Gower’s apartheid comment storm
DAVID GOWER was caught up in a Twitter storm yesterday after the Sky Sports commentator appeared to compare a controversial breakaway Australian cricket league with the brutal South African apartheid regime of the same period.
The former England captain — speaking in the Sky studio following the airing of a documentary about England’s 1980-81 West Indies tour when fast bowler Robin Jackman had his entry visa to Guyana revoked because of his South African links — caused outrage on social media for initially refusing to acknowledge apartheid was worse than the
1970swhen commentatorasked Kerry by Packer Michaelfellow seriesHolding.
Asked by the former West Indies fast bowler which was worse out of apartheid or Packer, Gower simply responded ‘you tell me’, leaving Holding to point out the bloody brutality of an apartheid regime, widely acknowledged as one of the cruellest political
systems of the 20th Century. Holding said: ‘I would have to say apartheid. I don’t think Packer caused any problems for everyone in Australia. I don’t think there were people being shot at or being bullied in Australia.’
Gower eventually acknowledged Holding’s point, but not before being heavily criticised across social media.
@sandylanceley tweeted: ‘WTF. Has the old boy lost his marbles?! I know some ppl hate packer but this is something else.’
@hackneycharlie tweeted: ‘Staggering lunchtime performance by David Gower in comparing Packer cricket with apartheid! @SkyCricket’
Sky declined to comment on the controversy.