SA supremo, ’s family was threatened. Now he’d think twice. FAME AND INFAMY Not one South African “rebel” agreed with . In fact, many actively protested against it. Opinion is divided as to whether they should be ashamed of the choices they made to play against the world’s best at a time when they were starved of company and competition, or happy to have made the most of rare opportunities. CRISPIN ANDREWS speaks to some of the main players in the dramas of WSC and the rebel tours.

ny successful person from any walk , and had African stars could have hoped for was another of life will have memories from their long given up hope of their country returning to year playing domestic and A personal and professional lives that the Test arena. Even youngsters like Garth Le back home. make them feel fulfilled. Roux and looked at their futures Of those six, only Richards knew something For a cricketer, this might be a successful with pessimistic eyes. was brewing in Australia that would change game, series or season; maybe a match where All these players were in England for the their lives. He was playing in during they reached a treasured milestone or helped start of the 1977 season. It was a particularly the 1976-77 Australian season and had been win a big competition. Of these memories, the wet April, and Richards was starting his ninth approached by businessman Austin Robertson, player can feel proud, without inhibition or fear year at Hampshire, increasingly fed on behalf of television mogul Kerry of ridicule or judgement. up with the daily county grind. Packer, about playing for a world That is, unless you happen to be a South Procter was in his first season XI in an unofficial tournament African cricketer who played during the 1970s as Gloucestershire’s the following summer and 1980s, the decades during which the , his ninth at the in Australia. country was banned from international cricket county. Rice had been Richards had been as the rest of the cricketing world took a stand at Nottinghamshire WHEN THESE told all the world’s against its appalling Apartheid system. since 1975. Barlow PLAYERS RECALL best players would In the eyes of the world, a South African joined Derbyshire THEIR SPECIAL TIMES be involved, but cricketer of that vintage was, and still is, a in 1976. Le Roux, IN THE GAME, THEY he couldn’t tell South African first and a cricketer second. Even still at University ARE EXPECTED TO DO his mates. No one today, when these players recall their special in South Africa, was allowed to times in the game, all the more important to studying to SO WITH RETICENCE, know about it until them as the moments were fleeting, they are become a physical HUMILITY AND EVEN Packer had signed expected to do so with reticence, humility and education teacher, EMBARRASSMENT up all the players he even a tinge of embarrassment and guilt about would have a trial AND GUILT. wanted, sorted out what was going on in their country back then. with Barlow’s team their contracts and was In 1969-70, South Africa had thrashed Bill later in the year. Le ready to make his big Lawry’s Australians 4-0 to become unofficial Roux would later join Tony announcement to the world. world champions. Soon after, they were Greig-led Sussex in 1978. “At the start of the 1977 banned. They wouldn’t return until 1992. By Kepler Wessels was Greigy’s man season, there was still a concern then, African National Congress leader Nelson for 1977. that the cricket authorities might find out Mandela had been released from prison and Many of their county teammates, some of about and nip it in the measures were being taken to end Apartheid. them lesser talents, would play international bud”, Richards recalls. Back in the mid-’70s, though, established cricket during 1977, for England, Pakistan, Things started moving during late South African stars such as , or the West Indies; the best these South April, 1977. As the rain continued to fall,

