Neil Manthorp Cricket
As far as records show, there were no Bears in the South African touring sides that sailed for England in 1924, 1929 or 1960, the only three occasions on which South Africa have played England at Edgbaston before.
In 11 series against the colonisers, the colonised have won just three – and never won at Edgbaston, home of the Warwickshire Bears. That may change over the course of this weekend, the fourth meeting at this ground.
In 1924 South Africa fell just 18 runs short . of making England bat a second time. The year 1929 produced a worthy draw and in 1960 they took part in a cracking Test match only to lose by 100 runs.
Of course, the 1929 Test was terribly unfair. Having bowled England out for 245, South Africa’s first innings lead was restricted to just five runs by a bloke called Harold Larwood who took five for 57 by bowling much, much quicker than anyone had ever seen before and generally behaving like a big bully.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, when England batted a second time they amassed 308 for four (in between showers) with two fellas called Herbert Sutcliffe and Wally Hammond scoring 114 and 138 not out. Once again, there were very, very few players of that era who could match their talent.
Nonetheless, the match ended honourably with South Africa finishing on 171 for one, losing opener RH Catterall shortly before the close for 98.
England’s “big names” have a history of reserving their best performances for South Africa; in the 1960 Edgbaston Test, a middle order trio comprising Ted Dexter, Raman Subba Row and MJK Smith all scored 50s on a treacherous wicket to reach 292 in the first innings. Neil Adcock took five for 62.
Johnny Waite held South Africa’s reply together with 58 in a total of 186 and, though the deficit was 106, an upset was distinctly possible when England slumped to 118 for seven in their second innings.
More big names to the rescue. Freddie Trueman and Brian Statham, one of the greatest fast bowling pairs of all time, slogged 25 and 22 respectively to reach 203 all out and put the game beyond South Africa’s reach. It was. They were bowled out for 209 despite Roy McLean’s 68 and another bust-a-gut 56 not out from Waite.
So, roll on 1998. There are four Bears in this party, Allan Donald, Bob Woolmer, Shaun Pollock and, distantly, Brian McMillan, top of the batting averages in his only season in 1986.
Donald has assumed genuine hero status among local followers, adopting local “Brummies” as warmly as they adopted him, a “spotty 18-year-old with a bad haircut who couldn’t speak English”, in 1987.
“It’s going to be strange in many ways, playing for the opposition in front of my home crowd,” Donald says. “Twice I was almost sacked by Warwickshire, not because I hadn’t performed but because of the restrictions on overseas players. Initially I was in competition with [West Indian] Tony Merrick and they looked likely to stay with him. I won that battle.
“Then, when the counties could only have one foreigner on their books, they had to choose between me and Tom Moody, who had scored seven hundreds in something like 11 innings and become a huge crowd favourite. It was really touch-and-go, the committee were divided and I thought I was out. But I won that, too.”
Warwickshire chief executive Dennis Amiss persuaded the club to put their faith in Donald, not just because he would take a lot of wickets and win matches, but because he was “a loyal, faithful person who could contribute to the club in many other ways and unite the players, the officials and the supporters”.
“So many people have come and wished me luck . but not too much luck,” says Donald with a Mona Lisa smile. “They really want Allan Donald to do well, but not South Africa.”
Woolmer has nothing but fond memories of Birmingham. Perhaps it was coming anyway, but Warwickshire began such an unprecedented run of success when he arrived in the early 1990s that people have already become misty-eyed for those halcyon days of . five years ago!
“It was a great time to be involved with the club,” says Woolmer. “They are forward-thinking and progressive, they didn’t just stick to the same old routines. I hope my days with South Africa, and my approach to the national job, will be remembered in a similar way. But it’s great to be back here . even better if we win.”
Where South Africa exceed the rest of the world, even more than in fielding, is in batting depth. Pollock, at number seven, averages 33.
Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher has followed in the footsteps of the retired Dave Richardson and already averages 28 while Klusener, with a test century, averages 27.
Even Donald, with an average of 12, has just signed a contract with a bat manufacturer to produce an endorsed weapon called the “Donald Tailender”.
History, of course, is on England’s side. Out of 11 series in England between the two countries, the former colony has won just three, in 1935, 1955 and 1965. Just six out of 47 tests have been won by South Africa. This year, though, could be different for one major reason: “It’s not an away test, it’s a home test,” says Donald. “Polly played here two seasons ago and Bob was the coach for three years. We all love the place and feel completely at home.”
As current and past players all know, a relaxed sportsman is usually a successful one.
ENDS