<p>For all the right words, sane and sanguine thinking and public posturing, skipper Smith did let it slip when he conceded his side would be "devastated" by yesterday's seven-run defeat at the hands of Pakistan in the first semifinal of the Twenty20 World Cup.<br /><br />This crushing sense of loss of so many reverses -- 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cups; the roadblocks of Champions Trophy and now two successive ICC World Twenty20 —- must have taken a toll on the Proteas cricketers' psyche.<br /><br />Other occasions too come to mind in an instant: losing the semifinals of the ICC Knockout Trophy in 2000; two years later losing to India in the semifinals from an astonishing position and then semifinalists again in 2006 edition of the ICC Knock Out Trophy.<br />Words alone don't provide cure -- correctives do but South Africa, since its readmission into the game in early 90s, has only been a bridesmaid or worse.<br />Choking, according to a research, comes from thinking too much. It causes a loss of instinct and panic sets in. It happens when a sportsman experiences spasms of doubt and is unable to focus. Negative thoughts unleash anxiety and a player loses his ability to perform under pressure. The result is disaster. <br /><br />The inclusion of former England international and sports psychologist Jeremy Snape in the South African team's support staff two years ago had a specific purpose -- it was to deal and then flush out the negative psychosis which grips the Protea players in moments of crisis.<br />When South Africa could chase down 400-plus target in Perth or when they won the Test series Down Under for the first time early this year, it appeared Snape had done the catharsis for South Africa.<br />Similar was the case in Pakistan where a 2-2 deadlock was turned into a 3-2 scoreline. It then chased down 281 against England and 414 against Australia at WACA. The extraordinary WACA run-chase was completed by two youngest batsmen in the team, AB de Villiers and JP Duminy.<br />It was believed the younger lot don't carry the hangover. Dale Steyn and Morkel brothers -- Albie and Morne -- only know how to win. Before the defeat at the hands of Australia early this year, most in the team never tasted a series loss in their career. Instead, they knew only of winning in Pakistan, England and Australia.<br />But the core group of South Africa team -— Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and captain Smith -— remain the same as of old and crisis still show them up. The Proteas still lose and that word "chokers" is plastered all over again.</p>
<p>For all the right words, sane and sanguine thinking and public posturing, skipper Smith did let it slip when he conceded his side would be "devastated" by yesterday's seven-run defeat at the hands of Pakistan in the first semifinal of the Twenty20 World Cup.<br /><br />This crushing sense of loss of so many reverses -- 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cups; the roadblocks of Champions Trophy and now two successive ICC World Twenty20 —- must have taken a toll on the Proteas cricketers' psyche.<br /><br />Other occasions too come to mind in an instant: losing the semifinals of the ICC Knockout Trophy in 2000; two years later losing to India in the semifinals from an astonishing position and then semifinalists again in 2006 edition of the ICC Knock Out Trophy.<br />Words alone don't provide cure -- correctives do but South Africa, since its readmission into the game in early 90s, has only been a bridesmaid or worse.<br />Choking, according to a research, comes from thinking too much. It causes a loss of instinct and panic sets in. It happens when a sportsman experiences spasms of doubt and is unable to focus. Negative thoughts unleash anxiety and a player loses his ability to perform under pressure. The result is disaster. <br /><br />The inclusion of former England international and sports psychologist Jeremy Snape in the South African team's support staff two years ago had a specific purpose -- it was to deal and then flush out the negative psychosis which grips the Protea players in moments of crisis.<br />When South Africa could chase down 400-plus target in Perth or when they won the Test series Down Under for the first time early this year, it appeared Snape had done the catharsis for South Africa.<br />Similar was the case in Pakistan where a 2-2 deadlock was turned into a 3-2 scoreline. It then chased down 281 against England and 414 against Australia at WACA. The extraordinary WACA run-chase was completed by two youngest batsmen in the team, AB de Villiers and JP Duminy.<br />It was believed the younger lot don't carry the hangover. Dale Steyn and Morkel brothers -- Albie and Morne -- only know how to win. Before the defeat at the hands of Australia early this year, most in the team never tasted a series loss in their career. Instead, they knew only of winning in Pakistan, England and Australia.<br />But the core group of South Africa team -— Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and captain Smith -— remain the same as of old and crisis still show them up. The Proteas still lose and that word "chokers" is plastered all over again.</p>
