CRICKET: Jon Swift
IN SOME ways, the B&H final at Wanderers on Friday evening is cause for celebration of the cricketing rather than liquid variety which so marred some matches in the day-night series this summer. In other ways it is cause for regret.
The enduring sponsor bows out of the game in this finale, having introduced some innovations to the game over the years that, while they might have scandalised the purists, have brought new blood, fresh vitality and a whole new generation into the game.
For Free State, victory would mean a third successive win in the competition. For Transvaal, vindication of the policy of bringing the youngsters on under the astute tutelage of former Kiwi captain Ken Rutherford.
In this achievement, the average observer of those who do the business out in the middle can only rejoice for a team all but ignored by the national selectors and a long way adrift of the glory years when they earned such unsavoury nicknames as the “mean machine”. Transvaal may only have one current representative in the national sides — Nic Pothas in the South Africa “A” side to tour England — and may still have to reach the heights of Clive Rice’s combination, but they are a side to enjoy and watch once again.
Rutherford has introduced a new feel to the province. He is no doubt just as driven by success as Rice ever was, and unquestionably imbued with the same affinity for the younger players. One would debate though whether Rutherford has had the material to work with this season that was available to Rice.
Using this admittedly superficial thumbnail evaluation, Rutherford and his side have done well to get as far as they have — helped, it must be added, by some truly remarkable innings from Richard Snell and Pothas. As an emerging wicketkeeper-batsman of true class, Pothas has paid tribute more than once to his captain’s propensity to encourage and then let the player himself get on with it.
Things can go most horribly wrong with this course of action as an ingrained philosophy on the art of captaincy. Yet, somehow, it has worked and has brought out the best in a team that promises some fine cricket in the seasons ahead when Rutherford is not about.
On the other side of the coin is a side of proven winners, just as astutely captained by Hansie Cronje, whose glowering looks on the field belie the man lurking beneath the brooding exterior. For under Cronje, Free State have played the game as if they truly enjoy it.
This, too, is cause for celebration in an era where the size of the pay packet and the state of the career averages tend to dominate.
It must be added that having pace bowlers of the unquestionable class of Franklyn Stephenson and Allan Donald does not do the side’s cause any harm. But there has been far more to the Free State success than just some world class quick bowling.
It is a game — hopefully unmarred by drunken Mike Tyson clones or interrupted by aspirant actors for the next shoe ad to be censored by SABC — that promises much in the anticipation. One feels that with Cronje and Rutherford at their joint and separate helms, it will be a match to remember.