INSIDE CRICKET 57 FEBRUARY 2018 Garth Le (South Africa’s domestic competition) for a few at football’s 1938 World Cup. And two years government wrongdoing was more vocal than Roux bowls Ian years, I wanted to go to Australia and see if I earlier, the world turned out for the Nazis’ ever and English governments were keen to Chappell in a WSC final. He was man- could play against the best.” very own Berlin Olympics, where, thankfully, pursue more co-operative policies towards of-the-series in Richards earned next-to-nothing playing for black American athletes Jesse Owens, Ralph Commonwealth partners. 1978-79. Natal. And at Hampshire, there was always an Metcalfe and a few others shoved a dose Of the older South African players, Barry administrator standing between players and of reality up some seriously deluded Aryan Richards retired after WSC, uninspired by the a pay rise. “I had been out of it [international backsides – not before the US had withdrawn thought of more domestic drudgery. Barlow and cricket] for a long time, and was in my mid- two Jewish runners from their crack relay team Procter, carried on. “I had nothing arranged for 30s,” he said. “I wasn’t quite sure if I was up to so as not to embarrass Hitler. life after cricket,” Procter says. “I just wanted to speed or not, but I didn’t want to miss out.” On the rugby field, the British Lions, France, keep playing for as long as I could.” It turned out that Richards was very much up Ireland and England toured Apartheid South Rice put his all into Nottinghamshire and to the challenge. He averaged 79.14 in his five Africa in the 1980s. The South African rugby Transvaal. Le Roux bowled for Western Supertests over the two seasons, although he team also toured New Zealand in 1981. Province and Sussex. Wessles joined fared less well in the limited-overs games and Back in the late ’70s, cricket was still the Queensland and spent the next four years against lesser players in the WSC Cavaliers. establishment’s game. It was also, however, qualifying to play for Australia. Procter and Rice chipped in with some good the game of the Commonwealth. It wasn’t too long, however, before a new performances with both bat and ball, as the Many well-to-do Englishmen still had opportunity appeared for these players to be World XI won five of its six Supertests. Barlow business interests in South Africa and some tested at, almost, the highest level. South did well when called on in the one-dayers, might have even secretly shared the South African Cricket Board officials had for a while although he got a pair in his only Super Test, African regime’s views. But dissent about been hoping to tempt top players from Test- the 1978-79 final. “Eddie was 38 by then and past his best,” Procter says. “But his attitude was always the same: competitive, excited. Clive Rice Whether it was the beginning or end of his was just career, Eddie was always Eddie.” grateful to be selected. Under Barlow, the WSC Cavaliers, a team of “second-string” players, were surprisingly competitive against the big-three WSC sides. – a The most notable South African successes in fast- WSC were the two youngsters. talent banned by Kepler Wessles, playing for Australia in year the West Indies board. two (he was called up for national service in South Africa and so missed the first year of WSC) because and it was one of the Hampshire guys taking the thought that Australia needed another opener, mickey”, Richards says. scored 126 against the West Indies. He was This was how Packer did business. The Australia’s second-top scorer in the 1978-79 following summer, Le Roux had hardly stepped Supertests and third in the one-day averages. off the plane for his trial at Sussex when a big The same year, Le Roux was the second-best limousine arrived at Tunbridge Wells where one-day bowler and topped the Supertest YOUNGSTERS Sussex seconds were playing Kent. “The driver list, out-bowling , , LIKE GARTH took me all the way to , and there in the and all the West Indians. LE ROUX AND hotel foyer was Mr Packer with Greigy”, Le Roux “When I first arrived in Australia I remember KEPLER WESSELS says. “Hey, Garth,” Packer called out. “Tony tells seeing in the hotel foyer, where me you can bowl fast. I’m going to take him at the teams were staying, looking at this brand LOOKED AT THEIR his word and give you a go.” new Holden Commodore, the reward for FUTURES WITH Packer then put £500 in Le Roux’s pocket, the man of the series,” Le Roux says. “Viv PESSIMISTIC told him to go out and have good time in obviously fancied his chances of winning that EYES. London and then get back to Sussex and get car. But he didn’t win it. I did.” the county contract that would make him Pretty much all the players say that WSC was ’s touring when Jamaican Prime eligible for WSC selection. the toughest cricket they ever played, a nod to Australians sat around in Minister Michael Manley A couple of years ago, I interviewed the the quality of the contest and a mark of respect English dressing rooms and objected to West Indian cricketers late Clive Rice. Here was one of the toughest to the players and their efforts. When those hotels, waiting for to playing against South Africans who cricketers speaking about his time in WSC with South Africans say this, however, also in there start. The English press looked forward to weren’t in , the WSC supremo the glee of a schoolboy in a sweet shop, after is an acknowledgement that they were as good the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations and had no choice but to leave out Pollock and years spent peering through the window. as the world’s best and better than the rest. debated whether Geoff Boycott would make Hobson. But Packer did pay their contracts Rice was just grateful to be there, loved Unfortunately, should any of them dare himself available for Test selection. in full. every second and was even scared that if he express the slightest resentment at how No one really noticed that a large Australian The Gleneagles Agreement was cited didn’t play well enough, he’d be sent home. politics ruined their sporting careers, they are businessman had started taking rooms at during in these negotiations. In June 1977, the Rice is said to have wept uncontrollably when castigated as selfish, insensitive and unaware, the Dorchester Hotel in London. Kerry Packer Commonwealth Heads of State had signed it, he found out in 1979 that Packer had come to at best. At worst, they are looked at as was in town to keep an eye on the Australian discouraging, but not outlawing, sporting links terms with the Australian Cricket Board and beneficiaries of and apologists for, Apartheid. players who had already agreed to play for him with South Africa. Presumably it was okay for that there wouldn’t be a third year. Or worse still, closet racists. and, with the help of , to recruit West Indian cricketers to play against, and As Procters says: “For us South Africans it The Apartheid system and the South African the world’s best players from English county with, South Africans in county cricket. You was a no-brainer.” Richards adds: “We didn’t regime was abhorrent, their actions and cricket. In 1977, all the top West Indians and can imagine what Viv Richards, , have anyone to play against.” attitudes indefensible; no reasonable person Pakistanis were there and, of course, most of and the rest would have told Mr Le Roux remembers telling Greig that he could claim otherwise. But teams from the the best South Africans. Manley, if he’d tried to take away their county would swim to Australia to play for Packer. so-called free world have played sport against Procter recalls meeting with Packer, Greig contracts. There were always contradictions. When Ali Bacher offered Le Roux a big contract other regimes responsible for widespread and Barlow, at the Dorchester, where they Richards remembers a call from Packer to stay in South Africa and play for Transvaal, death, destruction and the suppression discussed who should be in the World XI. early that summer, asking him to bring the fast bowler looked at the South African of human rights – such as Stalin’s Russia, “Denys Hobson and , we all Hampshire teammate, , to cricket supremo like he was mad. Pinochet’s Chile, Milosevic’s Yugoslavia and agreed”, Procter says. the Dorchester so Packer could sign up the “It was a very short conversation with Ali”, Mugabe’s Zimbabwe. Packer signed both, but later in the year, West Indian opener for WSC. “At first, I thought he says. “I had been playing in the Currie Cup Even Hitler’s Germany was allowed to play

