MUMBAI: South Africa's meek capitulation on the tour of India has not surprised the cricketing fraternity back home, as there were no great expectations from this young and inexperienced team against a very formidable opponent.
Former South Africa batsman
Peter Kirsten
, who played 12 Tests and 40 ODIs in the 90s, told TOI, "I'm not surprised to see us struggle so badly in India. As former cricketers, we saw it coming since the World Cup, where too we weren't at our best. It is, in any case, very, very difficult to play India in India."
Former all-rounder
Brian McMillan, who played 38 Tests and 78 ODIs, presented a grim picture of South Africa cricket's future. "We're at rock bottom. We're like headless chickens running around everywhere. There's no direction and no leadership. There is also a rumour that the captain might be replaced, with the new skipper being the young Temba Bavuma.
"Many of our quality players have migrated to play the sport in England, other European countries, New Zealand, and the lucrative T20 leagues."
Kirsten, on his part, listed out some reasons for South Africa's sudden decline. "A few big retirements, like that of
AB de Villiers and
Hashim Amla, has left the team short of experience. The Kolpak deal, which allows our players to become professional and leave SA, has hurt us badly. I don't want to blame the current South African coach (
Enoch Nkwe), but I have been offering my services for the last 10 years and heard nothing from them. Guys like (half-brother) Gary,
Ashwell Prince and
Mark Boucher need to be involved in coaching the national team."
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