Date-stamped : 31 Oct95 - 10:30 Tour Match: South African Invitation XI v England Soweto, 27, 28, 29, 30 October 1995 ====> Prematch Malcolm a popular man for Soweto statement England select their only black player for first-class match in township writes Peter Deeley in Johannesburg THE new South Africa likes to call itself the Rainbow Nation. The many hues of its people will mix today on a cricket ground in a township whose name was once synonymous with racial hatred. When Michael Atherton and the England tourists arrive in the teeming heart of Soweto - home to three million black people - they will be taking part in something that is more than just a cricket match: much more a statement that the sport is achieving the promises held out four years ago when this country was read- mitted to the game`s international brotherhood. This first match at first-class level in a township, to be played over the next four days at the Elkah Stadium, is a wish fulfil- ment - a dream come true - for Ali Bacher, the managing director of the United Cricket Board and principal architect of reconcili- ation within cricket between the races. He is in no doubt that in the wider socio-political context "this is the most important game of England`s tour. "If we are to succeed in drawing the races together through the sport, it is crucial that we cricketers must be seen to be play- ing in the townships themselves. We believe that this game will help considerably to entrench the game`s culture in the black townships." Over recent years, international giants of the calibre of Sir Garfield Sobers and Sunil Gavaskar have visited Soweto to see for themselves that talk of racial unity within cricket is not just window dressing. Their seal of approval has assisted the UCB in attracting both funds and outside assistance to spread a feeling for a game once largely unknown and unrecognised among the under-privileged masses. "I find myself totally accepted by white team-mates. They are very supportive of me." Bacher would be the first to concede that there is still far to go. The economic gap between whites and blacks continues to be seemingly unbridgeable, which has a dislocating effect down to such incidentals as transport, clothing, equipment - even some- where to change and wash. There is, too, the much debated issue of when the first township player will represent his country. One administrator remarked: "We need a Chester Williams" (the black rugby player who represented South Africa in the World Cup). Pressure is growing on the selectors to choose two for the World Cup party but their philosophy appears to be `make haste slowly`. Geoffrey Toyana, a left-hand batsman born in Soweto, one of three township cricketers playing in the South African Invitation XI under Test captain Hansie Cronje - and alongside Jonty Rhodes, the idol of the young - thinks that it will happen within three years, certainly by the turn of the century. Toyana, 20, who spent last summer on MCC`s ground staff, believes that ice-breaker could be himself "if I work hard enough. "The feeling for the game here is very strong. Almost one of every two boys in the locations [townships] is playing cricket now. I find myself totally accepted by white team-mates. They are very supportive of me." President Nelson Mandela and his deputy, Thabo Mbeki, are coming to the game, taking time off from the local elections which take place next week. Atherton has acknowledged that England`s duties on this tour ex- tend beyond the playing arena and the visitors have fallen into line with locally expressed wishes to play Devon Malcolm, the only black man in the party. Malcolm is enormously popular with the township youngsters Malcolm is enormously popular with the township youngsters, as evidenced by England`s visit to Alexandra last weekend. It is a moot point whether presently he sees eye-to-eye with the tour management, however. A few days ago Malcolm was calling on them to be more "suppor- tive", saying that he hoped they would jettison the idea that he could not bowl out sides on slower pitches. Ray Illingworth`s response was: "We still have a bit of a problem there. There are only three matches before the first Test and we want Devon to make a big effort. We will see what happens - he has a lot of work to do." Mark Ramprakash gets the No 3 batting spot after good innings in the first two games - an indication that at this moment he would be preferred to John Crawley for the Pretoria Test. "We are desperate for `Ramps` to come through," said Illingworth. "It`s a make-or-break tour for him and with his technique we feel he`s best equipped for the position. It has been a problem posi- tion and he has a lot of talent." ENGLAND: *M A Atherton, A J Stewart, M R Ramprakash, R A Smith, G A Hick, -R C Russell, M Watkinson, R K Illingworth, M C Ilott, A R C Fraser, D E Malcolm. