1989-90 English XI

Oh dear. Mike Gatting and David Graveney took charge for one of the most spectacular and embarrassing misjudgements in sporting history.

The pair were joined by a host of other players wowed by the money on offer and frustrated at their treatment by the England selectors. All had agreed to travel in mid-1989 when the end of apartheid looked a decade off. By the time they arrived in January 1990, revolution was imminent.

As FW De Klerk released Nelson Mandela from prison and unbanned the ANC, and South Africa set off down the road to democracy, the most unpopular party guests in history were spirited home fearing for their lives. The rebel tours had finished as they had started: in abrupt, chaotic fashion.

Squad: Mike Gatting (captain), Bill Athey, Kim Barnett, Chris Broad, Chris Cowdrey, Graham Dilley, Richard Ellison, John Emburey, Neil Foster, Bruce French, Paul Jarvis, Matthew Maynard, Tim Robinson, Greg Thomas, Alan Wells, David Graveney (player/manager).

Schedule and results

26-28 Jan Tour match at De Beers Country Club, Kimberley. English XI (305 & 206/4d) beat Combined Bowl XI (152 & 105) by 254 runs.

30, 31 Jan, 1 Feb Tour match at Springbok Park, Bloemfontein. South African Universities (328/6d & 160/9d) drew with English XI (212 & 75/4)

3, 4, 5 Feb Tour match at Jan Smuts Stadium, Pietermaritzburg. South African Invitation XI (305/2d & 315/2d) drew with English XI (292/5d & 198/5).

8, 9, 10 Feb 1st ‘Test’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. English XI (156 & 122) lost to South Africa (203 & 76/3) by seven wickets.

16 Feb 2nd ‘Test’ at Newlands, Cape Town. Match cancelled.

16 Feb 1st ‘ODI’ at Centurion Park, Verwoerdburg. English XI (217) lost to South Africa (218/5) by five wickets.

18 Feb 2nd ‘ODI’ at Kingsmead, Durban. South Africa (219/5) beat English XI (205/7) by 14 runs.

20 Feb 3rd ‘ODI’ at Springbok Park, Bloemfontein. South Africa (301/7) beat English XI (94) by 207 runs.

22 Feb 4th ‘ODI’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. English XI (296/8) beat South Africa (162) by 134 runs.

Notes:
South Africa won the four-match ‘ODI’ series 3-1.
South Africa won the only ‘Test’.

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1986-7 Australian XI

Omar Henry became the first ‘coloured’ man to wear a Springbok cap, South African-born Australian Test batsman Kepler Wessels returned home to a rapturous reception and Cape cricket was Packer-ised with pajamas and day-night fixtures.

Yet the action could never escape the bigger picture. Henry’s selection was marred by allegations of tokenism and Clive Rice’s win-at-all costs strategy produced more fireworks off the field than on. The rebel tours seemed to have run their course.

Squad: Kim Hughes (captain), Terry Alderman, John Dyson, Peter Faulkner, Mike Haysman, Tom Hogan, Rodney Hogg, Trevor Hohns, John Maguire, Rod McCurdy, Carl Rackemann, Steve Rixon, Greg Shipperd, Steve Smith, Mick Taylor, Kepler Wessels, Graham Yallop.

Schedule and results

17 Nov 50-over match at Oude Libertas, Stellenbosch. Australian XI (180/8) beat Boland (178/9) by two runs.

18 Nov 50-over match at Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch. Australian XI (198/8) lost to Boland Invitation XI (202/7) by three wickets.

21, 22, 24 Nov Tour match at University Ground, Bloemfontein. Australian XI (412d/9 & 100/1) drew with Orange Free State (367).

25 Nov 50-over match at De Beers Country Club, Kimberley. Australian XI (248/5) beat Griqualand West (168) by 80 runs.

27-29 Nov Tour match at Harmony Cricket Club, Virginia. Australian XI (347/6d & 128/5d) lost to President’s XI (215/5d & 261/7) by three wickets.

