In the aftermath of a fiercely contested cricket tour, South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has found himself at the center of a heated debate, following his controversial use of the word "grovel" during the team’s historic Test series win over India. Speaking publicly for the first time since making the remark, Conrad addressed the backlash that has overshadowed what was otherwise a landmark achievement for South African cricket.
The controversy stems from Conrad's post-match comments after South Africa’s emphatic 408-run victory in the second Test, a match that not only handed India their heaviest home defeat but also secured South Africa their first Test series win on Indian soil in 25 years. Reflecting on his team’s strategy of batting deep into their second innings and setting India a mammoth target of 549 runs, Conrad had said, “We wanted the Indians 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, 'come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening.'”
While Conrad’s intent was to highlight the team’s determination to make things tough for India, the use of the word “grovel” struck a nerve among cricket fans and former players alike. The term carries historical baggage, having been infamously used by England’s Tony Greig in 1976 in a racially charged context during the West Indies tour of England. For many, Conrad’s choice of words was not just unfortunate—it reopened old wounds and threatened to overshadow the spirit of competition between two cricketing nations that have long prided themselves on mutual respect and friendship.
“On reflection, it was never my intention to cause any malice or not be humble about anything. I could have chosen a better word because it left it open for people to put their own context to it,” Conrad admitted after South Africa’s 2-1 ODI series loss in Visakhapatnam. He continued, “The only context I ever intended it to be was that we wanted India to spend a lot of time in the field and make it really tough for them. I've got to be careful what word I use here now because context could be attached to that as well.”
The backlash was swift and came from notable cricketing figures on both sides. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar and South African legend Dale Steyn were among those who publicly criticized Conrad’s remark. The controversy even reached the South African dressing room, with Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma fielding questions on the subject. Bavuma, however, was clear in his stance, stating that it was an issue for the coach to address.
Throughout the ordeal, Conrad sought counsel from his inner circle, including family and trusted staff members. He acknowledged the damage caused by his words, saying, “It's really a pity. Maybe what it did do was spice up the ODI series, and especially with India winning that now, the T20 series becomes even more so. The unfortunate thing is, with all the noise that that word caused, I still think it's a perfectly good English word, but I just left it open to too many interpretations. What it did was take away the gloss of what was a really special win for our Test team. It's unfortunate, but there was definitely no malice intended.”
Cricket South Africa (CSA) was reportedly displeased with the remark, particularly given the strong ties between the two cricket boards and the involvement of Indian Premier League franchise owners in South Africa’s domestic T20 league, SA20. However, CSA chose not to make a public statement, leaving it to Conrad to address the issue as he saw fit.
Conrad’s leadership style has generally been characterized by wit and candor, and he’s become a popular figure in the South African setup since taking over as Test coach nearly three years ago and as all-format coach for the past six months. He has often encouraged his players to “show-off more” on the world stage, but he insists that humility remains the cornerstone of his coaching philosophy. “Being humble is a cornerstone of our Test team and all our teams for that matter,” Conrad emphasized. “It's unfortunate that the noise and the talk became around the coach. People shouldn't really even know who the coach is. It should be about the players. That's the unfortunate bit, and I'd like to think that it's going to be put to bed now.”
The timing of the controversy couldn’t have been more dramatic, coming on the heels of a pulsating ODI series in India. After the high of the Test triumph, South Africa stumbled in the limited-overs leg, losing the ODI series 2-1. The final ODI in Visakhapatnam saw India assert their dominance. South Africa, after being sent in to bat, lost opener Ryan Rickelton for a duck before a resilient 113-run stand between Quinton de Kock (106 off 89 balls) and skipper Temba Bavuma (48 off 67 balls) steadied the innings. De Kock, who also shared a 54-run partnership with Matthew Breetzke (24 off 23 balls), was the standout performer for the Proteas.
Despite a promising platform at 234/5, South Africa’s middle and lower order collapsed under the pressure of India’s bowling attack. Prasidh Krishna (4/66) and Kuldeep Yadav (4/41) were instrumental in restricting South Africa to 270 all out in 47.5 overs. India’s chase was a showcase of batting prowess, with Rohit Sharma (75 off 73 balls) and Yashasvi Jaiswal putting on a 155-run opening partnership. Jaiswal’s maiden ODI century (116* off 121 balls) and an unbeaten 65 from Virat Kohli powered India to victory in just 39.5 overs, sealing the series in style.
For South Africa, the ODI defeat was a sobering reminder of the game’s unpredictability. Yet, the achievements in the Test arena remain significant. The team’s ability to bounce back from adversity and secure a rare series win in India speaks volumes about their resilience and unity under Conrad’s stewardship.
As the dust settles, attention now turns to the upcoming T20 series, which promises to be even more intriguing given the recent tensions. Conrad, for his part, hopes the focus will return to the players and their performances. “People shouldn’t really even know who the coach is. It should be about the players,” he reiterated, eager to put the episode behind him and move forward.
With both teams now gearing up for the shortest format, the cricketing world watches with anticipation. Will the controversy linger, or will the players seize the spotlight once more? One thing’s certain: the spirit of competition between India and South Africa is alive and well, and the next chapter in their rivalry is set to unfold.
