The bond between India and South Africa

[prinzo]

At the onset of New Year 2018, India is slated to play a three-match Test series in South Africa, along with six ODIs and three T20s.

Since decades, the real test of the Indian Test squad has actually been playing in South Africa and Australia (can add England also after the drubbing in 2011 and 2014). Lush green grounds, fast and bouncy tracks and a formidable opponent, this is how Test cricket is defined in Australia and South Africa.

It is for this reason that Indians regard India’s Test victories at Adelaide 2003, Perth 2008 and Johannesburg 2006 as the finest ever in recent years. 

At  Pietermaritzburg railway station in South Africa, a 24-year-old young lawyer from India Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was thrown out of a bogey by a white TTE as it was reserved for whites only. This was a seminal incident, which ultimately shaped the life of millions on India. (Pietermaritzburg hosted an ICC World Cup match between India and Namibia in 2003).

India was one of the biggest supporters of anti-apartheid campaign of native blacks of South Africa. By virtue of a long oppressive British rule in India, India was the one country which had a zero tolerance policy against apartheid.

 

During the eighties, when I was following the game as a teenager, we knew little about South African cricket.

All we knew was that the country has produced legends like Barry Richards, Graeme Pollock (uncle of Shaun Pollock), Clive Rice and few others. They could have been among the best Test cricketers had South Africa played international cricket during all those years (1970-1991).

Graeme Pollock, who scored over 20,000 runs in first-class cricket, had to play his last Test in 1970. He could play only 23 Tests in his career.

That was the hefty price which South Africa and its citizen paid for tyrannical policy of apartheid. International exposure for South African cricketers was limited to rebel tours by disgruntled international cricketers to the country.

India was the first to take the lead and as an epic goodwill gesture, India invited the South African team for an ODI series, which took place in November 1991. It was the first international cricket series for South Africa after decades of boycott.

The South African side was led by veteran Clive Rice, who was 42 years old during that series. Rice was a known face for ardent cricket followers in India because of his flamboyant stint with Nottinghamshire in English county cricket.

In the very first ODI, we got to see the genius of Allan Donald. He was ferociously quick and alluring to watch. Donald claimed a 5-wicket haul and almost pulled off the game for South Africa.

India won the first two ODIs but South Africa registered an emphatic victory in the third ODI played in Delhi.

South Africa reciprocated the Indian gesture and India became the first country to play a Test series in South Africa during 1992-93 after more than two decades. It was a huge moment for South African cricket.

When the Indian team landed in Durban, they received a rousing welcome; the team were driven from the hotel in open cars. Thereafter, the team met Nelson Mandela.

However, India were decimated both in the Tests and the ODIs.

Indians always struggled in Tests played in South Africa during the nineties. The team won the home Test series in 1996-97 against South Africa but soon after they capitulated in the Test series in South Africa in 1996-97. In the Durban Test, India lost their twenty wickets for just 166 runs.

Sachin Tendulkar led India in a Test series against South Africa in 2000. During that series, the infamous match fixing scandal involving South African captain Hansie Cronje was uncovered.

One of India’s most prolific Test batsmen in recent times, Virender Sehwag made his Test debut against South Africa in 2001. He scored a century in his debut Test.

India’s two finest cricket moments in recent times have an uncanny South African connection. In 2007, India lifted the inaugural ICC World T20 played in South Africa.

Four years later, when India lifted the ICC World Cup in 2011, it was under South African coach Gary Kirsten. We can also add India’s glittering performance in the 2003 ICC World Cup played in South Africa to this list, when the team finished as runners-up.

Hashim Amla, one of the finest batsmen South Africa has produced, is of Indian origin and has his roots in Gujarat. His forefathers migrated to South Africa from Gujarat. After more than 50 Test matches and a Test average of 50, Amla is already a legend.

A strong Indian side is visiting South Africa and an exciting Test series is on the cards. But beyond cricket, let’s enjoy and relive the eternal bonhomie between these two nations

[chewy]

This should be highlight series of cricket calendar, top two teams in world (Tests & ODIs) taking on each other.

 

Should have been a 4 match test series, if it weren't for that useless egomaniac Logart,

 

You look at players from both teams, and they are filled with world class players. 

