VB Series, 2nd Final
Friday, February 8, 2002

Well, we're all happy that's over, aren't we? It really wasn't much of a contest. New Zealand underachieved a lot, just like in the first final and South Africa were just as good as they needed to be - which isn't saying much. The person who deserves the most praise is the groundsman at the SCG. They've had ten inches of rain this week and it was a remarkable effort to get the wicket to a stage where the captain who won wanted to bat first.

One thing I was really not happy about was using the Duckworth-Lewis system. If New Zealand were bowled out for 175, it's crazy that South Africa had to make less to win. You shouldn't penalise a side for batting during the rain by subtracting some of their runs. I know the weather causes these problems with the overs and planning an innings, but the whole thing doesn't make a lot of mathematical sense.

I've already said that South Africa have had the wood on New Zealand all through this series. The word from those in the know is that the Kiwis prepared themselves thoroughly for playing Australia, but not nearly as much for South Africa. They didn't perceive it to be a real challenge to beat them, and so weren't as focused on the strengths and weaknesses of individual players. If they'd put in the same in-depth preparation as they did for the Aussies, maybe things would have been different.

South Africa ran into form just at the right moment in this tournament. Of course, on paper they're a much better side than New Zealand, but we've got used to New Zealand always playing above their weight. I think South Africa's top order stacked up better than the other two teams in the competition. You always knew one of Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis would score big runs in a match. Also their bowling had a solid look to it. Lance Klusener is back to form - or at least he's a bit better than he was before. Allan Donald bounced back to cause real problems, and Makhaya Ntini was a bonus.

I'm looking forward to seeing South Africa play Australia now. This series will have evened it up. Australia will be looking to bounce back quickly. If they do well in the first Test I think they'll be right. But if South Africa get them on the ropes early on and keep them down, Australia's confidence will be knocked pretty heavily.

The other interesting series coming up is New Zealand against England. New Zealand need to be careful - the natural slide from where they are now is downhill. Shane Bond and Chris Cairns look tired to me, and England are coming from playing tough cricket in tough conditions to a really good environment. I think they'll be full of confidence and Stephen Fleming will have a real job on his hands.

Plenty of interesting cricket coming up. It's just a shame there wasn't much today.

Ian Healy, one of the game's greatest wicketkeepers, is now a commentator for Channel 9 in Australia. He was giving his verdict on Wisden.com throughout the VB Series. He was talking to Camilla Rossiter.

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