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> more Preview to the England - SA Invitation XI match at Soweto - Eitan Prince Mark Ramprakash, has been included in the England XI for their historic tour match in Soweto, against a South African Invitation XI. The Middlesex batsman who has scores of 48 and 89 on the tour to date, is making a strong bid for the troublesome number three spot in the tests. There remain three more warm-up matches prior to the first test at Centurion Park and Ray Illingworth has already confirmed that Ramprakash will be given a chance in the Border game to prove his ability at number three. Devon Malcolm returns to the team after his non-selection in the one day game against Easterns on Wednesday. Malcolm should add some firepower after the other England seamers performed rather ordinarily in the day night match. The left arm seamer Mark Il- lot is the other inclusion intended to boost the bowling attack, while spinners Richard Illingworth and Mike Watkinson will pro- vide back up. While the SA Invitation XI contains mainly `fringe` players, it will also include national players, Hansie Cronje as captain, and Jonty Rhodes. Mickey Arthur and Philip Amm will also be given a chance to prove themselves as openers in the presence of national selection convenor, Peter Pollock. The teams are: Invitation X1: Micky Arthur, Phillip Amm, Hansie Cronje (capt.), Jonty Rhodes, Mark Davis, Piet Strydom, Richard Snell, Lulama Ma- zikazana (wk), Meyrick Pringle, Geoffrey Toyana, Henry Williams. England: Michael Atherton (capt.), Alec Stewart, Mark Ramprakash, Robin Smith, Graeme Hick, Jack Russell (wk), Michael Watkinson, Richard Illingworth, Mark Illott, Angus Fraser, Devon Malcolm. Contributed by Donald (eitan@rucus.ru.ac.za) ====> Day 1, 27 Oct 95 Opening pair stand firm on big occasion - Peter Deeley NELSON MANDELA called it "a unique occasion" and as cricket matches go, this first venture in a black township certainly was. Given the emotional nature surrounding England`s visit and the rather imperfect nature of pitch and outfield, the tourists deserve consideration rather than criticism for a moderate first-day total of 285 for seven. The significance of the day and all it said about unification of the races meant that the cricket had to play a secondary role. Here we were sitting in a field, surrounded by modest `box- housing`, among thousands of exuberant but peaceful schoolchil- dren where five years ago most whites would have feared to tread - and many still, irrationally, do. The United Cricket Board and the Soweto authorities spared noth- ing to ensure it all ran smoothly - even down to bands and bow- tied waiters - though the vicious razor-wire which surrounds the ground, and indeed most homes in this country, was evidence of a deeper social unease. President Mandela had been expected on Sunday but brought his visit forward because he has to address a rally then - local elections are imminent. The sight of his helicopter whirling over the ground was enough to send hordes of children and photogra- phers scurrying across the sightscreen, made only of thin sail- cloth. The game was held up for 20 minutes but nobody appeared to mind - even Alec Stewart and Michael Atherton, halted in mid-innings. Devon Malcolm filmed Mr Mandela`s arrival on his camcorder and those England players on the dressing-room balcony rubber-necked as much as any of the locals. The 3,000 township youngsters seemed hardly to heed the game it- self. Many spent their time with their backs to the cricket, watching football on an adjacent field. Soweto`s only turf pitch played very low and Atherton was almost `submarined` by the day`s first delivery There were small pockets of white boys, carefully shepherded by a master, who had been bused in but there appeared to be little mixing. It was a point taken up by Imtiaz Patel, in charge of schools cricket development in the area. He said: "We are hoping that this game will encourage more white schools and clubs to come and play here. The problem is the fear factor - whites` residual fear of the violence there used to be in the townships and the fear created by the fact that 99 per cent of whites have never been into a township. "There is more integration. Some schools are now coming to Soweto but some are still unwilling." Stewart and Atherton did well to keep their minds on the job in hand with all the distractions. Soweto`s only turf pitch played very low and Atherton