South African rebel tours

The South African rebel tours were a series of cricket tours staged during the 1980s when South Africa was banned from international cricket due to the apartheid regime. The Government of South Africa sponsored a number of touring international teams organised by the South African Cricket Union, led by Dr Ali Bacher. The tours were strongly opposed by the ANC and other anti-apartheid groups.

The South African government's involvement in the tours was politically motivated. The matches served a propaganda purpose, helped to split the solidarity of the international campaign of isolating South Africa, and satisfied white South Africans' desire for international sport. However, Bacher saw the tours as essential to cricket itself, to "keep the game alive in South Africa". [ [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/wisdencricketer/content/story/139086.html Cricinfo.com: Rebels take a step too far.] ]

The presence of players who had sporting links to South Africa caused diplomatic problems throughout this period, such as the cancellation of England's 1988–89 tour of India after the Indian government refused to issue visas for any England players, "having or likely to have contact with South Africa". [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/236950.html Cricinfo.com: No admission–England NOT in India 1988–89.] ]

England tour 1982

The first major tour was by an English team led by Graham Gooch in March 1982. The team consisted of current (at the time) and former England Test cricketers. Many of the touring party, such as batsmen Geoff Boycott, Peter Willey, Dennis Amiss and Bob Woolmer, fast bowlers Chris Old, Mike Hendrick and John Lever, spinner Derek Underwood and wicketkeeper Alan Knott were approaching the end of their Test careers. Gooch (average 67.60) and Amiss (average 75.33) were the most successful English players in the unofficial "Tests", won by South Africa 1–0. South Africa won all three of the limited overs matches [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1980S/1981-82/OTHERS+ICC/ENG-XI_IN_RSA/ Cricinfo.com: Rebel England XI in South Africa 1980–1981.] ] and fielded a number of well-known players such as batsmen Barry Richards, Peter Kirsten, Jimmy Cook and Graeme Pollock, as well as all-rounder Clive Rice.

The English players were banned from official international cricket for three years. Gooch returned to the England team for the Texaco Trophy ODI against Australia in May 1985. He went on to a long and distinguished Test career. However many of the party did not play international cricket again. One effect of the ban was the opportunity given to Graeme Fowler, Eddie Hemmings and Vic Marks to make their England debuts during the 1982 season.

Arosa Sri Lanka tour 1982

Led by Bandula Warnapura in October and November 1982, the tour came shortly after Sri Lanka's elevation to Test status. All of the tourists were banned for life from international cricket. The team was not strong and South Africa convincingly won both "Tests" and all three limited overs matches. The Sri Lankan side also lost to several provincial teams. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1980S/1982-83/OTHERS+ICC/AROSA-SL_IN_RSA/ Cricinfo.com: Arosa Sri Lanka in South Africa 1982.] ]

West Indian tours 1982–83 & 1983–84

The West Indian players were mainly talented understudies struggling to break in to the great West Indian Test team of the period, or men past their prime as Test players. The squad comprised Lawrence Rowe (captain), Alvin Kallicharran (vice-captain), Hartley Alleyne, Richard Austin, Faoud Bacchus, Herbert Chang, Sylvester Clarke, Colin Croft, Alvin Greenidge, Bernard Julien, Collis King, Monte Lynch, Everton Mattis, Ezra Moseley, David Murray, Albert Padmore, Derick Parry, Franklyn Stephenson, Emmerson Trotman and Ray Wynter. First-class cricketers in the West Indies were then poorly paid and the participants, many of whom had irregular or no employment in the off-season, received between US$100,000 and $120,000 dollars for the two tours. Rowe has since stated that he and several other players were disillusioned with the West Indies Cricket board for not selecting them despite good performances [ [http://caribbeancricket.com/news/0000/00/00/1420 Caribbeancricket.com: "Yagga" Rowe tackles apartheid, part 3.] ]

The two-match 1982-83 "Test" series ended 1-1. In the second "Test", King hit 101 and Clarke took 12 wickets. The limited over series was won by South Africa 4–2. Stephenson took 6/9 in the last match of the series. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1980S/1982-83/OTHERS+ICC/WI-XI_IN_RSA/ Cricinfo.com: Rebel West Indies XI in South Africa 1983.] ] The West Indian side turned the tables in 1983–84 by winning the "Test" series 2–1, with Clarke taking five wickets in an innings four times. The limited over series was won by the West Indian side 4-1. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1980S/1983-84/OTHERS+ICC/WI-XI_IN_RSA/ Cricinfo.com: West Indies XI in South Africa 1983–84.] ]
Graham Gooch played against the West Indies team during both tours as a member of a South African provincial side

