The South African Geniuses

Reading an excerpt from the writings of Bob Woolmer clarified a couple of interesting tidbits about the South African cricket team that were sometimes considered to be apocryphal. The former South Africa and Warwickshire Coach confirms that Stephen Waugh did indeed tell Herschelle Gibbs after the latter infamously dropped the Aussie captain and turned the fate of the World Cup, the words according to Woolmer being: What does it feel like to drop the World Cup, Herschelle?. Woolmer also says that Umpire Venkat at square leg was of the opinion that the ball had been in control for a sufficient time, but Peter Willey at the bowler's end (whose decision it was) thought it wasn't.

Woolmer, on another rather famous incident that was used by many as an IQ test score to rate the wooly-headed South Africans, notes the incident where one player running on the beach in Sri Lanka during an exercise session said "Gee, it's hot. I can hardly breathe. What altitude are we at?" and was promptly awarded the prize for the most ridiculous comment of the week. Contrary to popular notion that this player was Jacques Kallis, it actually was Adam Bacher. Kallis may be innocent of that charge, but there are two other stories offered in exchange: The team had reached Sri Lanka via Singapore. This confused Kallis who thought it was part of Sri Lanka. Even better - after bowling ten overs on the trot, Kallis welcomed the drinks trolley by saying "Thank God! Some more petrol for my radiator".