South African rebel tours

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The South African rebel tours were a series of cricket tours staged during the 1980s when South Africa was banned from international cricket due to the apartheid regime. The Government of South Africa sponsored a number of touring international teams organised by the South African Cricket Union, led by Dr Ali Bacher. The tours were strongly opposed by the ANC and other anti-apartheid groups.

The South African government's involvement in the tours was politically motivated. The matches served a propaganda purpose, helped to split the solidarity of the international campaign of isolating South Africa, and satisfied white South Africans' desire for international sport. However, Bacher saw the tours as essential to cricket itself, to "keep the game alive in South Africa".^[1] Springbok colours were awarded to the players.

The presence of players who had sporting links to South Africa caused diplomatic problems throughout this period, such as the cancellation of England's 1988–89 tour of India after the Indian government refused to issue visas for any England players, "having or likely to have contact with South Africa".^[2]

Contents 1 England tour 1982 2 Arosa Sri Lanka tour 1982 3 West Indian tours 1982–83 & 1983–84 4 Australian tours 1985–86 & 1986–87 5 England tour 1990 6 South Africa returns to international cricket 7 Individual Records 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External links

[edit] England tour 1982

The first major tour was by an English team led by Graham Gooch in March 1982. The team consisted of current (at the time) and former England Test cricketers. Many of the touring party, such as batsmen Geoff Boycott, Peter Willey, Dennis Amiss and Bob Woolmer, fast bowlers Chris Old, Mike Hendrick and John Lever, spinner Derek Underwood and wicketkeeper Alan Knott were approaching the end of their Test careers. Gooch (average 67.60) and Amiss (average 75.33) were the most successful English players in the unofficial "Tests", won by South Africa 1–0. South Africa won all three of the limited overs matches^[3]

South Africa featured Barry Richards, Jimmy Cook, Peter Kirsten, Graeme Pollock, Clive Rice, Mike Procter captain, Alan Kourie, Ray Jennings, Garth Le Roux, Stephen Jefferies, Vincent van der Bijl, Adrian Kuiper, Denys Hobson and Kenny Watson. Richards took over the captaincy when Procter sustained a knee injury.

The English players were banned from official international cricket for three years. Gooch returned to the England team for the Texaco Trophy ODI against Australia in May 1985. He went on to a long and distinguished Test career. However many of the party did not play international cricket again. One effect of the ban was the opportunity given to Graeme Fowler, Eddie Hemmings and Vic Marks to make their England debuts during the 1982 season.

[edit] Arosa Sri Lanka tour 1982

Led by Bandula Warnapura in October and November 1982, the tour came shortly after Sri Lanka's elevation to Test status. All of the tourists were banned for life from international cricket. The team was not strong and South Africa convincingly won both "Tests" and all three limited overs matches. The Sri Lankan side also lost to several provincial teams.^[4] Following the retirement of Mike Procter, Peter Kirsten was appointed as South African captain and Lawrence Seeff replaced the injured Richards in the second "Test", scoring 188.

[edit] West Indian tours 1982–83 & 1983–84

The West Indian players were mainly talented understudies struggling to break in to the great West Indian Test team of the period, or men past their prime as Test players. The squad comprised Lawrence Rowe (captain), Alvin Kallicharran (vice-captain), Hartley Alleyne, Richard Austin, Faoud Bacchus, Herbert Chang, Sylvester Clarke, Colin Croft, Alvin Greenidge, Bernard Julien, Collis King, Monte Lynch, Everton Mattis, Ezra Moseley, David Murray, Albert Padmore, Derick Parry, Franklyn Stephenson, Emmerson Trotman and Ray Wynter. First-class cricketers in the West Indies were then poorly paid and the participants, many of whom had irregular or no employment in the off-season, received between US$100,000 and $120,000 dollars for the two tours. Rowe has since stated that he and several other players were disillusioned with the West Indies Cricket board for not selecting them despite good performances ^[5]

The two-match 1982-83 "Test" series ended 1-1. In the second "Test", King hit 101 and Clarke took 12 wickets. The limited over series was won by South Africa 4–2. Stephenson took 6/9 in the last match of the series.^[6] Kevin McKenzie was the only new player in the South African side, while Barry Richards returned as opening batsman.

The West Indian side turned the tables in 1983–84 by winning the "Test" series 2–1, with Clarke taking five wickets in an innings four times. The limited over series was won by the West Indian side 4-1.^[7] Henry Fotheringham, Ken McEwan, Rupert Hanley, Dave Richardson and Mandy Yachad made their debuts for South Africa. Clive Rice was handed the captaincy for the 3rd and 4th "Tests" after the sacking of Peter Kirsten. Kirsten maintained his place in the team and top scored in the next match.Graham Gooch played against the West Indies team during both tours as a member of a South African provincial side.

The participants received a life ban from Caribbean cricket in 1983. In many instances, they were ostracised socially and professionally, such was the hostility toward players that complied with the South African apartheid system. In contrast, the players commented on a warm reception from both blacks and whites in South Africa and the tour may have been a positive influence on relations between races. It was one of the few occasions when white and black people had played sport together in South Africa. The players' bans were lifted in 1989 but the only tour member who played for West Indies again was Moseley, at the age of 32. Stephenson and Clarke had very successful first-class careers in South Africa.^[8]

[edit] Australian tours 1985–86 & 1986–87

The tours by the Australians were led by former Test captain Kim Hughes, with South Africa winning both "Test" series 1–0. The squad included several players who represented Australia at Test level, such as fast bowlers Terry Alderman, Rodney Hogg and Carl Rackemann, spinners Trevor Hohns and Tom Hogan opening batsman John Dyson and Steve Smith. The tour weakened the Australian Test side by depriving it of several of its best players. ^[9]

Hughes accused the Australian Cricket Board of fostering dissatisfaction among the players, making recruitment for the rebel tours easy. ^[10] Hughes never played international cricket again and later returned to South Africa to play for Natal. However, Alderman, Hohns and Rackemann returned to represent Australia in later series.

