Online Reporter
AFTER a number of near-misses and being dubbed chokers along the way, the Proteas want to make this one count.
And, along the way, in their quest to be World Test Champions, the South Africans will get a little helping hand from neighbours Zimbabwe.
The two neighbours play in a four-day match in England next week as the Proteas prepare for the final showdown against Australia.
Playing Australia is the greatest test for any cricketer.This is according to former opening batter and national convenor of selectors Andrew Hudson as the Proteas prepare to face the defending champions in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s next month.
Hudson fronted up to the Aussies in two series—both home and away— back in 1994, and believes it is not just an examination of a players’ technical ability, but more mental capacity to keep the “relentless” Baggy Greens at bay.
“You knew you were in a fight, you just knew,” Hudson exclusively told Independent Media. They don’t let go. They just keep coming. Even if you scored a hundred, if you’ve done well, they’re still there to get you and make sure you don’t score a big hundred.
“I mean, they played very similar to us in the sense that they fought probably better when they had their backs to the wall. So, it was, in a way, good because you knew you had to be on point. You couldn’t go into an Australian series half-done or under-prepared. They have an incredible will to win. They just wanted to win.”
The dark art of sledging has long been part of Australia’s hard-nosed tactics, and while it has set the scene for some compelling cricket when the players have gone toe-to-toe over the years, the mythical moral line has also been crossed on a few occasions.
That was the case most notably in the first Test at the Wanderers in 1994, when Hudson was verbally abused by the late Shane Warne after being bowled around his legs.
“F*** off. Go on, Hudson, f*** off out of here!” Warner was heard screaming in the send-off.
In his autobiography, Shane Warne: My Own Story, the leg-spinner later expressed regret over his actions, and Hudson has seemingly also forgiven him for his actions.
“I think Shane epitomised the passion. I mean, he was someone who was always at you and didn’t sort of let go,” Hudson said.
“I mean, he was going to get you out however, and whether it meant chirping you, whether it meant joking with you, whether it meant bowling great deliveries, he was at you all the time, and was going to get you out.
“And it was relentless, you know, it didn’t end there.
“But often what happened off the field was very different to what happened on the field, and they were likeable people and accommodating.
“And we used to move through to each other’s changing rooms after the games and stuff.
“Those interactions were just very normal and very pleasant. But it changed the next day (on the field).”— IOL
