Cricket has achieved a significant milestone. How might this impact its connection with South Africans? ©Getty
On April 23, 1992, South Africa was still under apartheid, with Nelson Mandela having been released from prison for just over two years. There was hope among black and brown South Africans for a better future ahead.
At that time, South Africa was excluded from international cricket due to the racial policies favored by the white electorate. Despite this, the national team played a few One Day Internationals (ODIs) in November 1991, followed by competing in the 1992 World Cup.
The cricketing landscape was quite different back then. Journalists traveled on the same flights as the teams and stayed in the same hotels, with no internet or modern communication tools. Press conferences were rare, and many reporters were seasoned veterans who rarely attended them.
In a memorable incident during the Bridgetown Test, two journalists missed an official press conference because they were dictating their stories over the phone. They knocked on the dressing-room door and spoke to team manager Alan Jordaan, who facilitated an impromptu interview with Andrew Hudson.
This moment marked a significant event for South African cricket, but just three days later, the team faced disappointment by failing to chase a modest target in their first Test match in over two decades.
Fast forward to the ICC Test match at Lord’s, where South Africa successfully chased down a 69-run target against Australia with relative ease. The team’s victory symbolizes a shift in their fortunes and raises questions about the relationship between cricket and South Africans.
