India has had its moments in the Rainbow Nation, will look for maiden Test series win

India has had its moments in the Rainbow Nation, will look for maiden Test series win

South Africa has produced some of cricket’s finest cricketers and a team that brimmed with extraordinary talent. But that side, led by Ali Bacher and possessing gifted cricketers like Barry Richards, Graeme Pollock and Mike Procter, didn’t get the opportunities it deserved as South Africa was banned by the ICC for the country’s apartheid policy.

The Test that the team played in 1970, against Australia at Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), would be Proteas’ last for more than two decades. And it was in 1992 that the South Africans could play in another Test at home.

The opponent was India, which had earlier played host on South Africa’s return to international cricket with an ODI at Kolkata.

India has been touring the Rainbow Nation regularly after the historic tour of 1992-93. The first Test series was won by the host 1-0.

The opening Test was drawn at Durban, a game in which Pravin Amre made a hundred on debut.

After the second Test at Johannesburg also produced a draw, South Africa won the third Test at Gqeberha, with speedster Allan Donald, nicknamed White Lightning, destroying India with a 12-wicket haul. The fourth Test at Cape Town also ended in a draw.

The South Africans then went on to dominate India in Tests at home.