30 Nov 50-over match at Harmony Cricket Club, Virginia. President’s XI (185) lost to Australian XI (149/9 from 39.5 overs) on faster scoring rate.

2, 3, 4 Dec Tour match at Jan Smuts Ground, East London. Border (358) drew with Australian XI (519/8).

6 Dec 1st ‘Day-Night International’ at Centurion Park, Verwoerdburg. Australian XI (238/5 from 44 overs) lost to South Africa (239/4) by six wickets.

8 Dec 2nd ‘Day-Night International’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. Australian XI (149 from 40 overs); South Africa (3/1). No result due to rain.

10 Dec 3rd ‘Day-Night International’ at Newlands, Cape Town. Australian XI (85) lost to South Africa (86/2) by eight wickets.

10 Dec 25-over match at Newlands, Cape Town. Australian XI (153/5) lost to South Africa (154/4) by six wickets.

12-14 Dec Tour match at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. Eastern Province (117 & 125) lost to Australian XI (326/7d) by an innings and 84 runs.

17 Dec 4th ‘Day-Night International’ at Kingsmead, Durban. South Africa (183/9 from 48 overs) lost to Australian XI (153/4 from 39.1 overs) on faster scoring rate.

19-21 Dec Tour match at Kingsmead, Durban. Australian XI (227/2d & 238/6d) lost to Natal (234/3d & 232/4) by six wickets.

24, 26, 27, 28 1st ‘Test’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. South Africa (254 & 182) beat Australian XI (142 & 245) by 49 runs.

1, 2, 3, 5, 6 Jan 2nd ‘Test’ at Newlands, Cape Town. South Africa (493 & 257/3) drew with Australian XI (496).

9-11 Jan Tour match at Jan Smuts Ground, East London. South African Invitation XI (165 & 121) lost to Australian XI (332) by an innings and 46 runs.

13-15 Jan Tour match at Jan Smuts Stadium, Pietermaritzburg. South African Universities XI (240/9d & 128/2) drew with Australian XI (448).

17, 19, 20, 21, 22 Jan 3rd ‘Test’ at Kingsmead Durban. Australian XI (264 & 339) drew with South Africa (350 & 143/7).

24, 26, 27 Jan Tour match at Centurion Park, Verwoerdburg. Northern Transvaal (315/8d & 217/9d) drew with Australian XI (281/3d & 219/7).

30, 31 Jan, 1, 3, 4 Feb 4th ‘Test’ at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. Australian XI (455/9d & 333/4) drew with South Africa (533).

7 Feb 1st ‘ODI’ at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. South Africa (316/6) beat Australian XI (310) by six runs.

10 Feb 2nd ‘ODI’ at Newlands, Cape Town. Australian XI (199/7 from 47.4 overs) lost to South Africa (188/2 from 40.3 overs) on faster scoring rate.

12 Feb 3rd ‘ODI’ at Centurion Park, Verwoerdburg. South Africa (237/9) lost to Australian XI (238/5) by five wickets.

14 Feb 4th ‘ODI’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. Australian XI (175/9) lost to South Africa (176/6) by four wickets.

Notes:
South Africa won the four-match ‘Day-Night’ series 2-1.
South Africa won the four-match ‘ODI’ series 3-1.
South Africa won the four-match ‘Test’ series 1-0.

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1985-6 Australian XI

The Australian tours had been a long time coming. The rivalry between the Springboks and Wallabies was the closest South African cricket had to rugby union’s battles with the New Zealand All Blacks. The arrival of a team in baggy green caps had been awaited keenly since the legendary 4-0 whitewash in 1970.

Graeme Pollock, now past 40, decided to delay his retirement for the reunion and the opposition looked strong on paper. Captained by Kim Hughes, their bowling attack in particularly had pedigree: Rod McCurdy, Rodney Hogg, Terry Alderman, Carl Rackemann and John Maguire might all have been in England for the 1985 Ashes but instead pursued the rebel route. For the Springboks, Clive Rice was installed as captain which led to a rapid escalation in aggression – opponents and umpires alike faced a mean machine.

