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What Does “Choker” Mean in Cricket?

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In cricket, the term “choker” is used for a cricketer or a team that is very likely to come out top under normal circumstances but when faced with pressure to deliver in decisive moments they will often flop. It refers to situations when, even if they have the potential to win, they lose due to nervousness and thereby making silly mistakes.

For example, a team might be ahead for a long part of the game but can’t hold it together in the match goes down to the wire, and ends up losing, thus being called chokers. It is not about talent but rather about crumbling in high stakes situations. So choker in cricket meaning, in simple words, is losing from a winning situation. 

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What Causes Choking 

Now that you know what is chokers in cricket, let’s talk about what causes choking in cricket. Choking in cricket happens due to many reasons. But the primary reason is the fear of losing. When players or teams are very close to winning, they start thinking about what might go wrong.

This has been discussed several times in sports psychology as well. When they start thinking of what may go wrong, they become nervous, and they make mistakes they normally wouldn’t.

Another reason is pressure. In big matches, especially finals or knockout games which everyone is watching, the stakes are high. This pressure can make players feel nervous, and they may end up choking, which is not play as freely as they usually do.

Confidence is also important. Confidence is of as much importance as the player’s skills. If a player isn’t feeling confident, even if they’ve done well before, they might start doubting themselves. This doubt makes them play too carefully, and turn they end up making mistakes.

Tiredness can also lead to choking. Cricket games can last a long time, especially in the Test format, and players might get tired both physically and mentally. When one is too tired, it is normal to lose focus and make blunders. 

Lastly, sometimes players change their game plan too much when they’re under pressure. They may stop playing their natural way, and thus end up making mistakes. 

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Why the South Africa Cricket Team is Called Chokers 

South Africa is sometimes called “chokers” in cricket because they often lose important games when they are very close to winning. Even though they are a very good team with talented players, they sometimes struggle when the pressure is high. When everyone expects them to win, they get nervous, and small mistakes can happen.

This has caused them to lose in big tournaments or crucial matches. People say they “choke” because they don’t perform their best when it really matters, even though they have the skills to win. Most particularly, they have faltered many times in the knockout stages of the Cricket World Cups. The Champions Trophy, in 1998, is the only ICC trophy they have ever won, never winning the World Cup in both the ODI as well as T20 format. 

Their very first instance of choking was seen in the semifinal of the 1999 ODI World Cup, when they lost after required just one run off four balls with one wicket, including of Lance Klusener, in hand. But an unfortunate mix-up between Klusener and Allan Donald meant South Africa could only level the scores and not win the match.

This meant that they couldn’t progress to the final because their opponents, Australia, had won the group stage match between the two teams. 

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Another huge instance of them choking was seen in the 2003 World Cup. This time, they lost because they didn’t understand the Duckworth-Lewis system, which is used when rain affects cricket games. The team thought they needed to reach a certain score to win, but they misunderstood. Mark Boucher and his partner thought they had already won when they reached the score the team management told them, so Boucher stopped trying and blocked the last ball. But that score wasn’t the winning score, it was just the score to tie the match. When the rain stopped, the game was a tie, and South Africa was knocked out of the tournament.

Then in the 2011 World Cup they faced a quarterfinal exit, once again due to choking. Then in both the 2015 and 2023 World Cups, they had a semifinal exit. Several times South Africa made it to the knockouts, but got knocked out before reaching the final, thus being called chokers. Not just in ODI cricket, they have choked in T20 cricket too. 

In the 2022 T20 World Cup, South Africa faced the Netherlands in a match they were expected to win easily. A win would have helped them move ahead of Pakistan in the points table and reach the next round. However, the pressure of knowing they had to win might have affected their mindset. Instead of playing confidently, they struggled. The Netherlands, who were not expected to win, took advantage and played well. In the end, South Africa lost the game, which was a big surprise and disappointment, showing how pressure can cause them to underperform.

And then recently, they lost the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup to India after being in a winning position. 

Further More: Explained: Time Out in Cricket

FAQ’s about Chokers Meaning in Cricket

Q) What is chokers meaning in cricket?

A) In cricket, chokers is a word used to describe teams or players who lose important matches even when they are close to winning. It happens because they get too nervous under pressure and make mistakes that cause them to lose, even though they are usually competent. 

Q) Why are South Africa called chokers?

A) South Africa is called chokers because they often lose in big, important cricket matches, especially in World Cups. Even when they are doing well in a game, they sometimes struggle under pressure, and this causes them to lose when everyone expects them to win. This has happened many times.

Q) What causes choking?

A) Choking happens when a player or team feels too much pressure in a big match. They become nervous and start doubting themselves, which leads to mistakes. Sometimes, they change their playing style and become too careful, which makes things worse. Pressure, fear, and losing confidence are the main reasons for choking.

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