'We Were Behind Right from the Word Go': SA Coach Denies 'Choking', Cites Poor Cricket as Reason for Loss

South Africa’s defeat to Australia in the second semi-final of the ODI World Cup 2023 was perceived as another instance of ‘choking’ until head coach Rob Walter gave the exact definition.

“For me, a choke is losing a game that you are in a position to win,” he said at the post-match presser on Thursday night in Kolkata.

In fact, several experts also believed it was the case where the Proteas choked but they played poor cricket right from the beginning. The batting line-up, which was sublime throughout the tournament, was demolished by the Aussie attack under overcast conditions. Thanks to a fighting hundred from David Miller which allowed the South Africans to post a total more than 200. But it wasn’t enough to challenge a team like Australia in the semi-finals.

The Protea bowlers fought back hard but lack of runs hurt them in the end as Australia chased down 213 successfully.

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“We were behind right from the word go, and we actually fought our way back into the competition and put up a score that gave us a chance,” Walter said.

“And then, again, they (Australia) got us to a flier. We fought and we put ourselves back into the game. Of course, we were 30 runs or 40 runs short, but still having them seven down. So, for me, there’s nothing even remotely close to a choke that happened out there today. It’s a serious contest between two good teams of the tournament.

“It’s gutting to lose the semi-final. It was an incredibly serious challenge in the first 12 overs. To come back from 12/4 with the way Klaasen and Miller put together, it showed 270 was the total. Even 250 would have proved to be a serious total. The first 10 overs on either side separated the game. But there were a lot of positives to take home,” Walter added.

Rabada got a bruised heel

Walter further revealed that their pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada had a bruised heel which proved to be a setback. Rabada could bowl only six overs returning with 1/41.

“KG had a bruised heel, that’s why we didn’t see as much of him in the contest as we would have expected to. If you’re watching him on the park, you’re seeing him limping around. So he bowled, he just wasn’t able to deliver 100%.

“And obviously with that, it also led to bringing Aiden on, and Aiden was outstanding the whole way through the game. A fit and able KG has shown throughout this competition that he was one of our leading bowlers and has been for some time.

“It was a pity, and it was a defining moment in the game to be dead honest,” Walter said.

(With PTI Inputs)