Can SA add to fabled chapters on Eden Gardens legacy?

MUMBAI: The iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata is one of the most storied cricket grounds in the world.

The Gardens, as the locals affectionately refer to it, has hosted plenty of significant matches, most notably the 1987 World Cup final won by Australia after an ill-judged Mike Gatting reverse-sweep led to the capitulation of the English.

And then there was ‘The Miracle of Kolkata’, when India produced the greatest comeback of all through VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid in the 2001 Test series against Australia.

Let’s not forget Carlos Braithwaite’s “Remember the name” six-hitting heroics to power West Indies to their second T20 World Cup title too.

But for South Africans, the mere mention of Eden Gardens, which will host the Proteas’ World Cup semi-final against Australia on Thursday, will always warm the cockles of their hearts, because it represents the rebirth of cricket in Mzansi.

For 27 years before that fateful day on November 10, 1991, South Africa had been the pariah of the cricket world due their horrific apartheid policy.

But with the country rapidly undergoing change that led to the unbanning of political parties such as the ANC and their incarcerated members like Nelson Mandela, the sporting bans on South Africa were lifted and cricket was the first to benefit.

There was plenty of trepidation about South Africa heading off to India for their official return to the international fold, with the subcontinent nation having been one of the fiercest critics of their racial segregation policies.

But with the assistance of the late Jagmohan Dalmiya, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary at the time, and collaboration with South African cricket boss Ali Bacher, a three-match ODI series was hastily arranged to be played in Kolkata, Gwalior and Delhi – with the “City of Joy” showing setting the trend for the tour by enveloping the tourists, with fans lining the path from the airport to the team hotel, showering flowers on the guests.

The actual match was an equally electrifying affair. Played in front of over 100000 rousing fans – that was the capacity before being renovated and reduced to 70000 for the 2011 World Cup – it was a cacophony of noise, with firecrackers going off virtually every ball.

“It was incredible, the noise when we went out to bat. Lots of firecrackers, lots of drums, it was deafening. I was a little bit nervous. We had only played in front of 15000 to 20000 max before, and suddenly we faced 100000 people.

The extent of the crowd and how full the stadium was just amazing,” said former Proteas opener Andrew Hudson, who walked out to an amazing ovation with opening partner Jimmy Cook.

The tourists managed to scrape together 177-8 by virtue of a half-century from Kepler Wessels, who was the only player with previous international experience, after representing adopted country Australia during isolation.

But it was almost enough, with Allan Donald being introduced to the world, with the furious pace of “White Lightning” hurrying up the Indian batters as the fast bowler claimed 5-30 on debut.

It took a brave knock from then-teenager Sachin Tendulkar to take the hosts home, although it could all have been different had Richard Snell not fluffed a run-out chance early on.

Hudson went on to play in South Africa’s first World Cup semi-final appearance against England the following year at the Sydney Cricket Ground – a match that was marred by the rain controversy, with the Proteas left needing 22 runs off one ball.

“The 1992 semi was a real pity. It was one of those games where the gods were just against us, with television forcing the game to be finished by 10pm, so instead of getting a revised score, we just lost overs. It was so disappointing, to say the least,” Hudson said.

Hudson’s involvement with the World Cup semi-finals was not over yet, though. He was the convenor of selectors at the 2015 World Cup, when the Proteas lost an epic encounter against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland.

“The team was really pumped and keen to do well with AB de Villiers as captain. The team was starting to build some energy, but we didn’t play particularly good cricket against New Zealand,” he added.

Fitness permitting, another Proteas opener, Temba Bavuma, will lead the Proteas into battle at Eden Gardens on Thursday with the opportunity of guiding his team to a first World Cup final.

It will only be fitting if it is achieved at the ‘Garden of Eden’ to add yet another chapter to its fabled legacy.

Cape Times