Mickey Arthur

Calcutta: Some 20 hours after his team created history, South Africa’s young coach Mickey Arthur ? he’s just 37 ? acknowledged getting past Australia’s 434 for four (at the Wanderers on Sunday) had been “crazy.”

“We set targets, the first of which was to reach at least 180 by the end of 25 overs... Actually, we touched 229 for two! From then on, it was crazy... It was unbelievable... Fact, however, is that we’d never lost self-belief,” Arthur, less than a year into the job, told The Telegraph.

Speaking from Johannesburg, he added: “We’re still over the moon... Please allow us that... But, come Tuesday, we’ll begin focusing on the three-Test series (which starts in Cape Town on Thursday)... We know Australia must be itching to hit back hard...”

That’s why a formal celebration has been put on hold ? what happened in the dressing room was impromptu.

According to Arthur, who succeeded Ray Jennings, the stunning win was no “fluke” but the result of “good cricket” in recent weeks. He said: “We’ve got a settled one-day team and the boys have played good cricket over the past few weeks.”

But, now, won’t the pressure be even more?

Arthur laughed: “Yeah, that’s something we’ve got to contend with... I also realise expectations with regard to the 2007 World Cup are going to increase... Our planning is towards that tournament... But, then, pressure goes with the territory and we’ve got to stay focused on the processes put in place.”

Reflecting on the classic, which produced as many as 872 runs (another record), Arthur remarked: “The captain (Graeme Smith) led from the front and, then, (Herschelle) Gibbs produced one of the all-time epics... Those at the Wanderers were privileged... Frankly, it’s difficult describing Gibbs’ effort...”

Smith, who opens, smashed 90. Then, Gibbs made mincemeat of the attack ? 175 (his 16th ODI hundred), to give the world champions the biggest shock after Bangladesh upset them in England last summer.

Once banned for getting involved with the late Hansie Cronje, Gibbs is now the toast of South Africa. The one-time ‘problem child’ is, quite clearly, on his way to being saluted as one of the great one-day batsmen.

With the 400-barrier having been broken twice on the same day, getting to 500 isn’t any longer an impossibility. Arthur concurred, emotionally.

“Yes, someday somebody will get 500 somewhere... After yesterday, that’s not totally out of reach... Hopefully, my team is going to do it... I’ll be keeping fingers crossed... Praying for my boys, too...”

The other teams are going to be praying as well. For a different reason, of course.