This time SOUTH AFRICA !! Journey of SAfrican Cricket (1991-2019)

Nelson Mandela. The father of anti-apartheid was released from prison on 11th February 1990 after 27 long years in captivity. This also opened the prison windows for South African cricket who were banned since 1970 for practicing apartheid policies in Cricket.

Dr.Ali Bacher was the forefront of bringing back SAfrican cricket to the main fold. He and many talented others like him lost their prime cricketing years to the ban imposed on them by the International Council. Clive Rice was one of them and was entrusted to captain the side at the age of 41. It was poetic justice as India the country with the most diverse cultural spectrum welcomed SAfrica with open arms. The stage was set... and what a setting. Eden Gardens. A stadium with a capacity of hundred thousand spectators was the venue to start a new chapter in the history of cricket.

It was early winter and a charged up atmosphere as Mohd. Azharuddin won the toss and put the Proteas in to bat. It was fun to see as good as 10 SAfrican cricketers make debut except Kepler Wessels who had earlier played for Australia. Names like Andrew Hudson, Peter Kirsten, Adrian Kuiper & Dave Richardson were soon common with Indian fans.

The SAfricans were folded for a meagre 177 and India were ready to celebrate an early victory on a bright Sunday afternoon. But the show had just begun as the SAfricans unleashed 'White Lightening' at the Indian top order. It was non other than the monstrous speed king Allan Donald. Debutant Pravin Amre and master blaster Sachin Tendulkar in the middle order saved the day for India but SAfrica were the real 'Baazigars' of the day. After losing the subsequent ODI, they convincingly beat India in the final dead rubber. There was no looking back after the inaugural series thanks to a mine of skillful and talented players.

While Donald was supported by the likes of Craig Matthews & Meyrick Pringle, the teacher Brian McMillan developed into a fine all-rounder. While the World Cup of 1992 held down under presented the world with 'Superman' Jonty Rhodes, the shrewd Hansie Cronje and stylish Dave Callaghan brought a special flavour to the side. The incisive Fanie de Villiers in his short career did enough to stay forever in the memory of the great Sachin Tendulkar as a bowler to have troubled him the most.

Gradually, the senior lot made way to the likes of ever reliable Daryll Cullinan, the wily Pat Symcox and the run machine Gary Kirsten. Unfortunately they continued to fumble in ICC tournaments but time and again were enriched by exceptional talents like the unorthodox spin of Paul Adams, warhorse Jacques Kallis, persistent Shaun Pollock and Zulu warrior Lance Klusener. Sizzling fast Mark Boucher behind the stumps, strong Makhaya Ntini, all-rounder Andrew Hall emerged in the late nineties to create more headaches to their oppositions.

Just when they seemed to dip a bit after the Hansie Cronje scandal, 21 year old rookie Graeme Smith was handed over reins of the national side. He had interesting characters like Andre Nel, Ashwell Prince & Jacques Rudolph at his disposal. ABD, J.P.Duminy, Morkel Bros. & Dale Steyn took over the mantle in the new millennium with Hashim Amla & Wayne Parnell providing vital support. Though they never won a major ICC tournament, no cricketing nation made the mistake of underestimating them in bilateral series.

The second decade of this millennium has seen as sharp decline in the performances of this solid cricketing nation. The reasons for this downfall is attributed to the policies drawn out by the CSA and cut-throat internal politics. All said and done, Cricket is at a tremendous loss.

Though India is currently at the top of it's game, the SAfricans have gone down as headless chicken. Hope good sense prevails and we get to see a fighting Protea side in the near future.

It's high time for revival of Cricket in SAFRICA !!