was almost "submarined" by the day`s first delivery, from Meyrick Pringle, which all but trapped him leg before. Stewart, however, was not over-critical of the pitch, pointing out that it had never staged a game of this length before. "Hopefully it will hold up for four days, though it has already started to turn," he said. England`s openers made the most of their opportunities before the spinners began to cause problems. They put on 163 in three hours, with Stewart the dominant partner. When off-spinner Mark Davis almost persuaded Stewart to play on, he reacted positively, hitting the next two balls for four and six to bring up his half-century. Eventually Atherton, whose cautious 59 had taken him nearly three hours, was fooled by the low bounce and drove the left-arm spinner Pieter Strydom low to mid-on. Stewart, approaching his hundred, showed signs of tiredness in the heat, and six runs short, lofted Strydom obligingly into the hands of the Invitation XI captain, Hansie Cronje, at long off. Robin Smith`s third successive poor knock of the tour ended with an injudicious lunge at Davis. As the momentum carried him for- ward, wicketkeeper Lulama Masikizana executed a neat leg-side stumping. Graeme Hick soon followed, pulling a long hop from Strydom to midwicket, and England had cause to be grateful to John Crawley`s watchful three hours, which prevented an even more ignominious collapse when Pringle returned with the new ball. Pringle, who played five Tests but has not represented South Africa for two years, even managed to attract the attention of some of the wayward youth on the temporary grandstands as he recorded the first hat-trick in his career. First Jack Russell was leg before shuffling across the crease, then Mike Watkinson was similarly dismissed with a ball of full length and Mark Ilott was comprehensively yorked. Still Crawley is there and fighting for a first Test place: all because Mark Ramprakash pulled out at the last moment after he had been stricken down with diarrhoea. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 2, 28 Oct 95 Crawley stakes his claim for first Test - Peter Deeley IT WAS back to business for England yesterday after the initial emotion surrounding their historic mission to this township. On a turning pitch, it was their spinners who shone, Richard Il- lingworth taking five wickets and Mike Watkinson three, and at the close of the second day the SA Invitation XI were 209 for nine in their first innings, still 123 runs behind. There are less than three weeks to go to the first Test in Pre- toria and, with two games remaining after this fixture, little time for players out of form to establish themselves. Ray Illingworth will have in mind men such as Robin Smith, who has had a run of three low scores on the tour so far and yester- day put down two chances at square leg - then had to go off with a badly bruised thumb - and Devon Malcolm, who is not seeing eye-to-eye with the selectors over his most effective method of preparation. On the other hand, John Crawley - who before this game was in Mark Ramprakash`s shadow - made full use of the unexpected oppor- tunity presented him to play here. When Ramprakash went down with diarrhoea on the eve of the game, Crawley stepped in and his watchfulness at a time of crisis en- abled the tourists to post a total of 332. That may not seem an impressive score from a distance but this pitch - and the outfield - is not really up to first-class stan- dard. From the outset, it played very slow, kept very low and now is turning considerably. Crawley was unbeaten on 56 overnight, having batted for three hours, and was aided by Richard Illingworth in a 65-run stand for the eighth wicket. Malcolm caused Hansie Cronje some trouble with one good bouncer Again the home slow bowlers were the core of the attack, off- spinner Mark Davis removing Illingworth when he pushed forward, Jonty Rhodes taking the bat-pad catch. Crawley`s personal score had gone up by only 23 in the first 80 minutes before he eventually went down to pitch to lift Davis over his head for six. That sudden sign of aggression was his un- doing: three balls later he did the same, this time trying to flick Davis through mid-wicket, and Rhodes took another catch. Ray Illingworth stood directly in line with Malcolm when the man labelled the "destroyer" by President Mandela took the new ball, but the first wicket came at the other end when Jack Russell brilliantly held a leg-side tickle by Micky Arthur off Mark Ilott. Malcolm caused Hansie Cronje some trouble with one good bouncer and might have had the home captain when he turned a ball off his legs just before lunch