South Africa's Historic Test Series Win Over India Overshadowed by Controversy
Historic Win Marred by Controversy
After achieving a remarkable 2-0 victory over India in the Test series, South African captain Temba Bavuma shared his thoughts on the controversial 'grovel' comment made by head coach Shukri Conrad. Bavuma noted that hearing the remark for the first time left an 'unsavoury taste' but also highlighted the significance of the series for the newly crowned ICC World Test Champions. This victory marked South Africa's first series win in India since the 1999/00 season, and it was India's second whitewash loss in Test series within two years, following a 0-3 defeat to New Zealand.
While this win is celebrated as one of the greatest moments in South African cricket, it was not without its issues. Conrad's comments during the Guwahati Test, where he expressed a desire for the team to make India 'really grovel' and 'completely bat them out of the game', drew criticism. South Africa's strategy of delaying their declaration, despite a strong position, led to India suffering their largest Test defeat by 408 runs. The term 'grovel' has historical baggage, first used by England's Tony Greig in 1976, and was criticized by notable figures like Sunil Gavaskar and Dale Steyn, especially given the friendship between the two cricketing nations. Additionally, Indian IPL team owners are involved in South Africa's domestic T20 league, SA20.
'Unsavoury Taste': Bavuma on Conrad's Remark
In his column for ESPNCricinfo, Bavuma acknowledged the media pressure to clarify Conrad's statement and agreed with the coach's subsequent apology, stating that 'he could have chosen a better word'.
'Shukri faced backlash for his 'grovel' comment. I felt the pressure from the media to explain the remarks made. I believed Shukri was best suited to provide context,' Bavuma explained.
'Initially, the comment had an unsavoury taste, but it reminded me of the competitiveness of the Test series and its importance to our team. After the ODI series, Shukri addressed the issue, and he acknowledged that he could have used a different term, which I concur with,' he added.
'Could Have Chosen a Better Word': Conrad Apologizes
Following his team's ODI series loss to India, Conrad expressed regret over his comments, emphasizing that it was 'never his intention to cause any malice'.
'Upon reflection, I did not mean to offend or come across as arrogant. I could have selected a better word, as it allowed for misinterpretation. My intention was simply to convey that we wanted India to spend considerable time in the field and face challenges. I must be cautious with my word choice, as context can be misconstrued,' Conrad stated, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.
'It's unfortunate that this incident overshadowed our Test team's remarkable victory. There was no malice intended, and I hope this matter can be resolved,' he concluded.
Throughout the series, Bavuma performed well, accumulating 102 runs across four innings at an average of 34.00, with a top score of 55*. His half-century was crucial during the Kolkata Test, where India struggled to chase down 124 runs set by South Africa, with skipper Shubman Gill absent due to a neck injury sustained shortly after batting.