‘The Destroyer’ who made Mandela sit up and take notice...
THE OVAL will host its 100th Test this week, making it just the fourth ground to reach that landmark after the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Sydney Cricket Ground and Lord’s.
Until 2012 South Africa’s history at the venue where the concept of the Ashes was born, was poor. In 13 Tests South Africa hadn’t won, and had lost six times.
The Proteas’ innings-and-12-run victory five years ago will always be special for reasons far beyond it being the first at the storied venue. It was Graeme Smith’s 100th Test, which he marked by scoring a century, but the most abiding memory is of Hashim Amla’s South African record of 311 not out – the only triple century by a South African in Tests.
Jacques Kallis’ unbeaten 182 was almost forgotten in the midst of those other landmarks, which came as part of an astonishing total of 637/2 declared.
South Africa took a 1-0 lead, which they extended at Lord’s in the third Test to become Test cricket’s No 1 side.
Until then, perhaps the most famous Test involving South Africa – one which will be celebrated this week as part of the festivities – was the third match of the 1994 series, in which Devon Malcolm took 9/57. Malcolm was so enraged after being smashed on the head by a Fanie de Villiers bouncer that he turned to the South African slip cordon and famously exclaimed: “You guys are all history”.
He tore in with a fury that surprised some of his England teammates that day, overwhelming the South Africans – many of whom still rate that performance as the quickest bowling they ever faced. That spell even made an impression on Nelson Mandela, who upon meeting Malcom about 18 months later called him “The Destroyer”.
South Africa lost their next two Tests there; in 2003, leading the series 2-1, they wasted a wonderful opportunity after Herschelle Gibbs had dominated with a stunning 183 in the first innings, only for England opener Marcus Trescothick to reply with 219. Kevin Pietersen was captain in 2008, making a hundred in a “dead rubber”,
The Oval has invited a host of former players who represented England and Surrey to watch the third day’s play on Saturday – including well-known commentator Robin Jackman.
Although known as a cricket ground, the Oval has a rich history, having played host to seven rugby internationals between 1872 and 1879. The ground also hosted the inaugural FA Cup final, also in 1872, and continued doing so, with the exception of two years, until 1892.