Cricket: Proteas Rising?

I waited months for this serious... The one Steve Waugh so eloquently labeled "the final frontier," well at least for Australia. In the last few months people have been consumed by India's tour of Australia and the emergence of Twenty20, the ICL and now the IPL... but in the midst of all the media generated hype, my eyes were focused on a re-surgence in the trough of Africa that the media ignored and the world took no notice.
I first saw Graeme Smith play against Pakistan in 2002-3 season against a good Pakistan attack just before the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. I felt he should have no only been included in the squad but played during the tournament... it wasn't the most finesse or daring innings I had seen - an impressive debut nonetheless; but there was something very different. I told my-self and my brother I recall... He'll be something great someday... lo and behold, a couple of months later he was named South Africa's youngest captain. The ride has been up and down; Agonizingly denied a first test series win in England at the Oval, Stephen Flemings mind games in a ODI series drubbing and that hopeless streak where they lost 12 out of 13 games or so... but the performances improved - although there was still enough inconsistency to label them second tier.
After the World Cup blunder of 2007; a feeling Graeme Smith described as one of his worst moments... the Proteas began to rebuild and formed a new policy - unfortunately at the expense of their greatest wicket-taker Shaun Pollock - of three quicks supported by a spinner. This was the formula to success, no bits and pieces, medium-pace all-rounders etc. The emphasis was clear and then the missing link! South Africa's success in the 90's was thanks to their pace-bowling line-up lead by Allan Donald. No successor for Donald had been found since that fateful day he was assisted off the pitch against Australia. Pollock was consistent, Ntini had a great season or two, Nel gave his heart out... but there was no Donald! No equivalent to "White Lightning" until a young understudy with raw pace, took on a maturity and consistency that was unmatched in World Cricket.
All the talk was on Brett Lee, leading Australia's attack against Sri Lanka and India... but at the other end was Dale Steyn - knocking batters over in Pakistan, eliminating (anihilating, demolishing... no word would tell you just how glorious the slaughter was) Kiwis and then taking out the West Indies - one at a time (The most amazing feat was in the 2nd test, when he put aside his 145 kph deliveries to stick to 130 kph swinging-Pollock like deliveries to pick up 4-for... all because of a slight injury). This boy was not all pace and although Brett Lee faced a tougher challenge, Steyn was showing the confidence and importantly, maturity that had taken Lee years to develop.
Coming to India was never an easy task. Australia had their troubles and surprisingly, South Africa have been a more successful unit in this end of the subcontinent and with no world-class spinner. Many gave the Proteas a chance at drawing the serious - already the Indian Government had decided this "battle for number 2" wasn't worth covering for public audience. Of-course, India was bubbling in their successes down-under, basking in the media and millions of $$$ of the IPL, over-confident, unaware and out of focus - much like many Indian teams that are NOT playing against Australia - for its clear that only the Aussies call for any attention.
Many friends who knew of my Protea-stripes were ranting and calling for my head at the end of day 3 in Chennai. I was un-fazed because I knew this team was made of sterner stuff... and it would take more than a statue walling a club on a dead bed (or an ent stuck to its roots swinging at naked goblins and ur-kai) to destroy their resolve. The next day the champions immerged! Cutting down the Indian batting line-up to pieces and batting resolutely. Batting out the final day at Chennai was an achievement and nothing in test cricket can be taken for granted - especially for touring sides in the sub-continent.
And then came Ahmedabad and complains of the pitch. Indian captain Anil Kumble, with three seamers on a greenish pitch, won the toss and decided to bat and then begun one of the most unbelievable sessions of cricket I have witnessed in my 12 years of absolute coverage. I am not a big Twenty20 fan but this was the greatest session of Twenty20 I had ever seen! Steyn, Ntini and Morkel turned in stellar performances and were aided amply by the Indian batters to demolish the home side for 76. Not even the fair-weathered Kiwi batters could out-do such a performance. South Africa's response was severe, professional and nailed, no, engraved the result of the 2nd test. Three days later, lying in bed, watching the final moments of a ruthless display by the bowlers, batsmen and fielders, it was fitting that India and the world finally took note.
With one more test to go, India have the time, talent and importantly - home advantage, to square the series but many who didn't give this team a chance at winning or even drawing, today stand rebuked. I thought Gerald Manjola's comments of Graeme Smith and his boys thumping Kumble's team were ... too dramatic and unrealistic: a close dogfight sure... but a thumping? With the 3rd Test a few days away, both can recuperate and prepare for a dog-fight. Determination has been the key so far; it remains to be seen if Smith's teams' determination and skill will be enough to put the final cuts on series that the Proteas and myself had been waiting for all this time.