South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad wanted his team to make India “grovel” on the fourth day by setting them the enormous 549-run goal that the struggling hosts are presently chasing in order to prevent the second Test and an impending series whitewash.
Conrad acknowledged that he was “stealing a phrase” from the notorious interview by late England captain Tony Greig prior to the 1976 home series against Clive Lloyd’s West Indies, which his team lost 0-3. However, Conrad’s comment may cause some resentment in what has been a mostly cordial series.
“We wanted India to spend as much time on their feet out in the field. We wanted them to really grovel, to steal a phrase, bat them completely out the game and then say to them well come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening,” Conrad literally rubbed it in at the post-play press conference when asked why South Africa batted for nearly 80 overs when they had already acquired a sizeable lead.
To “grovel” literally means to “lie or crawl on the ground in abject submission”, a word Greig — himself of white South African heritage — had used in reference to Caribbean players, invoking the painful history of slavery and South Africa’s own apartheid past.
It’s unclear if Cricket South Africa has a private conversation with their colored coach about making offensive remarks about an opposing national team that has experienced racism in the past.
Conrad was questioned on why they delayed the declaration and whether it would have an impact on India getting away with a draw.
“There were a few factors. We obviously were looking at how best we are going to use the new ball, so that in the morning we still get a newish, hard ball,” Conrad said.
After that, he provided an intriguing glimpse into his tactical acumen.
“We felt that when the shadows come across the pitch in the evening, there’s something in it for the quick bowlers. So we didn’t want to declare too early and not be able to use that (with hard ball).
“And then obviously we wanted India to spend as much time on their feet out in the field.”
Conrad is aware that India would make every effort to avoid being skittled out if they bat until number eight.
“So far so good but we also know they are just not going to roll over. We have to be at our very best tomorrow but those are the factors that we considered here.”
He acknowledged that the timing of the team’s declaration will be questioned if India wins, but he maintained that the goal was to wear down Indian bowlers.
“Some people would say you batted for too long. I don’t think it is. I don’t think there’s a right and a wrong in anything. We wanted India to come out again after that second break and again spend time on their feet.”
In the first innings, Bavuma and his team forced India to field for almost two full days, and they were rewarded. That was what he wanted to happen again.
“Their bowlers spent a lot of time out there. We saw the effects of batting for two full days in the first innings and what sort of effect it had on them.
“Yeah it was never going to be easy for the opening batters to come this evening (with) especially new ball shadows across the wicket,” he explained.
“So if tomorrow evening, it comes that we have them eight down and people say well see ‘we told you so’. Well, I mean we have got to base it on our sound judgment and if that doesn’t work out well, it doesn’t,” Conrad said with a cheeky smile.
