The epoch making tour that started it all
South Africa were the third team to enter the Test arena in 1891 while India were granted Test status in 1932
Partab Ramchand
18-Feb-2000
South Africa were the third team to enter the Test arena in 1891 while
India were granted Test status in 1932. But for obvious reasons, there
was never really any chance that the two nations would meet on the
cricket field. In fact, because of the apartheid policy, South Africa
could never play West Indies, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The
opposition was confined to England, Australia and New Zealand. Indian
cricketers, on an individual basis, however played with and against
the South Africans in matches in England and Australia.
It was only after the dismantling of apartheid that the way was clear
for South Africa to play the other countries. And it somehow seemed
fitting that the first tour South Africa made after the new regime
took over was to India. The trip was hastily arranged even as the
Indians were preparing to leave for a full tour of Australia. Only an
itinerary of three one day internationals could be squeezed in but
from a historical, ground breaking angle, the tour was one of the most
important in the history of cricket. ``This is the greatest day in my
life,'' said Ali Bacher on the team's arrival in India, even as he was
overcome with emotion.
Not surprisingly, there was unprecedented interest in the short tour
and the visitors were given the red carpet welcome on their
arrival. Led by veteran all rounder Clive Rice, who had enjoyed a
wonderful record in English county cricket, the squad consisted of
many well known players, hardened by their exploits in county cricket
in England and first class cricket and rebel `Tests' back home. The
only doubt was how they would fare against international level
opposition on foreign soil.
Predictably enough, the tourists took some time to find their bearings
on the whirlwind tour, complete with ornate receptions and public
appearances. But even in defeat, it became obvious that this side had
the nucleus of future world beaters. They lost the first ODI at
Calcutta by only three wickets - and this after being contained to 177
for eight in 47 overs. Kepler Wessels led the way with a strokefilled
50 and Adrian Kupier bolstered the middle order with 43. But when the
Indians batted, they came up against a tornado called Allan
Donald. The pace spearhead had arrived with a high reputation and he
took little time in living up to it. In his first spell he got rid of
Ravi Shastri, Najot Sidhu and Sanjay Manjrekar when the score was only
20. It took the genius of Sachin Tendulkar to combat Donald's fire but
even he fell to the speedster after scoring 62. Praveen Amre came good
with 55 before falling to Donald, who finished with five for 29 as
India squeaked home.
The second ODI at Gwalior also saw a close match before India won by
38 runs. Donald again showed that he was a world class bowler with
three for 36, the wickets being those of Md Azharuddin, Kapil Dev and
Amre. But K Srikkanth (68), Sidhu (61) and Manjrekar (52 not out) had
built a solid foundation and India scored 223 for six in 45
overs. South Africa's reply was again built around a solid 71 from
Wessels but there was precious little substance otherwise and they
were restricted to 185 for eight in 45 overs.
By now there were distinct signs that the visitors had come to terms
with the conditions and the result was an emphatic eight wicket
victory in the third and final ODI at New Delhi. India led off with
287 for four wickets in 50 overs thanks to centuries from Shastri
(109) and Manjrekar (105) and a typically swashbuckling 53 from
Srikkanth. But on the Ferozshah Kotla featherbed, the South Africans
took even this seemingly imposing total in their stride. Wessels came
up with his third important contribution of the series - a brilliant
90 and with Peter Kirsten (86 not out) and Kuiper (63 not out)
building on this, the visitors were home with 3.2 overs to
spare. Perhaps it was good from the Indian angle that it was a three
match series and not five. But it was basically a series played to
welcome South Africa back into the international fold and it was but
fitting that the man of the series was shared by Wessels and
Manjrekar.