which hit Crawley, at short leg, in the chest. Overall, however, Malcolm was not particularly effective and it was left to the England spinners to run through the home batsmen. The only early resistance came in a 51-run stand for the second wicket between Cronje and Phillip Amm. When Crawley caught Amm at short extra cover off Illingworth it was the start of a collapse in which six wickets fell for 75 runs. Rhodes scored one then suffered a `creeper` which took the bottom edge of his bat. In his last 15 Test innings, he has scored only one half-century, but Peter Pollock, convenor (chairman) of the home selectors, expressed continued faith in him, saying: "Jonty tends to be a big-match player". Angus Fraser, who had bowled steadily without posing any real threat, limped off for a time with a bruise to the bottom of his front foot and assistant tour manager John Barclay, 41, made a brief guest appearance in the field. With the spinners tiring in the heat, Pringle and wicketkeeper Lulama Mazikazana, a development player, added a brisk 69 before Illingworth returned to claim his fifth wicket, Russell`s stump- ing also yielding his fifth victim. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 3, 29 Oct 95 Malcolm taken out of match for net practice - Peter Deeley Third day: S African XI (210 & 25-1) trail England (332 & 282-5 dec) by 379 runs WHILE England were making positive strides to defeat the South African Invitation XI, thanks to a patient century from Alec Stewart, the early build-up to the first Test was not proceeding with the same smoothness. The home side need another 380 to win on the last day with nine wickets standing and there seems little doubt from the way the wicket is responding to spin, that England will win their opening first-class match of the tour today. All is not sweetness and light, however. Devon Malcom was pulled out in mid-match to go for concentrated net practice with both England`s coaches in Pretoria, 25 miles the other side of Johan- nesburg, and Ray Illingworth confessed that he was worried about the form of Robin Smith. Michael Atherton left the field soon after beginning England`s second innings, but it was only a precautionary measure when he felt a hamstring twinge, and he later returned to the field. Malcolm and The Management are not seeing eye to eye over his preparation. Illingworth said there had been little point in him hanging around in the morning. "He needs plenty of bowling off a full run and bowling properly quick," he said. The fast-bowler has developed a cult image in this country, which may partly account for the problems. He is mobbed everywhere by the township crowds, and when President Mandela came here on the first day, wherever he went, Malcolm was not far behind. The hope is that once the political `ice-breaking` element of this tour is behind the side, Malcolm can buckle down to the cricketing priorities. So far on tour he has one wicket to his credit. He twice hit Micky Arthur, once denting a helmet Near the day`s end when England declared - leaving their op- ponents a target of 405 - Malcolm returned to take the new ball, but this pitch was too slow to make a proper judgement on his present form, or mood. He twice hit Micky Arthur, once denting a helmet, and was unlucky to see one snick off the batsman fly so high that even the ath- letic Jack Russell could only get his finger-tips to the chance. Malcolm was scarcely needed at the outset, for Richard Illing- worth ended the South African innings with the 13th ball, giving him his sixth wicket - and 11 in a week, a strike rate far ahead of any other bowler. After his excellent first innings, John Crawley failed to capi- talise on this second chance to impress the selectors after his first-innings 85. He had scored one when he pushed forward to the off-spinner Mark Davis and was caught at short-leg. Crawley`s disappointment was clear from the manner in which he clouted the ground with his bat on the way out. Robin Smith struggled against the spinners for 15 minutes, then prodded uncertainly at quick bowler Meyrick Pringle and was caught behind. His nought followed scores of 12, 33, 4. Stewart played one of the more cautious innings of his life. His unbeaten 101 took over five hours and he was becalmed for 22 deliveries on 91. But his driving on such a low pitch was immacu- late, and he hit 16 boundaries and a six. Graeme Hick collected four sixes as he shared a stand of 109 with Stewart before being surprised by a sharply lifting delivery. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 4, 30 Oct 95 No play due to rain. Match drawn. Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu)