South Africa lacked ruthlessness

The highest successful run chase at the Wanderers in a fourth innings in history and a fitting finale to a wonderful and compelling two-test series denied South Africa their first home-series win against Australia in 41 years. For the fourth consecutive season, South Africa failed to win a home series.

Australia secured a 2-wicket win after successfully chasing 310 runs in the fourth innings of the second test at the Wanderers.

South Africa needed four wickets for a win with Australia 88 runs away from a win at tea time on the fifth day. A 72-run partnership between Brad Haddin (55) and one of the unlikely heroes, Mitchell Johnson, for the seventh wicket, put Australia on course to a marvellous victory.

South Africa would bemoan their inability to negotiate so many ifs and buts. They dropped at least three chances, were sloppy in the field after the tea break and the bowling attack was not disciplined enough in that hal an hour after the resumption on Monday.

When Australia were at the peak of their powers at the end of the previous century, and the start of this one, they were able to win 16 consecutive tests.

That was partially attributable to the presence of legends like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Steve Waugh and Matthew Hayden.

But Australia also possessed the one characteristic needed for a truly great team. They were clinical and ruthless. They never left a door open allowing the opposition an opportunity to get back in.

During the first innings, South Africa were superbly placed on 241 for four, only to implode to 266 all out.

During the second innings, South Africa were well positioned on 237 for three, only to lose their final seven wickets for 102 runs.

South Africa’s lack of clinical application and ruthlessness contributed to their mediocrity in home test series the past four seasons.

If you want to win tests, you need  number-7 and number-8 batsmen that can handle the blade.

If not, your position could change from 340 for four to 380 all out with the arrival of the second new ball.

Mark Boucher was woeful with the bat in this series, and Ashwell Prince did not answer his detractors in emphatic style either.

It is time for South Africa to blood new players in those positions, and Heino Kuhn as wicketkeeper, might just be the successor to the fading 34-year-old Boucher.

JP Duminy has not been convincing against off-spinners or fast bowlers, but could he be any worse than Prince, who has not scored a test century the past two and a half years?

AB de Villiers has been described as one of the world’s best test players, but his soft dismissals in both innings of the second test suggest that he is still a work in progress.

Australia were magnificent in chasing the 310 for victory. Their 18-year-old fast bowling sensation Patrick Cummings was named man of the match for his six wickets for 79 runs in the second innings, and his handy contribution with the bat in the second innings.

South Africa will have to scrutinise the reasons for their mediocrity on home soil.

It is no good for Graeme Smith, the national captain, to complain about the fact that they were not able to play in a test match for seven months.

Winners ask tough questions about their own losses, losers seek excuses without taking full responsibility for their own decline.

South Africa will not be able to become a great team unless they sustain excellence over a lengthy period of time.

It has been one of the country’s greatest pitfalls that they were not able to maintain their hunger and intensity over a long period of time in test cricket.

Usually the Proteas lost a test at home after one great win. It happened against India at Kingsmead and against Australia at the Wanderers. The South Africans lost their way at home after beating Australia away from home in 2008/2009.

Will South Africa change this culture against Sri Lanka? The island team were very mediocre against Australia and Pakistan recently, but the inconsistent and mediocre South African team are not assured of winning against Sri Lanka at home.

It is not because there is a lack of quality in the Protea team, but South Africa’s lack of intensity and their culture of expansive celebrations after a test win is a source of concern.

The poor management of the team the past four years will also not be rectified overnight, so expect more setbacks during the next two months against Sri Lanka.

The ultimate test of Gary Kirsten as coach will be how prepared he is to make tough, unpopular choices.

That is what Sir Alex Ferguson did as coach of Manchester United. Was Sir Alex popular when he gave David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy the boot and blooded new players?

Of course he was criticised for his decisions, but Ferguson was more interested in long-term gain than in short-term popularity. Ferguson would never be asked to write a preview to “How to win friends and influence people”.

But then Ferguson is not a people pleaser. He is a manager. He presides over a dynasty, not a popularity contest.

Will Kirsten make the tough decisions and will the series against Sri Lanka see the dawn of a new dispensation?

The jury is out on Kirsten, and on the embattled test captain, Graeme Smith.