On the first Australian tour, 1985-86, fast bowlers Hugh Page and Corrie van Zyl made their debuts for South Africa. During the second tour in 1986-87, batsman Brian Whitfield and spinner Omar Henry who became the second non-white player to represent South Africa, and two future stars, all-rounder Brian McMillan and fast bowler Allan Donald made their South African debuts. Kepler Wessels played for the Australian team on their second tour.

South Africa won the one-day series 4-2 in 1985-86 and 5-2 in 1986-87.

[edit] England tour 1990

In 1990, the final tour was led by former England captain Mike Gatting. The team included former and current England players such as batsmen Tim Robinson, Bill Athey and Chris Broad, wicketkeeper Bruce French, and the fast bowlers Paul Jarvis, Graham Dilley and Neil Foster.

Kepler Wessels returned to represent the land of his birth. Roy Pienaar, Dave Rundle and Richard Snell made their debuts for South Africa. Jimmy Cook was appointed as South African captain and Allan Donald took 8 wickets for 59 in the match. South Africa went on to win the only 'Test'.^[11] England lost the limited overs series 3–1. ^[12]

Most of the squad did not play for England again. Gatting served a three-year ban from Test cricket before his recall to the England side for the tour of India and Sri Lanka in 1992–93, along with John Emburey and Paul Jarvis. Emburey made both rebel tours and served two suspensions. Foster subsequently played a solitary Test, against Australia at Lord's in 1993.

The squad for the rebel tour was announced during the fourth Test of the 1989 The Ashes series in England. Players in the squad were not considered for the rest of the series, which allowed future long-term England players, batsman Michael Atherton and fast bowler Devon Malcolm, an opportunity to make their England debuts.

The tour was a financial disaster as it coincided with the "unbanning" of the African National Congress and the release from prison of Nelson Mandela. As South Africa began the dismantling of apartheid, Ali Bacher was surprised at the scale of the mass demonstrations against the tour as previous rebel tours had passed smoothly in the country.^[1] The second tour scheduled for 1990-91 was cancelled.

[edit] South Africa returns to international cricket

31 Players were selected to play for South Africa in the 19 Rebel "Tests". Vincent van der Bijl, Rupert Hanley, Denys Hobson, Kevin McKenzie, Alan Kourie, Brian Whitfield, Kenny Watson, Roy Pienaar, Hugh Page, Ray Jennings, Henry Fotheringham, Lawrence Seeff, Stephen Jefferies, Ken McEwan and Garth le Roux all retired before official international cricket resumed for South Africa. Before isolation, Graeme Pollock (23 Tests), Mike Procter (7 Tests) and Barry Richards (4 Tests) had played official Test cricket.

South Africa resumed official international cricket in 1991 with a short tour of India, and participation in the 1992 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Clive Rice (3), Corrie van Zyl (2), Dave Rundle (2) and Mandy Yachad (1), only played in official ODIs for South Africa. Being in the twilight of their careers, Jimmy Cook played 3 Tests and 6 ODIs, Peter Kirsten 12 Tests and 40 ODIs, Adrian Kuiper 1 Test and 25 ODIs and Omar Henry 3 Tests and 3 ODIs. Allan Donald, 72 Tests and 164 ODIs, Brian McMillan 38 Tests and 78 ODIs and Dave Richardson 42 Tests and 122 ODIs, became the backbone of the new Protea outfit, and to a lesser extent, Richard Snell who played in 5 Tests and 42 ODIs. Kepler Wessels became captain of the team and played in 16 Tests and 55 ODIs for South Africa. During the years of isolation, Wessels played for Australia in 24 Tests and 54 ODIs.

All of the matches played during the rebel tours were granted first-class status, which was subsequently withdrawn by the International Cricket Council in 1993. As of August 2007, the ICC is reviewing the status of all matches played in South Africa between 1961 and 1991, including those played during the rebel tours, with a view to restoring first-class status to some matches.^[13]

[edit] Individual Records

Batsmen

Player	Matches	Runs Scored	Average	Highest	100's	50's
Graeme Pollock	16	1376	65.52	197	5	7
Jimmy Cook	19	1320	42.58	169	3	7
Peter Kirsten	19	1192	41.10	173	3	7
Clive Rice	18	679	27.16	72		4
Ken McEwan	7	438	43.80	138*	3
Kevin McKenzie	7	422	35.16	110	1	2
Henry Fotheringham	7	406	36.90	100*	1	2

Bowlers

Player	Matches	Wickets	Average	S/R
Garth le Roux	15	59	23.27	50.1
Stephen Jefferies	11	39	29.92	60.3
Alan Kourie	16	38	33.60	75.8
Vincent van der Bijl	6	29	19.86	52.9
Clive Rice	18	28	22.39	56.1

Wicketkeeping

Player	Matches	Caught	Stumped
Ray Jennings	14	46	4

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• Lowles, Nick (2001) "Blood Money" Searchlight.
• Procter, Mike (1994) South Africa, the years of isolation Queen Anne Press

[edit] External links

• Article on the West Indian rebels.
• Cricinfo article on the West Indies rebel tours.
• Caribbeancricket.com interview with Lawrence Rowe that includes discussion of the rebel tours.
• Cricinfo interview with Ali Bacher and players about the 1989 England rebel tour.
• SuperSport Series