Gibbs Adds Colour To South Africa's Test Squad (7 December 1998)
EAST LONDON - South Africa's selectors reacted to the contentious debate over the all-white composition of their team by including for Thursday's second Test against the West Indies a batsman of mixed race, classified as coloured under the loathed
07-Dec-1998
7 December 1998
Gibbs Adds Colour To South Africa's Test Squad
By Tony Cozier
EAST LONDON - South Africa's selectors reacted to the contentious
debate over the all-white composition of their team by including for
Thursday's second Test against the West Indies a batsman of mixed
race, classified as coloured under the loathed old apartheid system.
The choice of Herschelle Gibbs, a 24-year-old right-hander from
Cape Town, carries a touch of irony as he comes in as opener to
replace Adam Bacher, nephew of Ali Bacher, chief executive of
the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA). Bacher has
pressed hard for the upliftment of the game outside the favoured
white establishment.
Otherwise, there is no change to the 12 chosen for the first
Test from whom left-arm spinner Paul Adams, also coloured, was
omitted.
Gibbs, whose first representative tour was with the Under-19s to
the West Indies in 1992, has already played seven Tests but
batted in the middle order without living up to expectations.
His 54 against Australia at Sydney last year is his highest
score.
The selection came against a backdrop of strong political
pressure for non-white representation in cricket and rugby Test
teams.
After a meeting on Saturday, the UCBSA announced it would set up
a committee that, in some circumstances, would be able to ensure
that "players of colour" are included in future. That would
extend to clear directives to the selectors.
Steve Tshwete, the sports minister in the African National
Congress (ANC) government, has been outspoken since the first
Test that what he termed "lily white" South African sporting
teams will be unacceptable in future.
He said last week that governmental non-interference "should not
be used as a ploy to keep black players on the benches as drinks
boys".
Cricket authorities appear to have taken the point.
Tshwete also warned yesterday that "it is a cauldron" (of racial
tension) in Port Elizabeth, venue for the second Test.
"The people there are angry at the situation in cricket and
rugby," he said. "The feeling of alienation is very strong."
Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)