The participants received a life ban from Caribbean cricket in 1983. In many instances, they were ostracised socially and professionally, such was the hostility toward players that complied with the South African apartheid system. In contrast, the players commented on a warm reception from both blacks and whites in South Africa and the tour may have been a positive influence on relations between races. It was one of the few occasions when white and black people had played sport together in South Africa. The players' bans were lifted in 1989 but the only tour member who played for West Indies again was Moseley, at the age of 32. Stephenson and Clarke had very successful first-class careers in South Africa. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/286356.html Cricinfo.com: The unforgiven.] ]

Australian tours 1985–86 & 1986–87

The tours by the Australians were led by former Test captain Kim Hughes, with South Africa winning both "Test" series 1–0. The squad included several players who represented Australia at Test level, such as fast bowlers Terry Alderman, Rodney Hogg and Carl Rackemann, leg-spinner Trevor Hohns and opening batsman John Dyson. The tour weakened the Australian Test side by depriving it of several of its best players. [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1980S/1985-86/OTHERS+ICC/AUS-XI_IN_RSA/AUS-XI_IN_RSA_NOV1985-JAN1986_TOUR-STATS.html Cricinfo.com: Australian XI in South Africa 1985–86 tour statistics.] ] Hughes accused the ACB of fostering dissatisfaction among the players, making recruitment for the rebel tours easy. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/266824.html Cricinfo.com: The crying game.] ] Hughes never played international cricket again and later returned to South Africa to play for Natal. However, Alderman, Hohns and Rackemann represented Australia in later series.

England tour 1990

In 1990, the final tour was led by former England captain Mike Gatting. The team included former and current England players such as batsmen Tim Robinson, Bill Athey and Chris Broad, wicketkeeper Bruce French, and the fast bowlers Paul Jarvis, Graham Dilley and Neil Foster. England lost the only "Test", in which Allan Donald made his debut for South Africa, taking eight wickets. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1980S/1989-90/OTHERS+ICC/ENG-XI_IN_RSA/ENG-XI_RSA_REBEL-T_08-10FEB1990.html Cricinfo.com: Scorecard.] ] England lost the limited overs series 3–1. [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1980S/1989-90/OTHERS+ICC/ENG-XI_IN_RSA/ Cricinfo.com: England XI in South Africa 1989–90.] ] Most of the squad did not play for England again. Gatting served a three-year ban from Test cricket before his recall to the England side for the tour of India and Sri Lanka in 1992–93, along with John Emburey. Emburey made both rebel tours and served two suspensions. Foster subsequently played a solitary Test, against Australia at Lord's in 1993.

The tour was a financial disaster as it coincided with the "unbanning" of the ANC and mass demonstrations against the matches, as South Africa began the dismantling of apartheid. Bacher was surprised at the scale of the protests, as previous rebel tours had passed smoothly. [ [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/wisdencricketer/content/story/139086.html Cricinfo.com: Rebels take a step too far.] ]

The squad for the rebel tour was announced during the fourth Test of the 1989 Ashes series in England. Players in the squad were not considered for the rest of the series, which allowed future long-term England players Michael Atherton and Devon Malcolm an opportunity to make their England debuts.

South Africa returns to international cricket

South Africa resumed official cricket in 1991 with a short tour of India, and participation in the 1992 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. All of the matches played during the rebel tours were granted first-class status, which was subsequently withdrawn by the International Cricket Council in 1993. In August 2007, the ICC is reviewing the status of all matches played in South Africa between 1961 and 1991, including those played during the rebel tours, with a view to restoring first-class status to some matches. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/308994.html Cricinfo.com: Rebel tours to South Africa may get ICC recognition.] ]

References

Further reading

*Lowles, Nick (2001) " [http://www.searchlightmagazine.com/index.php?link=template&story=93 Blood Money] " "Searchlight".

External links

* [http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21550661-5003416,00.html Article on the West Indian rebels.]
* [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/westindies/content/story/286356.html Cricinfo article on the West Indies rebel tours.]
* [http://caribbeancricket.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1414 Caribbeancricket.com interview with Lawrence Rowe that includes discussion of the rebel tours.]
* [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/wisdencricketer/content/story/139086.html Cricinfo interview with Ali Bacher and players about the 1989 England rebel tour.]