Anil Kumble expressed displeasure on the statement of South African coach Shukri ConradImage Credit source: Getty Images & PTI
The South African cricket team performed strongly on the India tour, took the lead in the Test series and brought itself closer to winning the series. But while the players have received a lot of applause for their performance, a statement by team coach Shukri Conrad has become a bone of contention and due to this he is being reprimanded heavily. On the fourth day of the second Test match in Guwahati, the South African coach used a word for the Indian team, which is associated with the controversial history in cricket. After this statement, he was reprimanded by Indian legend Anil Kumble.
On the fourth day of the Guwahati Test match, South Africa declared its second innings at 260 runs and gave a target of 549 runs to Team India. After the end of the day’s play, when South African coach Conrad was asked why he delayed declaring the innings, he gave a controversial statement in response. Conrad said that he wanted to tire Team India and see them crawling on their knees. The second part was the most important, for which he used the English word ‘Grovel’.
Conrad’s use of these words became the real bone of contention because it brought back memories of 49 years. During the West Indies tour in 1976, England captain Tony Greig used the same word for the West Indies team, which means lying face down on the ground or crawling on the knees. There was an uproar over this because Greg was a white cricketer of South African origin and at that time South Africa was banned due to apartheid. Also, it was linked to incidents of enslavement of black people in Caribbean history. In reply, West Indies won the series 3-0.
Now the return of this word to cricket after 49 years has created controversy and Conrad is facing criticism. Before the start of the fifth day’s play, former Indian coach and veteran spinner Anil Kumble advised the South African coach not to be arrogant but to remain humble. Kumble said in the Star Sports show, “There is history associated with this word. 50 years ago the England captain said this in the West Indies and we saw what happened. South Africa has probably won this series but when you are at the top, the choice of your words is important. At such times, humility is most important.”
At the same time, former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn also seemed very upset with the coach’s statement and clearly said that he is not in support of it. In the same show, the veteran pacer said, “I am not in support of it. His style was perhaps not as strict as Tony Greig’s. But that does not matter. You cannot use such words. It is very disappointing. Sorry Shukri but it is very disappointing.”