lara iirc

 

[Dan]

I still don't think that run out was Donald's fault tbh. I really think Zulu panicked a bit. What a game of cricket that was. Probably the greatest ODI ever played.

I honestly think the Australia-New Zealand game from this tournament is right up there with it.

 

[smash84]

I honestly think the Australia-New Zealand game from this tournament is right up there with it.

the Aus-NZ game was awesome but that SA-Aus game was just another level. Thanks to it being a semi-final

 

[_Ed_]

I honestly think the Australia-New Zealand game from this tournament is right up there with it.

Definitely my favourite ODI of the last 10 years.

 

[Bahnz]

the Aus-NZ game was awesome but that SA-Aus game was just another level. Thanks to it being a semi-final

The quality on display in that game was just crazy brilliant as well. As brilliant as Boult and Starc were, nothing compares to Warne's masterclass in that game to haul Australia back into the match.

 

[Zinzan]

Using the strictest definition, the 2011 qf was more of case of mass panic rather than a choke. If a choke is an incidence of a player thinking too much, then a panic is where a player or team think too little and start taking unnecessarilly risky or hasty actions that the situation doesn't call for. When Kallis was dismissed, New Zealand's slow bowlers built some pressure, the RRR started to rise, and South Africa - rather than staying calm and playing the full 50 overs - started taking a pile of completely unnecessary risks. Duminy trying to slog the spinners, quick singles that weren't really required. Then some genuinely excellent bowling from Jacob Oram compounded things and before you knew it South Africa had lost the game.

Lol, nah, semantics... 2011 was a "choke" regardless of whether it could also correctly be termed "mass panic" as well. The terms are not mutually exclusive. I get the argument about the supposed subtle difference, but it's just a linguistic trick conspired to make South African's feel better about themselves

To say they just experienced a 'mass panic' lets them off the 'chokers' tag far too easily for me.

 

[hendrix]

There was no exceptional bowling and they collapsed in a heap after being cruising when AB and Kallis were in. It was a choke.

 

[Zinzan]

That definition is pretty broad really it doesn't have to look as calamitous as the Donald example. Just wafting at a ball early in an innings can be due to over thinking and nerves or just missing a straight ball as well.

I reckon you's are over thinking things a bit, its pretty clear that SA has choked in the majority of their exits. Only the SL game in 2003 wouldn't be considered a choke IMO, that was just a simple miscalculation. They actually thought they had won that game until they realized they had made a mistake after the fact.

Yeah this......

Although at an absolute stretch, again given their WC history, one could argue that miscalculation (or the miscommunication of it - which some claim it was) was actually form a choking by the SA camp, even if it was coaching/support staff. It's probably stretching things a little given it wasn't something on the cricket field itself, but it was an error made by the someone within the camp in a pressure/crucial situation.

 

[Bahnz]

Lol, nah, semantics... 2011 was a "choke" regardless of whether it could also correctly be termed "mass panic" as well. The terms are not mutually exclusive. I get the argument about the supposed subtle difference, but it's just a linguistic trick conspired to make South African's feel better about themselves

To say they just experienced a 'mass panic' lets them off the 'chokers' tag far too easily for me.

Aakash Chopra: The difference between choking and panicking | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[smash84]

mike horn helping SA overcome their fears. Arguably the best person to help them

This poll is probably closest for all QFs

 

[_Ed_]

Getting really excited about this game now. I hope it lives up to expectations.

 

[Bahnz]

There was no exceptional bowling and they collapsed in a heap after being cruising when AB and Kallis were in. It was a choke.

Oram's bowling in that semi final was brilliant. Go back and watch the balls that dismissed Botha and Petersen, and his control of line and length throughout his 10 overs was as good as I've ever seen from him. Now admittedly these guys were lower-order batsmen, but neither of them were mugs, and by the time they came out to bat, South Africa still needed less than 100 to win at a run rate of less than 5.

 

[Zinzan]

Aakash Chopra: The difference between choking and panicking | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

Nah load of semantic *****. SA have 'choked' in previous WCs in terms of what we cricket fans understand to be 'choking'.

Just because some Canadian journalist has decided to split hairs on the definitions & then put it into print doesn't change it for me.

 

[Zinzan]

Getting really excited about this game now. I hope it lives up to expectations.

I'm sure it (excuse me while I clear my throat) will

 

[smash84]

Nah load of semantic *****. SA have 'choked' in previous WCs in terms of what we cricket fans understand to be 'choking'.

Just because some Canadian journalist has decided to split hairs on the definitions & then put it into print doesn't change it for me.

Nah, Bahnz has a fair point. Not every loss is a choke. You're over doing it.

How in hell was the 1996 WC QF against the WI a choke?

 

[viriya]

This is probably SA's best chance of winning a knockout. If SA win the toss, I don't see SL restricting them for <350 with Herath out. 400 is a possibility tbh. AB could bat the choke out of the equation.