Remember South Africa’s visit to India at the beginning of last year
Peter Robinson03-Aug-2001Remember South Africa’s visit to India at the beginning of last year? Right, that was the Match-Fixing tour. And what about South Africa in the West Indies this year? Ah yes, the Dope-Smoking tour.OK, then, the players might have been a little too busy undermining their own achievements for comfort, but at least the administrators have got their heads screwed on the right way, haven’t they? Um, who knows? A sizeable section of the South African public has been persuaded that the real villain of the piece in the Hansiegate scandal is the United Cricket Board, aided and abetted by those nasty people in the media. The Devil’s role in the affair has been all but forgotten.And that’s not even to mention the slanging match that broke out last weekend between Percy Sonn and the man-who-would-be-UCB-president, Dr Mtutulezi Nyoka.If all of this suggests that the credibility of South African is at its lowest ebb since, at least, readmission, well, that’s probably not too far off the mark. All things considered, it would not be difficult to paint a picture of South African cricket as a sport riddled with avarice, animosity and personal ambition, with undertones of racialism thrown in for good measure. For once rugby and football have a realistic third contender in their annual challenge to see which sport most frequently and accurately shoots itself in the foot.All of which points to the annual meeting of the UCB, at the Wanderers Club on Saturday morning, being as important to the future of the game in this country as any since the two opposing forces of South African cricket joined together.This week has seen an election campaign as ugly as anything dreamed up by Tony Leon’s Democratic Alliance. Dr Mtutulezi Nyoka, whose experience in cricket administration stretches back three years, launched a succession of attacks on UCB president Percy Sonn which grew more virulent every time you turned on the television and radio.Sonn is no one’s idea of a meek and gentle man and his style of presidency has often left sections of the UCB wincing with embarrassment. It is also true that the UCB’s handling of the dope-smoking incident, in which Sonn played a central part, left a lot to be desired.But Nyoka’s challenge seemed to consist entirely of accusations, both professional and personal, and very little evidence was forthcoming to back up his charges. Sonn, for perhaps the first time in living memory, chose to be silent, in the circumstances the best thing he could have done.What has been bewildering about Nyoka’s approach is that he claims to base it on integrity and honesty while all the while trying to tear another man’s reputation to shreds. His behaviour has been extraordinary and it has had the effect of scaring the wits out of people who might otherwise have seen his bid for the presidency in a sympathetic light. Opinion in cricket circles this week tended to be divided between viewing Nyoka as someone either terminally naïve or a man who might well have lost his marbles.The damage caused by these shenanigans, however, has been considerable, to South African cricket generally, to the Gauteng Cricket Board who put him forward for the position and to the same transformation process to which he claims to be passionately committed.The harm done this week stretches further than simply disillusionment with the governing body. It is one of the oldest saws in sport that disruptions in the boardroom eventually filter down to performances on the field, and there is an urgent need for the UCB to redefine itself as an example of strong leadership.No one should gainsay the results of the national team since the 1999 World Cup. Since the crushing disappointment of Edgbaston, South Africa have won Test series against Zimbabwe, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the West Indies with a draw in Sri Lanka thrown in for good measure.The problem is, however, two of the most notable successes – in India and the West Indies – have been clouded by waves of adverse publicity. The players have to understand that success is a double-edged sword, that the better they play, the more interest will be taken in them, on and off the field. This is what happens in the real world.Questions, unfortunately, have arisen regarding Gulam Rajah’s management style. A thoroughly decent, caring man, Rajah has always seen his role in terms of keeping the unpleasant realities of the outside world away from the team in order that they are able to concentrate exclusively on playing the game.This means that Rajah is often required to be Mom and Dad at the same time, twin, but conflicting roles. This has led to the argument that while Rajah should be allowed to continue in his existing role, a Board member should accompany the team, if only as a reminder to the players that there are issues out there broader than the simple matter of winning or losing. (It should be pointed out, by the way, that Rajah’s response to the dope-smoking incident was exemplary. He had nothing to do with the delay in public disclosure that led to the accusations of a UCB cover-up.)That there is some cause for concern was illustrated a few days ago when Jacques Kallis blithely announced that the national side would welcome Hansie Cronje back with open arms. And he claimed to be speaking on behalf of the team.Whatever the opinions might be of Cronje’s return to cricket, it would be difficult to find anyone either side of the divide who would not agree that the South African middle order would look stronger with Cronje batting at five. That, however, not the point. It simply does not seem to have occurred to Kallis that Cronje’s return might, in a worst-case scenario, result in South Africa being cast once again into isolation.This week the England Cricket Board announced with some glee that it had persuaded Rodney Marsh to cross the floor and run the English academy. Marsh, an Aussie down to his XXXX cans, was asked whether it would not bother him helping to restore the fortunes of Australia’s oldest enemy.Marsh’s response was that as a player he had been concerned with team and country. Now, however, he was more interested in the game itself. It’s a point of view the UCB, its presidential candidates and the South African team would all do well to bear in mind.