When South Africa was released from cricketing isolation in 1992, its first Test match was played against the West Indies, in Barbados. It was probably one of the most thrilling matches ever played anywhere, with the West Indies snatching victory by 52 runs, just as the South Africans looked like certain winners.
Now the South African cricket team is back in the Caribbean, on its first full tour of the region and its first full Test series against the West Indies on Caribbean soil.
The West Indies and South Africa have been through enormous stress and trauma over the last year or so, for very different reasons. The West Indies have been losing heavily on overseas tours, most recently against England and Australia; when they last played South Africa, in 1998/99, they went down 5-0. They will want to repay that debt in this year’s encounter, especially playing at home, where they still have a creditable record.
The South Africans, meanwhile, have suffered the humiliating loss of their inspirational captain, Hansie Cronje, in very distressing circumstances, and will want to remove that blot on the fine record they have maintained since 1992. Shaun Pollock, their talented new captain, has so far done a wonderful job of refocusing his troops for the tasks at hand, and his team is considered to be close behind Australia as the best in the world.
In a strange way, South Africa has managed to combine the natural flair of West Indies cricket with the sometimes dour and dogged style of the English and the Australians. That combination has made them a wonderfully unpredictable team, full of vigour, fun and fine performances.
The South Africans have good reason to remember the Caribbean. That 1992 Test, which marked their re-entry into international cricket, was the debut game for all the South African players of the time except captain Keppler Wessels, who had played previously for Australia (it also saw the Test debut of the current West Indies captain Jimmy Adams). This year, the only survivor of 1992 is Allan Donald, who has already joined the celebrated 300-Test-wicket club. But Neil McKenzie, the pugnacious middle-order batsman, Shaun Pollock, the captain and new spiritual leader of the team, and opener Gary Kirsten, have all built solid reputations for themselves, and Jaques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Darryl Cullinan, Lance Kluesner, Nicky Boje and emerging talent like Makaya Ntini and Botha Dippenaar are just waiting for the opportunities in the Caribbean.
Since their last meeting in South Africa two years ago, the West Indies team has seen some big changes too, with several stalwarts now in retirement and a new generation — Marlon Black, Merve Dillon, Darren Ganga, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Nixon McLean — along with the seasoned Adams, Brian Lara and Sherwin Campbell, anxious to put the West Indies back on winning form.
Whatever the outcome, this trial of strength between South Africa and the West Indies should generate great excitement for cricket lovers in the Caribbean.
