India became the world number one within two years under Gary Kirsten. He then took charge of South Africa in June 2011. Since then they have started to stamp their authority on the game
?Boys, if you want to be the number one Test side then you can?t afford to lose a series, home or away, in the next two years. I?m not concerned about the victory margin,? Gary Kirsten had said in his first team meeting after taking over as India?s coach. India became the world number one within two years as the team followed the Kirsten model. They played for ranking points and had achieved their goal despite the fact that their only series win abroad during that period came against New Zealand.
Not that India had stayed on top for long, relinquishing the leadership to England within a year and a half. England then lost four of their next five Tests and little wonder that their moment in the sun was short-lived.
In sport, there?s a common saying that every coach has a shelf life. Of course, Sir Alex Ferguson will disagree but the great Scot is a great exception.
Kirsten left India because he believed that after achieving the number one Test ranking and winning the 50-overs World Cup, there were no new challenges left. He wanted to return home. It was only natural that he would take charge of his home team. South Africa were looking for a better future when Kirsten took charge in June 2011. The team were hovering at number two or three in Test rankings and after an early exit from the World Cup the ?chokers? tag had returned to haunt them.
Kirsten went about his task in his typical understated methods. Within a couple of months of his appointment, he revealed his number one goal. He made the players believe they had quality to win against all opponents in every condition. He insisted that the youngsters take responsibility and got a positive response. It won?t be far off the mark to call him the ?Pep Guardiola? of world cricket, as both have a similar style of management.
South Africa haven?t lost a Test series since December 2011. And after achieving their goal in August last year, they have now started to stamp their authority. In fact, they are now making a habit of shredding their opponents to below-50 totals. They inflicted the ignominy on New Zealand last month, polishing them off for just 45. And Pakistan became their latest victim, getting bundled out for 49.
All said and done, a coach or a captain is only as good as his team. Without Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and, most importantly, Graeme Smith South Africa wouldn?t have risen to the top.
Amla is going through a purple patch and has deservedly become the world?s best batsman. Even at 37, Kallis is going strong, contributing handsomely with both bat and ball. De Villiers has seamlessly fitted into his additional role of wicketkeeping. It?s a huge advantage when a top batsman is a very capable keeper and his mark of 11 dismissals to match Jack Russel?s world record in the last Test against Pakistan is a testimony to the fact that de Villiers has been steadily growing into his new job.
After Mark Boucher got injured during the tour of England last year, which forced the veteran keeper to announce his retirement, the team management decided to give de Villiers the additional responsibility. Kirsten played a key role in convincing the senior pro as he wanted to strike the right balance. It turned out to be a master stroke. Allan Donald has described the current South African pace attack as the best that his country has ever offered, and it is not an exaggeration.
Steyn can swing the ball at top pace. Morkel hits the seam and can make the ball rear. Batsmen are already softened up when Philander comes with his ability to move the ball both ways.
Steyn already has 24 wickets this year followed by Philander and Morkel with 11 and nine, respectively. Four South African batsmen, led by Amla (287), are also the highest run-getters in the first two months of 2013. South Africa look set to dominate world cricket for a long period and if they can do that, they will be compared with the great teams of the past.
Clive Lloyd?s West Indies had a battery of fearsome fast bowlers and their decade of dominance was based on fast bowling.
The Australian team that succeeded the West Indies to the top were more complete for the fact they had Shane Warne. Also in Adam Gilchrist, they had someone who had revolutionised the role of a wicketkeeper.
It is too early to compare South Africa with those great sides. At the moment, they just have a six-point lead over their nearest rivals England. Aussies, too, are breathing down their neck. However, the Proteas have the wherewithal to maintain their dominance. The best thing about them is the steady supply of quality young players like Faf du Plessis.
But South Africa need quality spinners to master all conditions. They have been trying and testing Imran Tahir, but to win in the sub-continent, they need better spin-bowling options.
Without Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar, England wouldn?t have won in India after 28 years. To become a great team, South Africa need to conquer the final frontier.