Temba Bavuma Reflects on Controversial 'Grovel' Comment After Test Series Victory
Bavuma Discusses 'Grovel' Remarks Following Series Win
In New Delhi, South African captain Temba Bavuma shared his thoughts on the controversial 'grovel' comment made by head coach Shukri Conrad after their recent Test series victory over India. 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.
South Africa achieved a 2-0 whitewash, marking their first series win in India since the 1999/00 season. This defeat was India's second whitewash in Test series within two years, following a 0-3 loss to New Zealand.
While this victory is celebrated as a historic moment for South African cricket, it was not without its controversies. Conrad's comments during the Guwahati Test, where he expressed a desire for the team to make India 'really grovel', drew criticism.
Despite being in a strong position, South Africa delayed their declaration, which led to Conrad's remarks. The team ultimately delivered a crushing defeat to India by 408 runs, but the comments sparked backlash from fans and cricket analysts alike.
The term 'grovel' has historical connotations, first used by England's Tony Greig during the 1976 tour of the West Indies, which was viewed as racially insensitive at the time.
Several prominent figures in cricket, including Sunil Gavaskar and Dale Steyn, criticized Conrad's choice of words, especially given the camaraderie that has developed between the two nations, particularly in the context of the IPL and South Africa's domestic T20 league, SA20.
In his column for ESPNCricinfo, Bavuma acknowledged the media pressure to clarify the situation and agreed with Conrad's subsequent apology, stating that a better word could have been chosen.
'When I first heard it, it had an unsavoury taste, but it reminded me of the competitiveness of the Test series and its importance to our team,' Bavuma explained. He noted that Conrad addressed the issue after the ODI series, indicating that he could have phrased it differently.
Conrad later expressed regret for his comments, emphasizing that he never intended to offend. He reflected on the need for careful word choice, acknowledging that his remarks could be misinterpreted.
'It’s unfortunate that the focus shifted to the coach instead of the players,' he concluded, reiterating that humility is essential for all South African teams.
During the series, Bavuma performed well, accumulating 102 runs across four innings with an average of 34.00, including a top score of 55*. His half-century was crucial in the Kolkata Test, where India struggled to chase down 124 runs without their captain Shubman Gill, who was sidelined due to a neck injury.