Squad: Kim Hughes (captain), Terry Alderman, John Dyson, Peter Faulkner, Mike Haysman, Tom Hogan, Rodney Hogg, Trevor Hohns, John Maguire, Rod McCurdy, Carl Rackemann, Steve Rixon, Greg Shipperd, Steve Smith, Mick Taylor, Graham Yallop.

Schedule and results

22, 23, 25 Nov Tour match at Ramblers Club, Bloemfontein. Australian XI (345/8d & 301/5d) drew with Orange Free State (319 & 76/1).

27 Nov 50-over (day/night) match at Technikon Ground, Pretoria. Northern Transvaal (211/9) beat Australian XI (204) by seven runs.

29, 30 Nov, 2 Dec Tour match at Berea Park, Pretoria. South Africa Board President’s XI (150 & 126) lost to Australian XI (186 & 91/5) by five wickets.

4 Dec 50-over (day/night) match at Wanderers, Johannesburg. Transvaal (269/3) beat Australian XI (211/6) by 58 runs.

6-8 Dec Tour match at Jan Smuts Ground, East London. Border (168) drew with Australian XI (236/8).

11 Dec 50-over (day/night) match at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. Australian XI (222/7) beat Eastern Province (217/9) by five runs.

13- 15 Dec Tour match at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. Australian XI (382/9d & 101/1d) lost to Eastern Province (235 & 250/8) by two wickets.

17-19 Dec Tour match at Oude Libertas, Stellenbosch. Boland (271 & 159/6) drew with Australian XI (456/9d).

21 Dec 50-over match at Newlands, Cape Town. Australian XI (260/4) beat Western Province (212/9) by 48 runs.

23 Dec 50-over (day/night) match at Kingsmead, Durban. Australian XI (234/6) beat Natal (206) by 28 runs.

26-29 Dec 1st ‘Test’ at Kingsmead, Durban. South Africa (393 & 203/7d) drew with Australian XI (359 & 32/2).

1-4 Jan 2nd ‘Test’ at Newlands, Cape Town. South Africa (430 & 202/5d) drew with Australian XI (304 & 224/4).

6-8 Jan Tour match at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. South African Universities (219 & 237/5d) drew with Australian XI (220/9d & 203/9).

10, 11, 13 Jan Tour match at Berea Park, Pretoria. Australian XI (229 & 326/2d) beat Northern Transvaal (190 & 340) by 25 runs.

16, 17, 18, 20, 21 Jan 3rd ‘Test’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. South Africa (211 & 305) beat Australian XI (267 & 61) by 188 runs.

24 Jan 1st ‘ODI’ (day/night) at Wanderers, Johannesburg. Australian XI (197/5) beat South Africa (151) by 46 runs.

26 Jan 2nd ‘ODI’ at Kingsmead, Durban. South Africa (221/6) lost to Australian XI (224/6) by four wickets.

28 Jan 3rd ‘ODI’ at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. South Africa (223/9) beat Australian XI (151) by 72 runs.

30 Jan 4th ‘ODI’ at Newlands, Cape Town. South Africa (234/9) beat Australian XI (210) by 24 runs.

1 Feb 5th ‘ODI’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. Australian XI (185/7 from 49 overs) lost to South Africa (189/5) by five wickets.

3 Feb 50-over match at De Beers Country Club, Kimberley. Australian XI (219/9) lost to Griqualand West (221/4) by six wickets.

5 Feb 6th ‘ODI’ at Berea Park, Pretoria. Australian XI (272/6) lost to South Africa (273/4) by six wickets.

Notes:
South Africa won the six-match ‘ODI’ series 4-2.
South Africa won the three-match ‘Test’ series 1-0.

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1983-4 West Indian XI

A West Indies 2nd XI and South Africa were perhaps the second and third best teams in the world. A fierce battle ensued over four ‘Tests’ and six ‘one-day internationals’, spiced by spats between the two teams.