INSIDE CRICKET 58 FEBRUARY 2018 INSIDE CRICKET 59 FEBRUARY 2018 Fan protests AT WORST, cut short the English rebel THEY ARE tour. LOOKED AT AS BENEFICIARIES playing countries to play unofficial Tests in Alvin Kallicharan OF AND alive. “The Currie Cup South Africa. When the first England tour was were still high-quality APOLOGISTS was a high standard, announced for 1981-82, the cricketing world players. Sylvester FOR APARTHEID. but we needed more,” joined forces with the opponents of Apartheid Clarke, and he says. “Fewer people to condemn the project. may not OR WORSE were watching, players Whereas WSC had been mocked as a circus, have been getting into STILL, CLOSET were dropping out early the 1980s games in South Africa were derided the West Indies team, such RACISTS. or going abroad to play. We as “rebel tours” and “pirate cricket”. The was the strength of their fast needed international cricket players, especially the West Indians and Sri bowling, but they still made for and big names.” Lankans, who toured in 1982-83 and 1983- a formidable pace attack. Only Barry Richards was less- 84, were castigated as mercenaries who “Sylvester Clarke was the fiercest than excited by the rebel tours. He was would happily take blood-money to prop up a competitor you could come across”, Le Roux 38 when the England team arrived and felt diabolical regime. says. “For a split-second you’d think you’re pressured by the South African Cricket Board The English players had short international hitting it and then, before you knew it, you’d to come out of retirement. “I played a few bans; the Sri Lankans and West Indians were be wearing it. We had some wars. Whoever got games against England and the West Indies. banned for life. Many of them, on returning the first in was one up. I loved The board wanted big South African names home, were ostracised by their communities. all that.” to hang the series on. I wasn’t interested in Some were forced to leave their countries. Procter believed that South Africa needed playing against Sri Lanka. They were a very “I understand why they did it,” Richards says. the rebel tours to keep cricket in the country poor side.” “Other people might think you are selling out your country, your race, but they might think, ‘I have to do this for my family’.” of the Le Roux adds: “You only have a small window West Indies in as a cricketer to make some cash, and honestly, front of adoring these guys were paid peanuts back in the South African fans. West Indies.” At the time, however, the South African players weren’t thinking of the repercussions. They were just excited at the chance of playing for their country. According to Le Roux, England was “a decent side, who knew their way around a cricket field”. However whilst the South African board marketed them as the actual England team, minus , in reality captain and off-spinner John Emburey, were the only Test regulars in their prime. Geoff Boycott, , , and Chris Old were at the end of their careers. The rest were on the fringes of the Test selection. South Africa won comfortably and the following year, hammered a weak Sri Lankan side. It was the West Indians who gave South Africa its sternest challenge. West Indian captain and

