South Africa had last played international cricket in 1969/70, a year before the first ever ODI. By the time they emerged from the abnormality of Apartheid to return to international cricket, over two decades later, ODIs had been threatening to oust Test cricket as the most popular cricket format.
South Africa lost that comeback ODI series, in India in 1991/92, but they captured the imagination of the fans. The schedule of the 1992 World Cup was redrawn to accommodate them; they responded by reaching the semi-finals. Allan Donald and Jonty Rhodes had become household names by then.
In April, South Africa played a Test match, in Bridgetown. They should have won the Test match, had they not collapsed spectacularly against Curtly Ambrose. And finally, on 13 November 1992, Test cricket returned to South Africa.
Fittingly, India – with whom South Africa share a long history beyond cricket – were the touring side. It was a curious experience for the Indians, some of whose passports bore the text ‘valid in all countries except the Republic of South Africa’, a reminder of India’s perennially strong anti-Apartheid stance.
The first Test match was played in Durban, a city with a significant Indian population. The Indian contingent – cricketers and media personnel – received a warm welcome.
The Test match marked a few firsts. India became the first non-white team to play a Test match on South African soil (a team of Sri Lankans had played Rebel ‘Tests’ in 1982/83), while Omar Henry became the first coloured man to play Test cricket for South Africa since ‘Buck’ Llewellyn in 1912.
The series began in dramatic fashion. The first ball, bowled by Kapil Dev, took the edge of Jimmy Cook’s bat and went to Sachin Tendulkar at second slip (Cook was not happy), making 39-year-old Cook the first cricketer to get out on the first ball of his debut Test match. Then South African captain Kepler Wessels scored 118 to become the first cricketer to score Test hundreds for two countries (after Australia).
Television umpires were used for the first time in Test cricket. When square-leg umpire Cyril Mitchley referred a run out decision on Day 2, Karl Liebenberg created history by ruling Tendulkar run out.
South Africa got 254 before reducing India to 38/4, then 146/7, but debutant Pravin Amre batted for over six hours for his 103 to take India to 277. Less than a year ago, Amre had scored a fifty on his – and South Africa’s ODI debut. Then rain washed out all of Day 4, and the match ended in a draw.
At Johannesburg, the Indian fast bowlers reduced South Africa to 26/4. Soon, Javagal Srinath hit the stumps with Jonty Rhodes outside the crease, but for some reason, Steve Bucknor refused to refer the decision. Rhodes went on to score 91 and Brian McMillan 98, and South Africa reached 292. Towards the end of the innings, a bouncer from Srinath hit Meyrick Pringle on the eye, ruling him out of the Test match.
Tendulkar then played a lone hand, scoring 111 out of a total of 227, none of his teammates reaching 25. By stumps on Day 3 South Africa led by 140 with nine wickets in hand. And yet, on Day 4, they did not push for a win, as Anil Kumble (44-22-53-6) strangled them with the first of his many great spells in Test cricket. India, requiring 318 to win in just over a day, did not make any serious attempt.
Port Elizabeth witnessed the only decided Test match of the series. After having a relatively quiet series, Allan Donald demolished India with 5-55 and 7-84. India were bowled out for 212 before Hansie Cronje grafted for almost nine hours for his 135. Despite that, India restricted South Africa’s lead to only 63.
It did not matter, for India caved in against Donald in the second innings. At 31/6, even an innings defeat seemed probable – but Kapil decided otherwise. In a series where runs were scored at an excruciating 2.09 an over, Kapil’s 180-ball 129 was easily the brightest innings. Unfortunately, the second-highest score was only 17, and India were bowled out for 215. South Africa won by nine wickets.
Wessels decided to play safe in the fourth Test match, not declaring until the fag end of Day 2 on a Newlands pitch where run-scoring was difficult due to lack of pace and bounce. India did not do better, taking almost 152 overs for their 276.
And when South Africa batted again on the fourth evening, they went even slower, crawling at 1.34 an over for 97 overs, sucking life out of the Test match. However, given the context, and what was at stake, one could hardly blame them for not playing bright cricket.
1st Test: South Africa 254 and 176/3 drew with India 277. Player of the Match: Pravin Amre.
2nd Test: South Africa 292 and 252 drew with India 227 and 141/4. Player of the Match: Brian McMillan.
3rd Test: India 212 and 215 lost to South Africa 275 and 155/1 by 9 wickets. Player of the Match: Allan Donald.
4h Test: South Africa 360/9 decl. and 130/6 decl. drew with India 276 and 29/1. Player of the Match: Javagal Srinath.
South Africa won the series 1-0. Player of the Series: Allan Donald.
South Africa won the ODI series 5-2. Player of the Series: Kepler Wessels.