The improvement in on-field action was in strict contrast to the off-field environment. South Africa stood permanently on the brink of civil war as PW Botha’s brutal government repressed the black majority and excluded them from a new ‘multi-racial’ parliament.

Arguments raged – and continue to rage – about the wisdom of the West Indian tours. Were the rebels, as they themselves insisted, showing white South Africa that black men were their equals as the republic stumbled towards democracy? Or, as their detractors still maintain, had they sold themselves and their dignity to extend the life of a disgraced and barbarous government?

Squad: Lawrence Rowe (captain), Hartley Alleyne, Faoud Bacchus, Sylvester Clarke, Colin Croft, Alvin Greenidge, Bernard Julien, Alvin Kallicharan, Collis King, Monte Lynch, Everton Mattis, Ezra Moseley, David Murray, Derick Parry, Franklyn Stephenson, Emmerson Trotman, Albert Padmore (player/manager).

Schedule and results

19, 21, 22 Nov Tour match at Berea Park, Pretoria. Northern Transvaal (288/9d & 136/5d) drew with West Indian XI (153 & 183/5).

24 Nov 50-over match at Oude Libertas, Stellenbosch. Boland (132/8) lost to West Indian XI (133/6) by four wickets.

25, 26, 28 Nov Tour match at Newlands, Cape Town. West Indian XI (291 & 300) drew with Western Province (322/8d & 57/1).

30 Nov 50-over match at the Jan Smuts Ground, East London. West Indian XI (247/6) beat Border (119) by 128 runs.

2, 3, 4 Dec Tour match at Kingsmead, Durban. West Indian XI (397 & 168/9d) drew with Natal (239 & 160/3).

7 Dec First ‘ODI’ (day/night) at Wanderers, Johannesburg. South Africa (233/7) lost to West Indian XI (235/8) by two wickets.

10 Dec 50-over match at Ramblers, Bloemfontein. West Indian XI (290/6) beat Orange Free State (232/6) by 58 runs.

12, 13, 14 Dec Tour match at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. Eastern Province (314 & 161) drew with West Indian XI (242/7d & 181/7).

17, 18, 19 Dec Tour match at Wanderers, Johannesburg. West Indian XI (230 & 172) lost to Transvaal (310/9d & 94/6) by four wickets.

23, 24, 26, 27 Dec First ‘Test’ at Kingsmead, Durban. West Indian XI (529/7d) drew with South Africa (333 & 59/0).

30, 31 Dec, 2, 3 Jan Second ‘Test’ at Newlands, Cape Town. West Indian XI (252 & 268) lost to South Africa (404 & 117/0) by 10 wickets.

6 Jan Second ‘ODI’ at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. West Indian XI (260/8) lost to South Africa (261/6) by four wickets.

8 Jan Third ‘ODI’ at Kingsmead, Durban. South Africa (220) lost to West Indian XI (194/4 from 40 overs) on faster scoring rate.

10 Jan Fourth ‘ODI’ at Newlands, Cape Town. South Africa (149) lost to West Indian XI (150/2) by eight wickets.

13, 14, 16, 17 Jan Third ‘Test’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. South Africa (160 & 236) lost to West Indian XI (193 & 205/9) by one wicket.

21 Jan Fifth ‘ODI’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. South Africa (279/3) lost to West Indian XI (208/7 from 34.2 overs) on a faster scoring rate.

23 Jan Sixth ‘ODI’ at Berea Park, Pretoria. South Africa (227/7) beat West Indian XI (54) by 173 runs.

25 Jan 50-over match at De Beers Country Club, Kimberley. West Indian XI (316/9) beat Griqualand West (193) by 123 runs.

27, 28, 30, 31 Jan 4th ‘Test’ at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. South Africa (277 & 127) lost to West Indian XI (199 & 206/4) by six wickets.

Notes:
West Indian XI won the six-match ‘ODI’ series 4-2.
West Indian XI won the four-match ‘Test’ series 2-1.

