South Africa v West Indies - Series Summary
WEST INDIES WON THE SERIES 2-1
Hansie Cronje and Garry Sobers are, statistically speaking, ATG cricket's two most successful captains, but by the end of the series their fortunes and futures could hardly be more different. Sobers enjoyed his most successful series ever with the bat and West Indies have now won six successive series under his stewardship, maintaining their position as the number one team in the world, whilst Cronje now faces a most uncertain future following his first series defeat as skipper.
Regardless of the captaincy Cronje's alarming lack of form as a batsman must put his place in the side in severe jeopardy - he has scored just 332 runs at an average of 17.47 in 11 Tests this season - and his ill-fated declaration in the second Test allowed West Indies to snatch a last day victory that had seemed out of the question over the course of the first four days. With the spoils shared on two poor wickets in the final two Tests and South Africa having had the better of a drawn first Test, West Indies' successful chase of 349 at Centurion was the pivotal point of the series, and the knives were out for Cronje in many quarters from that moment on.
Cronje's poor form was in stark contrast to that shown by Graeme Pollock and Barry Richards, with Richards' outrageous 171 in Cape Town one of the greatest innings in ATG history. Barlow and Lindsay gave solid support, as did Dudley Nourse on recall in the final Test, and despite Cronje and Cullinan's lack of production the South African batting unit far outperformed its West Indian counterpart. Sobers' tally of 603 runs was almost double the next highest contribution from within the tourists' ranks - 308 runs from Viv Richards - and with South Africa's bowlers arguably besting the West Indians as well, the series defeat was mystifying to the majority of the home fans.
Nonetheless, the West Indian juggernaut marches on, and it travels almost immediately to New Zealand, who fought gamely in the Caribbean last season despite eventually losing the series 4-1. South Africa do not now take the field until next season, and the Proteas' selectors will consequently have plenty of time to mull over the fate of Cronje and one or two others in the South African ranks.
Regardless of the captaincy Cronje's alarming lack of form as a batsman must put his place in the side in severe jeopardy - he has scored just 332 runs at an average of 17.47 in 11 Tests this season - and his ill-fated declaration in the second Test allowed West Indies to snatch a last day victory that had seemed out of the question over the course of the first four days. With the spoils shared on two poor wickets in the final two Tests and South Africa having had the better of a drawn first Test, West Indies' successful chase of 349 at Centurion was the pivotal point of the series, and the knives were out for Cronje in many quarters from that moment on.
Could it be the end for Hansie Cronje?
Cronje's poor form was in stark contrast to that shown by Graeme Pollock and Barry Richards, with Richards' outrageous 171 in Cape Town one of the greatest innings in ATG history. Barlow and Lindsay gave solid support, as did Dudley Nourse on recall in the final Test, and despite Cronje and Cullinan's lack of production the South African batting unit far outperformed its West Indian counterpart. Sobers' tally of 603 runs was almost double the next highest contribution from within the tourists' ranks - 308 runs from Viv Richards - and with South Africa's bowlers arguably besting the West Indians as well, the series defeat was mystifying to the majority of the home fans.
Nonetheless, the West Indian juggernaut marches on, and it travels almost immediately to New Zealand, who fought gamely in the Caribbean last season despite eventually losing the series 4-1. South Africa do not now take the field until next season, and the Proteas' selectors will consequently have plenty of time to mull over the fate of Cronje and one or two others in the South African ranks.
Series averages
(click to enlarge)
Players of the Series: BA Richards & GStA Sobers
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