When people power sunk South Africa
We look back to the year that the actions of the Australian people led to the cancellation of a cricket tour
Martin Williamson
01-Oct-2005
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The 1970 series was accorded Test status and marketed as such. England awarded caps, although these were subsequently removed from the record books. Spare a thought for Glamorgan's Alan Jones who made his Test debut at Lord's that summer. He made 0 and 5 and it was to be his only appearance for England - and three years later he was told it didn't count after all. He still has the cap, sweater and blazer, though.
Despite the growing global awareness of, and anger over, apartheid, the proposed tour of Australia by South Africa in 1971-72 was still officially on as late as September 1971. However, massive political unrest allied to civil disturbances inside Australia - which came to a head during South Africa's rugby tour in June that year and led to a state of emergency being declared in Queensland - made it apparent that a Test series that summer was unsustainable.
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Grounds were swathed in two-metre high fences and barbed wire; the police struggled to retain control during matches by the Springboks, even baton charging demonstrators outside Melbourne's Olympic Park; the trade union, led by Bob Hawke - who went on to be Australia's prime minister - urged members to boycott any work associated with the tour, arguing they should "take whatever action is necessary as an act of conscience"; airlines and hotels cancelled bookings by the South Africans. The cost of protecting the tourists rocketed.
A weary Tommy Bedford, the Springboks' vice-captain, highlighted the pressure of having to tour against such a backdrop. "It's been like playing James Bond 24 hours a day. Our game lasts only 80 minutes ... but how could cricketers play Tests lasting five days?"
Back in South Africa, the cricket board did all it could to salvage the tour, even going as far as naming a squad which contained two coloured players, Dik Abed and Owen Williams. But the government refused to allow the pair to be picked - as it turned out Abed and Williams rejected the proposal anyway. On April 3 the government sponsored a match between Transvaal and The Rest to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the forming of the Republic of South Africa. After one ball all the players left the field in protest.
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Reaction was, at best, lukewarm. The 1970 series in England (which was not a full tour as the side only turned out in the five Tests, returning to county duty in between matches) attracted much smaller crowds that expected, and many pundits thought that spectators would stay away in droves from what leading writer Ray Robinson described as "giggle matches".
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Despite early reservations, the tour turned out to be a financial success and attendances were good. But for a number of reasons - chiefly the expanding international cricket schedule and the hardening stance against any cricketer with any associations with South Africa - it was an experiment which was not repeated - until now.
Rest of the World squad Hylton Ackerman (RSA), Asif Masood (Pak), Bishan Bedi (Ind), Bob Cunis (NZ), Farokh Engineer (Ind), Sunil Gavaskar (Ind), Norman Gifford (Eng), Tony Grieg (Eng), Richard Hutton (Eng), Intikhab Alam (Pak), Rohan Kanhai (WI), Clive Lloyd (WI), Graeme Pollock (RSA), Peter Pollock (RSA), Garry Sobers (capt, WI), Bob Taylor (Eng), Zaheer Abbas (Pak).
South Africa squad to tour Australia in 1971-72 Ali Bacher (capt), Eddie Barlow*, Hylton Ackerman, Dassie Biggs, Grahame Chevalier, Peter de Vaal, Lee Irvine, Denis Lindsay, Graeme Pollock, Peter Pollock, Mike Proctor, Clive Rice, Barry Richards, Pat Trimborn, Vince van der Bijl.
* Eddie Barlow subsequently withdrew for business reasons and was replaced by Arthur Short.
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Bibliography
Playfair Cricket Monthly -Various
The Cricketer - Various
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Playfair Cricket Monthly -Various
The Cricketer - Various
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Martin Williamson is managing editor of Cricinfo