All-rounder Clive Rice was one of the golden generation of Test cricketers from South Africa whose international careers were destroyed by apartheid and the resultant sporting isolation of the country.
That generation included the likes of the Pollock brothers Graeme and Peter, Barry Richards, Mike Procter, and Eddie Barlow. Many of these names would arguably have been among the all-time greats of the game if only they had had a chance at a full career at the international level. Some of them got a taste of Test cricket before the boycott came into force in 1970. Others like Kepler Wessels, Robin Smith and Alan Lamb turned out for England or Australia.
Rice, however, was among those who missed out. He could only savour the experience of international cricket very briefly towards the fag end of his career when, aged 42, he led the Springboks on a three-ODI tour of India, signalling the end of their sporting isolation. He was, however, dropped from the side for the World Cup that followed soon after on the grounds of age, though he was supremely fit. Till date, Rice has not forgiven that decision.
Rice, who was rated among the world's best all-rounders in the 1980s, along with Kapil Dev, Ian Botham, Imran Khan and Richard Hadlee, believes his country's 1-0 lead in the current Test series against India owes a lot to the weather and the luck of the toss. In a no-holds-barred interview with DNA, he also flayed the politics in his country’s cricket establishment. Excerpts:
Where is the Test series heading?
This is going to be a very good series. South Africa put India in and got an early advantage. Going by the batting line-up that exists in the tournament, the quality of cricket can be very high. There is every chance that India will come back like Australia have in the Ashes. Everyone had written Australia off. The Poms got complacent. If South Africa get complacent, they will suddenly find the series 1-1.
How do you explain India’s performance in the first Test?
It is because they lost the toss. All that rain the night before the Test changed the complexion of the pitch. If you win the toss, as an international captain, you should be batting first. In this case, the rains left the pitch damp and [Graeme] Smith put the opposition in. We have seen the pitch giving turn. If it was dry from the very beginning, the Test would have been stacked in India’s favour. The moisture on the first day of the Test made [Dale] Steyn and [Morne] Morkel very difficult to handle.
You mean to say Smith should have batted first?
Absolutely. They saw the dampness on the pitch and inserted India.
So you say South Africa are lucky to have won the Test?
Going by the way India batted in the second innings and South Africa batted in the first innings, it could have been a high-scoring draw. Once a team gets a 500-run advantage, it gets difficult for the opposition to bat with conviction. Scoring over 450 without conviction is no mean achievement.
Durban is known to be the bounciest of the wickets in South Africa. Do you give India a chance there in the second Test?
The weather will be a big factor in Durban, too. If it is overcast, the ball will move around. The golf [tournament] that Ernie Els won this weekend saw a lot of rain. So you never know what can happen if it is raining. The toss could be crucial again.
With a little bit of luck, India could win the Durban Test.
Down there, you can be at the mercy of the weather. If you have got the conditions on your side, the opposition struggles automatically.
You said the home side cannot take 20 wickets in a Test and Graeme Smith said the team proved you wrong.
It is the first time in how many Tests they have managed to do it?I’m delighted that they did it. But it was left to two bowlers. It was also because of the conditions.
How do you analyse the Indian team?
The Indian batting line-up is very good. A batsman like MS Dhoni comes just before Harbhajan Singh. He needs support from the tailenders.
Are you still hurt at not being picked for the 1992 World Cup?
That will never change. I was a victim of the political game between Transvaal (now Gauteng) and the Eastern Province. I will never ever forgive them for whatever happened then. I can’t be bothered for the political power struggle that was going on then.
Can you elaborate on that power struggle?
The Eastern Province wanted to get control of the game. Previously, Transvaal dominated the game for 20 years — my whole career time. The Eastern Province had its way once they got control. After that, I contributed to South African cricket by becoming a national selector and running the national academy, but I’m still hurt by that incident.
Does the power still struggle exist here? Or has the situation changed?
Changed? No, I don’t think it has. That’s why there is no game at the Wanderers. The No 1 and 2 teams are playing here but there is no Test match at the Lord’s of South Africa!
Is it a kind of inverted apartheid that whites are being victimised now?
I say it is politics. Some accusations over the conduct of the IPL [Indian Premier League season 2] were made and they turned out to be true. I read in the papers that some members had to resign because of these allegations.
Can you give any specific instances of the politics in South African cricket?
See, players are choosing to play in England and are not being available to play for South Africa.
You mean to say South African cricket can be much better than it is?
Yes, it can be.
What is the solution?
I think we need to get the players administrating the game.
Like who?
The players who have got a passion for the game. If you have them, the game goes forward. If you got people there for money and not for the passion, then you have mediocrity in place.
Do you say there is mediocrity in the team?
I didn’t say that. If you have got a team, nobody will agree it is the best team. The debate is inevitable over whether the team is the best. It will never be the so-called best team. But we are not far off the best team.
So you agree that the South African selectors are doing a good job.
If they win the series, they are doing a good job. If not, everyone will think they are not up to the sleeve.
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