The day Devon’s rockets blasted South Africa into ‘history’
Devon Malcolm’s career-defining spell of nine for 57 has gone into Oval legend – but did he really warn his victims in advance? Nick Hoult finds out
Did he say it? Did Devon Malcolm turn to the South Africans and predict “you guys are history” after this famously clueless No11 was clonked straight between the eyes by a bouncer? “Of course I said it. When I got sconed on the head I saw the guys in the slips cordon and they were looking away,” said Malcolm. “I got on well with Allan Donald. He ran all the way from fine leg and came up to find out if I was OK. I told him where to get off. I said, ‘If you guys want to know what fast bowling is about just wait until you come into bat. You guys are history.’”
That was 23 years ago but as the Oval prepares for its 100th Test this week when England play South Africa, it remains one of the great cricket quotes. A fast bowler issuing a threat and then delivering on it in the most emphatic way. “It is a great after-dinner story and he will swear he said ‘you guys are history’ but Goughie, who was at the other end, will say he definitely didn’t,” says Alec Stewart, who stood at slip as Malcolm produced one of the greatest fast bowling spells by an Englishman.
“It was one of those days when everything clicked for him,” wrote Mike Atherton, England captain at the time, in his autobiography. “Most cricketers have one performance for which they will be remembered and that will surely be his.”
Who cares whether he said it or not. Malcolm produced a piece of theatre and for that deserves to have his version of history cherished. In a period noted for its cricketing gloom, Malcolm’s nine for 57 on Aug 20, 1994, was a rare bright moment and is the reason Surrey have chosen that Test as one of the 10 best staged at the Oval.
This week, as part of the venue’s celebrations, the ball with which Malcolm terrorised the South Africans will be on show in the pavilion, along with the cap that he doffed to the crowd as he led his team up the stairs of the Bedser stand after what Donald, Malcolm’s ninth wicket, described as “the most destructive piece of fast bowling I have ever seen”.
‘The radar was locked in and there was no way the South African guys had a chance’
Malcolm has turned down invitations to this week’s game because he wants to watch his son play for Northants under-11s in a cricket tournament instead. “I had my time, now it is time to support the next generation,” he says. It is understandable but still a shame. This England management often invite former players to net sessions and Malcolm’s recall of his golden spell would be a great pep talk for a side coming off the back of a hiding.
Stewart says Malcolm bowled “rockets” that day, homing in on South Africans who had goaded this quiet man into life when Fanie de Villiers hit him on the head with a bouncer. The ball ended up at extra cover and a piece of Malcolm’s helmet flew down the pitch. It was one of the last rock-hard Oval pitches; a stage made for fast bowling.
Malcolm’s first bouncer to Gary Kirsten was ferocious, whistling past his nostrils and taken high by keeper Steve Rhodes. David Gower said on commentary: “I think Devon means business.” Moments later, Kirsten was out, caught and bowled not even looking at the ball, and the South African innings went into freefall.
“If I wanted to send a message, that first ball was it,” says Malcolm. “It pitched exactly where I wanted it. The crowd went up and, walking back to my mark at the Pavilion End, I glanced up towards the changing room and I could see all the South African boys running to the front to see what the crowd was going on about. Straight away, I said to myself, that was the perfect ball.
“I like to listen to that comment from David Gower. He was right. I was open for business. The radar was locked in and there was no way those guys had a chance.” In