INSIDE CRICKET 60 FEBRUARY 2018 and Lawrence Rowe in before a rebel ODI match.

Kim Hughes led a rebel Australian team and, in many eyes, tainted his legacy.

There would be more rebel tours to South I ever saw. Openers and Henry on the idea at the time and to remind people Africa. An Australian team, under , Fotherigham were coming on the scene. I think that he dropped out of the Gatting tour after a came out in 1985-86 and 1986-87. Then the we would have tested the best.” couple of games. He now works in the media final tour, an England side under , In spite of what they were and might have in South Africa these days, and presumably took place in 1989 and faced fierce protests been, today, this collection of good, great and remembers how Richards and Rice were from locals. It eventually had to be cancelled all-time great cricketers, are largely ignored by ostracised after making remarks that upset after a few games. the cricketing authorities in their own country. the authorities. By the time the Australian team toured, They played when the country was ruled by an Richards, though, continues to be a vocal only Rice and Le Roux remained from South illegitimate regime, which in the authorities’ critic. “It’s just ridiculous. WSC shouldn’t be Africa’s World Series cohort. Wessles played for eyes, makes them illegitimate cricketers. first-class cricket – it should be .” Australia in ’86-87 and South Africa in 1989. South African Test numbers (the numbers Procter is forthright: “Listen to Cricket South Graeme Pollock, still going in his mid-forties, allocated to players upon being selected for the Africa today, and you’d think that we were the was the only player left from the 1970 Test side. national team) start with the 1992 team. The architects of apartheid. It’s as if, before 1992, South Africa was still too strong for Hughes’s likes of Graeme Pollock, Eddie Barlow, Barry cricket didn’t exist in South Africa.” Australians, but Le Roux, by then the veteran Richards and Mike Procter don’t have one. Procter does think, though, that the original leader of the attack, admits standards had Gerald Majola, ’s chief ban was fair and that at no point should slipped from what they’d been ten years earlier. executive after re-entry, even tried to get the Apartheid South Africa have been playing “We could hold our own with the West Indies’ at Lord’s to remove international cricket. Graeme Pollock believes second-string, but no one would have been pre-1970 Test matches involving South Africa most of the players protested in their own way, able to stand up to their Test team, with those from the record books. The rebel tours are but that perhaps, with hindsight they should fast bowlers and dominant batsmen, they were not recognised as first-class matches by the have done more (see his comments in Your Call, too good for anyone.” International Cricket Council. Nor is World page 24). Richards and Procter think, however, that the Series Cricket. Richards, Procter, Barlow and the rest were South Africa team of the early-to-mid-1970s Ali Bacher now says he would have thought sportsmen, not Nationalist politicians or racist would have beaten anyone from that time. twice about organising the rebel tours had chiefs of police. One injustice doesn’t have to “Great players were stepping out”, Richards he known how many people in South Africa lead to another. They didn’t play cricket with says, “Trevor Goddard, , Colin felt about them. Dr Bacher doesn’t speak to the Union flag draped over their shoulders, nor Bland, Ali Bacher and . But even the media any more after comments made carry copy of the 1950 Population Registration better players were coming through: Rice, last year, which he says resulted in a bad Act in their back pockets. They just played the Le Roux, Wessels, Vince Van der Bilj, Lee experience for him and his family. game very, very well and it’s for their talents Irvine, Ken McEwan and . Add Wessels doesn’t like to talk about the rebel and their deeds on the pitch that they deserved Denys Hobson, one of the better leg-spinners tours other than to say he wasn’t too keen to be remembered and revered.

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