IND vs SA: ‘Grovel’ Remark Revives Controversy After 49 Years, Shakes Cricket World

Guwahati: India is once again on the brink of defeat in the second Test against South Africa, and controversy has erupted following comments made by South Africa’s head coach Shukri Conrad after the fourth day of play.

South Africa is on the verge of winning the match and completing a series clean sweep. In the post-day press conference, Conrad made remarks that have sparked debate across the cricketing world. He referenced a famous quote by the late England captain Tony Greig from 1976, before England’s series against Clive Lloyd’s West Indies, which had infamously motivated the West Indies to crush England 3-0.

Conrad said, “We wanted the Indian team to spend as much time on the field as possible. We wanted them to come down to their knees (I am borrowing this line), and we wanted to take the match completely out of their hands.”

It was Conrad’s use of the word “grovel” that caused the uproar. The term implies lying or crawling on the ground and has historical sensitivity, as it was previously used in South Africa by white cricketers like Tony Greig in contexts linked to racial oppression, particularly involving Caribbean players.

Cricket South Africa has not yet confirmed whether it has addressed the remark with Conrad. When asked about the delay in declaring the innings and its potential impact on the match result, Conrad explained, “There were some tactical considerations. We wanted to make the best use of the new ball, which would be available in the morning, hard and fresh. Additionally, we wanted the Indian players to occupy the crease for as long as possible. Some may say we batted too long, but I don’t see it that way.”

The comment has revived historical debates around the word “grovel” and its connotations in cricket, drawing immediate attention from fans, analysts, and former players worldwide.