World Cup S/F 1, NZ vs SA, March 24

[sussexpob]

Not sure you can blame Morkel, his superb over to Anderson rescued possible victory from defeat about 5-6 overs near the end and started a few jitters with it.

Steyn was simply taken apart by McCullum in a hellstorm inside the first few overs, and never recovered.

I wonder how many people have scored 40 off 3 Steyn overs??

[Gingerfinch]

Not sure you can blame Morkel, his superb over to Anderson rescued possible victory from defeat about 5-6 overs near the end and started a few jitters with it.

Steyn was simply taken apart by McCullum in a hellstorm inside the first few overs, and never recovered.

I wonder how many people have scored 40 off 3 Steyn overs??

I was referring to the final two overs, rather than the rest of the innings.

[sussexpob]

Not sure you can blame Morkel, his superb over to Anderson rescued possible victory from defeat about 5-6 overs near the end and started a few jitters with it.

Steyn was simply taken apart by McCullum in a hellstorm inside the first few overs, and never recovered.

I wonder how many people have scored 40 off 3 Steyn overs??

I was referring to the final two overs, rather than the rest of the innings.

Maybe, maybe not. Not sure many bowlers or batters think with a clear head in those situations.

[ddb]

Steyn is taken apart a lot in the IPL.

[dan08]

Steyn has always been a very average death bowler.

[GarlicJam]

Not sure you can blame Morkel, his superb over to Anderson rescued possible victory from defeat about 5-6 overs near the end and started a few jitters with it.

Steyn was simply taken apart by McCullum in a hellstorm inside the first few overs, and never recovered.

I wonder how many people have scored 40 off 3 Steyn overs??

I was referring to the final two overs, rather than the rest of the innings.

Maybe, maybe not. Not sure many bowlers or batters think with a clear head in those situations.

So, they all choke?

[sussexpob]

Not sure you can blame Morkel, his superb over to Anderson rescued possible victory from defeat about 5-6 overs near the end and started a few jitters with it.

Steyn was simply taken apart by McCullum in a hellstorm inside the first few overs, and never recovered.

I wonder how many people have scored 40 off 3 Steyn overs??

I was referring to the final two overs, rather than the rest of the innings.

Maybe, maybe not. Not sure many bowlers or batters think with a clear head in those situations.

So, they all choke?

When I say " a clear head" I meant it in terms of consciousness. When the game suddenly accelerates and escalates, players regardless of their mental stability, have to start to revert to acting on impulse more, and the margin for mistakes and their consequence tighten. By the end of a frantic 50 over game, I think the best players burn all the mental notes they built up and simply take it as it comes with a clear overriding intention. Bowlers know where to bowl and do it, batsman forget about the field or where its coming and simply try to connect. Its why practice and experience are important, you can execute more efficiently without reverting to thought, its almost a defensive mechanism in a way.

I say this, you probably disagree, but sometimes I play golf at the start of a round and hit the best front 9 ever, but then suddenly with confronted with a new personal best score your hands don't feel right, you wonder about the downswing, the position of your feet.... its pressure, it plays with your mind, and those that are best under pressure are those that limit their thought process and simplify it.... its impossible not to think or feel it, but those who cope simply react to it and channel those thoughts into better ones.

I mean the De Kock missed chance, the Duminy missed catch and the ABDV missed chance are three wickets that, in all situations, the fielders involved would not have acted that way had they not at the crucial point, been thinking too much and acted purely on the impulse and training that they have done for years.

Nerves don't really alter your thoughts so much as introduce thought into the process. I think the above examples are proof that their was an element of choking involved, but that isn't an insult, because very few people can or know how to react to such pressures.

[andy]

well what a game.... magnicent from start to finish... Thrilled for NZ, backing them to win the comp, Grant Elliott, nerves of the steel, superb performance from the kiwis

[Arthur Crabtree]

Sounds a hell of game. I got home from work when Taylor and Elliott were together, and went to bed after Taylor got out, rather than endure the awful nerve wracking tension. Probably the right decision given the way the game went.

Will probably be able to handle the highlights.

[backfootpunch]

3 missed run outs and a dropped catch in the final few overs

from what i saw in the highlights SA choked

[braveneutral]

Chokers!

[andy]

they didn't choke, NZ were better today

[braveneutral]

They always choke!

[andy]

not this time.

[braveneutral]

Bet it still trended.