There are calls… and then there are Breakfast calls.

HOT 1027 listeners were treated to one of those unforgettable on-air moments this week when Parky received a surprise call from someone claiming to be his long-lost teenage girlfriend, “Michelle” — live from England.

South Africa’s T20 World Cup victory over host nation India wasn’t just a good day, says former Proteas spinner Pat Symcox — it was “a day for the ages.” Speaking on HOT 1027 Breakfast, the former international cricketer unpacked exactly what made this performance different… and why it signals a team turning a corner.

Symcox, who represented South Africa between 1993 and 1999, says the win was as much about mindset as it was about skill. While India “live and die by T20 cricket,” Symcox felt their approach on the day showed something else: “I saw a lot of overconfidence there… they kept thinking they’d hit themselves out of trouble, but not against the quality of our bowling.”

Instead, he believes the Proteas’ success comes from a new maturity — forged through the SA20 league and strengthened by real-time experience under pressure.

“It wasn’t the win for me — it was the way we won. We executed our plans, we stayed calm, and we handled the pressure.” — Pat Symcox

A big part of that, Symcox explains, is situational awareness: the ability to read the moment and respond with clarity. Players like David Miller, he says, have “moved into that space,” adjusting their game instinctively, while younger stars such as Stubbs are already showing advanced cricket intelligence.

“The more you play under pressure, the better you become — and we’ve moved into that space now.”

Looking ahead, Symcox expects a tough but winnable clash against the West Indies. And as for South Africa? He believes this is a side no one will underestimate again — not after a win built on strategy, smarts, and steel.