South Africa‘s cricket coach has stoked racial tensions with a billion cricket fans by stating that his team wanted to make India ‘really grovel’ during their Test series.
The visitors had India tottering at 2-27 after setting the hosts a mammoth target of 549 in the second Test on Tuesday, moving to the brink of a first series win in the country for 25 years.
Coach Shukri Conrad was asked about his team’s decision to keep India in the field when he used the term, which has heavy racial implications in cricket that date back to the 1970s.
‘We wanted them to really grovel … 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 told reporters after the day’s play in Guwahati.
‘So far so good but we also know they’re not just going to roll over. We’re going to have to be at our very best tomorrow.’
It is not known whether Conrad was aware of the racial aspect of his statement at the time.
South Africa cricket coach Shukri Conrad (pictured) inflamed racial tensions with a billion cricket fans by saying his team wanted to make India ‘really grovel’ as they close in on a Test series win
Conrad’s use of the word set off a firestorm online as fans and experts voiced their dismay
The coach used the term as his team (pictured) set India a mammoth total of 549 to win the second Test
His use of the word ‘grovel’ drew swift and severe condemnation online.
‘South Africa, the land of Nelson Mandela and also Mahatma Gandhi, suffered so much due to apartheid. A South African should be the last one to say: “We wanted them (India) to grovel.” Maybe Mr Conrad didn’t mean the racial undertone. Hope so,’ Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta wrote on X.
‘South African head coach Shukri Conrad saying “We wanted India to grovel” in the press conference is a huge misstep. Grovel carries a long history of deeply offensive, racial undertones. Maybe a slip of the tongue, but a costly one,’ added another Indian reporter, Gargi Raut.
‘Just look at what the South African coach said. He literally said they didn’t declare because they wanted the Indian team to “grovel” a bit more. Just google the meaning … As a fan, that’s honestly humiliating. A visiting coach comes to our home, says this on our face…. That’s the real embarrassment,’ a cricket fan commented.
Other cricket fans and experts pointed out another racially charged incident involving the word.
When the West Indies toured England in 1976, South Africa-born Three Lions captain Tony Greig vowed to make the Caribbean team ‘grovel’.
Given the colonial history between England and the countries the West Indies represent, his use of the term caused huge offence.
The Windies responded by terrifying barrage of short-pitched bowling and aggressive batting as they steamrolled England to win the Test series 3-0.
Many commentators revisited a previous racially charged incident involving ‘grovel’ being directed at the West Indian team
Former England skipper Tony Greig (pictured left while commentating with Australian greats Mark Taylor, Richie Benaud, Ian Chappell and Bill Lawry) left the Windies furious by using the word in the lead-up to their 1976 Test series
Pictured: India’s Ravindra Jadeja during day three of the Test in Guwahati as his team was forced to field while South Africa ran up their huge total
‘Really hope this Indian team remembers what the South Africa coach said and give them back for the next 10 years on the field. This is what happened when last time an opposition tried to make a team “grovel”,’ one fan wrote on X.
‘Tony Greig – 1976, to West Indies team “I intend to make them grovel” South African Coach Shukri Conrad – 2025, to Indian team “We wanted them to really grovel” 50 years apart, both South Africans, both racists,’ another alleged.
South Africa declared on 260-5 in the final session on day four of the Test after Tristan Stubbs made 94.
The World Test champions lead the two-match series 1-0 and even a draw would seal their first series victory in India since 2000.
The Proteas kept on batting despite the lead crossing 500 in the second session.
India suffered their fourth defeat in six home Tests in the opener in Kolkata, after a humiliating 3-0 series loss to New Zealand last year, and they need to bat for three more sessions to avoid another loss.
India had been unbeaten in home Test series for 12 years before being swept by the Black Caps.
The highest successful run chase in Test cricket was West Indies’ 418 against Australia in 2003. India’s highest chase was 406 against West Indies in 1976.
Sai Sudharsan (2) and nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav (4) were battling for survival when bad light ended play in the northeastern city, where the sun sets early.