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1982-3 West Indian XI

The news that a West Indian squad was visiting South Africa offended many in both the Caribbean and Africa. For white South Africa, of course, it was a great coup. West Indies cricket was so strong that they attracted rebels as talented as Lawrence Rowe, Collis King and Sylvester Clarke. A fiercely contested four-week series took ‘unofficial internationals’ to something approaching the real thing.

Squad: Lawrence Rowe (captain), Richard Austin, Herbert Chang, Sylvester Clarke, Colin Croft, Alvin Greenidge, Bernard Julien, Alvin Kallicharran, Collis King, Everton Mattis, Ezra Moseley, David Murray, Derick Parry, Franklyn Stephenson, Emmerson Trotman, Ray Wynter, Albert Padmore (player/manager).

Schedule and results

15 Jan 50-over match at Newlands, Cape Town. West Indian XI (204/9) beat Western Province (183) by 21 runs.

17 Jan 50-over match at Jan Smuts Ground, East London. Border (100/8) lost to West Indian XI (101/3) by seven wickets.

19 Jan 50-over match at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. West Indian XI (243) beat Eastern Province (158) by 85 runs.

21, 22, 24, 25 Jan First ‘Test’ at Newlands, Cape Town. South Africa (449 & 108/5) beat West Indian XI (246 & 309) by five wickets.

28, 29, 31 Jan, 1 Feb Second ‘Test’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. West Indian XI (267 & 176) beat South Africa (233 & 181) by 29 runs.

3 Feb 50-over match at Kingsmead, Durban. Natal (202/8) beat West Indian XI (118) by 84 runs.

5 Feb First ‘ODI’ at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. South Africa (250/7) beat West Indian XI (159) by 91 runs.

7 Feb Second ‘ODI’ at Newlands, Cape Town. South Africa (194/8) beat West Indian XI (151)
by 43 runs.

9 Feb Third ‘ODI’ at Berea Park, Pretoria. South Africa (179/9) beat West Indian XI (167) by 12 runs.

11 Feb Fourth ‘ODI’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. South Africa (139) lost to West Indian XI (141/3) by seven wickets.

12 Feb Fifth ‘ODI’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. South Africa (228/6) beat West Indian XI (171) by 57 runs.

13 Feb Sixth ‘ODI’ at Kingsmead, Durban. West Indian XI (155) beat South Africa (71) by 84 runs.

Notes:
South Africa won the six-match ‘ODI’ series 4-2.
Two-match ‘Test’ series drawn 1-1.

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1982-3 Arosa Sri Lanka

Bandula Warnapura began 1982 as a national hero, captaining Sri Lanka in their first ever Test against England at Colombo in February. He finished it a pariah after leading a weak 14-man squad to South Africa.

The players were vehemently denounced across India, Pakistan and the Caribbean as well as in their homeland. Accusations of race betrayal were undisguised. While the Sri Lankans would be humiliated on tour and ostracised at home, South African self-denial was comical. The South African Cricket Union continued to insist that this was international cricket – and fined players who said otherwise in public.

Squad: Bandula Warnapura (captain), Flavian Aponso, Hemantha Devapriya, Lantra Fernando, Mahes Goonatilleke, Nirmal Hettiaratchi, Lalith Kaluperuma, Susantha Karunaratne, Bernard Perera, Anura Ranasinghe, Ajit de Silva, Bandula de Silva, Jeryl Woutersz, Tony Opatha (player/manager).

Schedule and results

26-28 Oct Tour match at Berea Park, Pretoria. Arosa Sri Lanka (315/9d & 123) lost to Combined Transvaal XI(313/4d & 127/4) by six wickets.

30 Oct-1 Nov Tour match at Newlands, Cape Town. Arosa Sri Lanka (275 & 307) drew with Western Province (400/7d & 106/6).

3-4 Nov Tour match at Oude Libertas, Stellenbosch. Arosa Sri Lanka (208 & 79) lost to Boland (141 & 149/5) by five wickets.

6 Nov First ‘ODI’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. South Africa (291/4) beat Arosa Sri Lanka (102) by 189 runs.