[Gollum]

This should be a marquee event held with both sides hosting each other once in 4 years for a 4/5 test series, and all matches should be played in the great venues. If properly marketed this could rival the Ashes, some history we both share and the matches are almost always well contested. Ideal name would have been Kallis-Tendulkar Cup, not the present political name !!!!

[maniac]

3 minutes ago, Gollum said:

This should be a marquee event held with both sides hosting each other once in 4 years for a 4/5 test series, and all matches should be played in the great venues. If properly marketed this could rival the Ashes, some history we both share and the matches are almost always well contested. Ideal name would have been Kallis-Tendulkar Cup, not the present political name !!!!

The political name is fine....I mean it doesn’t get better than Gandhi and Mandela -2 universally respected symbols of peace.

 

Its not like naming a stadium after a Libyan dictator lol.

 

too many cricket related names for series- Frank Worell Trophy,Pataudi Trophy, Border-Gavaskar Trophy etc etc.... this name makes it stand out.

[Gollum]

1 minute ago, maniac said:

The political name is fine....I mean it doesn’t get better than Gandhi and Mandela -2 universally respected symbols of peace.

 

Its not like naming a stadium after a Libyan dictator lol.

 

too many cricket related names for series- Frank Worell Trophy,Pataudi Trophy, Border-Gavaskar Trophy etc etc.... this name makes it stand out.

Yeah both were respected figures but some ass clowns today are using their names for their nefarious designs. Both INC and ANC are the children of these 2 fine men and both are disgusting entities today. Who claims benefits when the trophy is named after these 2? Only these 2 wicked political parties who use every opportune moment to appropriate their legacy. And it is a disgrace that Kallis and Tendu don't have trophies named after them, 2 of the most iconic cricketers of all time and both were contemporaries who bested each other in many memorable Indo-SA duels for a decade and a half. 

[chewy]

13 minutes ago, maniac said:

The political name is fine....I mean it doesn’t get better than Gandhi and Mandela -2 universally respected symbols of peace.

 

Its not like naming a stadium after a Libyan dictator lol.

 

too many cricket related names for series- Frank Worell Trophy,Pataudi Trophy, Border-Gavaskar Trophy etc etc.... this name makes it stand out.

 and retard Pakistanis have still kept the name,  

[chewy]

22 minutes ago, Gollum said:

This should be a marquee event held with both sides hosting each other once in 4 years for a 4/5 test series, and all matches should be played in the great venues. If properly marketed this could rival the Ashes, some history we both share and the matches are almost always well contested. Ideal name would have been Kallis-Tendulkar Cup, not the present political name !!!!

it's good a series name, also cup is called Freedom Trophy, can't get a better name for a marquee series

should called it Freedom Series 

[Gollum]

43 minutes ago, chewy said:

 and retard Pakistanis have still kept the name,  

Because once during a state visit to Pakistan he called Pak the 'Citadel of Islam', kitne insecure log hai yaar. Tomorrow if Modi goes there and calls them the 'Sword of Islam' they will probably name the Karachi stadium after him. 

[Vilander]

6 hours ago, Gollum said:

This should be a marquee event held with both sides hosting each other once in 4 years for a 4/5 test series, and all matches should be played in the great venues. If properly marketed this could rival the Ashes, some history we both share and the matches are almost always well contested. Ideal name would have been Kallis-Tendulkar Cup, not the present political name !!!!

Gandhi-Mandela is an insurmountable name for anything. Leave alone a cricket cup.

[Vilander]

Just wish the trophy becomes bigger and bigger. Represnts the 1 billion Africans and 1 billion Indians.

[prinzo]

5 minutes ago, Vilander said:

Just wish the trophy becomes bigger and bigger. Represnts the 1 billion Africans and 1 billion Indians.

The rest of Africa don't give a hoot about cricket, you will find a lot of expats in each of the African countries playing 

[Vilander]

13 hours ago, prinzo said:

don't give a hoot about The rest of Africa cricket, you will find a lot of expats in each of the African countries playing 

its Mandelas country that counts. 

[Khota]

Moron Lorgat is gone so the bond will get stronger.