The 438 game

Going into it

This match has always fascinated me, ever since I watched it for the first time.

Since then, I have watched it about a hundred times, but still, it is always fresh and one feels the same level of energy and passion, and gets goosebumps, while watching it.

This piece is a subtle and humble attempt of mine, to express my admiration for this match, and how it made me feel so intrigued.

So much so that the cover photo of this write-up is my LinkedIn cover photo as well!

Retirement woes

November 19, 2021. 10 days before college was about to start.

I am a huge cricket fan and AB de Villiers (he needs no introduction for most readers here, I feel) is one of my favourite cricketers.

On that day, he had announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. Though he had retired from international cricket much earlier.

Almost every cricket fan from India is an ABD fan. His versatile batting, his athletic superman-like fielding, and most importantly, his behaviour, gathered him his fans.

So much that one day he was in full song against India in a one-day match and the Indian crowd was shouting, "ABD! ABD!" - against their own country's team!

Binge Watching

That day, as I mentioned earlier, there were 10 days before college would start, and I had 10 days in hand in which I could do whatever I wanted, and was free like a bird.

I made up my mind. I would watch all the matches and innings' videos on YouTube, featuring ABD.

One by one, I searched, watched and moved to the other. 6-8 hours a day, I was doing that.

Some intriguing stuff - 1 hour long highlights.

I came across the highlights of this match in the course of looking for the videos of ABD's innings. The highlights were about 1 hour long - which meant that the match was full of exciting and interesting stuff. 

I clicked on it and started watching.

The match was a decider - the series square at 2-2, and two of the ODI powerhouses in the world at that time - locking horns - that too at the Bullring! (Wanderers' stadium, Johannesburg is known as the bullring because of the charged up atmosphere). There can't be a better thing in cricket to watch.

Australia's innings: a then World Record

Australia were in full song. Their batsmen smashing the bowlers to all parts of the park. Ricky Ponting 164, lofting 9 maximums. Symonds, Gilchrist, Hussey doing the rest of the job.

57 runs came in the last 3 overs. Australia powered to a world record 434-4 in 50 overs.

They're 15 runs short!

Imagine the atmosphere of the dressing room when the opponent team scored 400+ for the first time in history of the game, at your home ground.

Well, as expected, it was sombre.

Everyone was silent and serious.

But not Jacques Kallis, their mainstay all rounder. 

"Come on guys, it's a 450 wicket. They're 15 runs short!" were his words in the dressing room. 

There came a ray of hope for the home team - some motivation and upliftment.

Proteas' Rampage - the counterattack

They got the worst possible start. Losing Dippenaar's wicket at 3 runs, when you have to chase 400+. But it was a blessing in disguise. 

Out came Herschelle Gibbs - joining captain Graeme Smith in the middle.

The two ransacked the bowlers - Smith scoring 90 runs off just 55 balls. When Smith got out - they were 190 runs in just 22 overs.

Gibbs, with ABD, continued the rampage - the former reaching 175 off just 111 balls - South Africa reaching 300 in just 32 overs.

Well they were en route to victory.

Australia, however, took key wickets - but the batsmen still continued the fightback. The big hitting was still going on.

They were heading towards the target but the wickets were following. Every batsman who came, hit fours and sixes, and made some impact.

Final result: South Africa won the match by 1 wicket - they chased down 400+!

"Straight down the ground, what a victory! That is a sensational game of cricket, and it is a superb victory. Well, I've been around the world watching this game...look, there are tears, they are crying out there! The South Africans are charging out on to the field. Gilchrist shakes hands with Boucher. Ntini is on a high. Ponting cannot believe this has happened to his team. The South Africans at the Bullring today have seen the best one day international ever played."

- the late Tony Greig's commentary, after the match (Tony Greig was a great another commentator whose commentary keeps me hooked to the match if not the game :p).

Bet me, you would fall in love with cricket once you listen to his commentary. With no disrespect to my all-time favourites Harsha Bhogle, Ravi Shastri, and Natalie Germanos, who kept me energized and hooked during all matches of IPL, giving a huge respite from the BS that Sanju Manju keeps on speaking.

Key Takeaways

This match was fill of entertainment and I would recommend the reader to watch the match or atleast, go through the scorecard of the match.

Apart from entertainment, the match taught a lot of valuable lessons and takeaways.

1. You can never assume that the task is finished, before the result comes, irrespective of the situation. In the innings break, one could safely assume that Australia would win the match. But what happened was completely different. Don't celebrate before the results. This teaches us the importance of staying grounded and not taking success for granted, regardless of the circumstances.

2. There is nothing in this world that is impossible to achieve. It might be highly difficult or tough and require a great deal of effort, concentration, and perseverance, but I repeat, there is nothing in this world that is impossible. Just have that self-belief, give in your 120%, and everything is possible. This emphasizes the power of self-belief and determination in overcoming challenges and achieving success.

3. Never lose hope, irrespective of the situation. With proper strategy and hard work, and of course, self-belief and a positive attitude, you can swing the situation in your favor from anywhere. This highlights the importance of resilience and maintaining a positive outlook even in the face of adversity.

4. Don't let small obstacles hinder you in your journey towards a big goal. Like Australian bowlers took back-to-back wickets in the second half of the game, there are bound to be obstacles in the path. Just keep on dodging them and breaking through them - just like the South African batsmen - who hit big shots while wickets were falling and balanced the effect. This underscores the significance of perseverance and adaptability in overcoming obstacles on the path to success.

5. When you are chasing a huge target or want to achieve a huge goal, there are bound to be difficulties and obstacles, in one form or another. In that situation, stay determined and keep the momentum going. This stresses the importance of maintaining focus and determination even when facing daunting challenges.

6. Having someone in the form of a close friend, mentor, or teammate, who believes in you or your team, plays a huge role in achieving huge goals. Just like Kallis was there to calm the team down in the innings break, with his motivating and impactful words, and that did half the job and set the stage for South Africa's innings. This highlights the value of support and encouragement from others in bolstering confidence and driving success.

7. Success often requires a combination of skill, preparation, and seizing the right opportunities. Just as South Africa capitalized on crucial moments during the match, we must be ready to make the most of our chances in pursuit of our goals.

8. In the face of adversity, maintaining a positive mindset is key. Despite facing a daunting target, South Africa's batsmen remained optimistic and focused on their abilities, showcasing the power of optimism and mental resilience in overcoming challenges.

9. Every setback presents an opportunity for growth and learning. Just as the Australian team analyzed their performance post-match to identify areas for improvement, we should embrace failure as a stepping stone towards eventual success.

10. True champions rise to the occasion when the stakes are highest. The 438 match teaches us the importance of performing under pressure and delivering our best when it matters most, showcasing the significance of mental toughness and determination in achieving greatness.

11. Never give up: The South African cricket team faced an enormous target, but they never gave up hope. This match teaches us the importance of perseverance and resilience in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

12. Focus on the present moment: In high-pressure situations, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the enormity of the task ahead. However, the South African team focused on one ball at a time, one partnership at a time, without getting distracted by the overall target. This highlights the importance of mindfulness and staying focused on the present moment to achieve success.

13. Maintain composure under pressure: Both teams experienced intense pressure throughout the match, but it was the team that kept their nerves and maintained composure in crucial moments that emerged victorious. Learning to manage pressure and staying calm in challenging situations is a valuable life skill.

14. Learn from setbacks: The Australian team, despite posting a massive total, ended up on the losing side. This teaches us that setbacks are opportunities for learning and growth. It's essential to analyze failures, identify areas for improvement, and bounce back stronger from setbacks.