8 Nov Second ‘ODI’ at Berea Park, Pretoria. South Africa (281/5) beat Arosa Sri Lanka (174/5) by 107 runs.

10-11 Nov Tour match at Jan Smuts Ground, East London. Arosa Sri Lanka (275 & 188/6) drew with Eastern Cape Invitational XI (181/6d).

13-15 Nov Tour match at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. Arosa Sri Lanka (223 & 321/8d) drew with Eastern Province (287/5d & 162/8).

17 Nov Third ‘ODI’ at Kingsmead, Durban. Arosa Sri Lanka (140) lost to South Africa (143/2) by eight wickets.

19, 20, 22, 23 Nov First ‘Test’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. Arosa Sri Lanka (213 & 141) lost to South Africa (378) by an innings and 24 runs.

25 Nov 45-over day-night match at Jan Smuts Stadium, Pietermaritzburg. Arosa Sri Lanka (181) lost to Natal Invitational XI (183/2) by eight wickets.

27-29 Nov Tour match at Kingsmead, Durban. Arosa Sri Lanka (129 & 104) lost to Natal (328) by an innings and 95 runs.

1 Dec Fourth ‘ODI’ at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. Arosa Sri Lanka (276/9) lost to South Africa (278/4) by six wickets.

4-6 Dec Tour match at Wanderers, Johannesburg. Arosa Sri Lanka (122 & 200) lost to Transvaal (362/1d) by an innings and 40 runs

9, 10, 11, 13 Dec Second ‘Test’ at Newlands, Cape Town. Arosa Sri Lanka (282 & 281) lost to South Africa (663/6d) by an innings and 100 runs.

Notes:
South Africa won the four-match ‘ODI’ series 4-0.
South Africa won the two-match ‘Test’ series 2-0.

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1981-2 English XI

An unofficial tour to South Africa, thought Geoffrey Boycott, was ‘a business proposition of the type that might be considered in any walk of life’.

Oops. Off the field the first rebel tour proved an unprecedented spectacle, drawing frenzied condemnation around the world. The players were denounced as ‘the Dirty Dozen’ in the Houses of Parliament. The future of Test cricket itself was thrown into doubt and most tourists saw their international careers terminated. The cricket itself stood in stark contrast to the domestic hype and overseas rancour, initial excitement subsiding into dismal parody.

The tour stands as one of the most remarkable episodes in sporting history.

Squad: Graham Gooch (captain), Dennis Amiss, Geoffrey Boycott, John Emburey, Mike Hendrick, Geoff Humpage, Alan Knott, Wayne Larkins, John Lever, Chris Old, Arnold Sidebottom, Les Taylor, Derek Underwood, Peter Willey, Bob Woolmer.

Schedule and results

3-4 Mar Tour match at Berea Park, Pretoria. SAB XI (152/7d & 32/2) drew with South African Under-25s (170/8d).

6 Mar First ‘ODI’ at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. SAB XI (240/5) lost to South Africa (244/3) by seven wickets.

8-10 Mar Tour match at Newlands, Cape Town. Western Province (263/8d & 204/7d) drew with SAB XI (219 & 225/8).

12-15 Mar First ‘Test’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. South Africa (400/7d & 37/2) beat SAB XI (150 & 283) by eight wickets.

17 Mar Second ‘ODI’ at Kingsmead, Durban. South Africa (231/6) beat SAB XI (152) by 79 runs.

19-22 Mar Second ‘Test’ at Newlands, Cape Town. SAB XI (223 & 249/3d) drew with South Africa (235 & 38/0).

24 Mar Third ‘ODI’ at Wanderers, Johannesburg. South Africa (243/5) beat SAB XI (111/7 from 23 overs) on faster scoring rate.

26-29 Mar Third ‘Test’ at Kingsmead, Durban. South Africa (181/9d & 143/2) drew with SAB XI (311/8d).

Notes:
South Africa won the three-match ‘one-day international’ series 3-0.
South Africa won the three-match ‘Test’ series 1-0.

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