South Africa’s Test series win over India was marked by two incidents of controversial comments, the aftermath of which has spilled into the series’ postscript.
India were kept to nil in a Test series on home soil for the second time in just over 12 months after South Africa inflicted a record defeat in Guwahati. Before they lost 3-0 to New Zealand last year, India had gone 18 Test series at home without being defeated. Their defeat to World Test Champions means they’ve slipped to fifth in the WTC table for the ongoing cycle, while South Africa are up to second.
However, what began with an on-pitch war of words in the first Test has continued beyond the series end after a controversial reference made by South Africa’s head coach, Shukri Conrad.
What has been said?
In the first Test of the series, which South Africa won by 30 runs, Jasprit Bumrah caused some controversy by using the word ‘bauna’ towards Temba Bavuma while discussing whether to refer an lbw decision against the Proteas captain to the third umpire. Rishabh Pant was heard over the stump mic saying that the delivery may have hit Bavuma too high to be going on to hit the stumps, before Bumrah replied: "Bauna bhi to hai ye", which roughly translates to "He's (Bavuma) short as well."
There was some speculation over whether Bumrah could be sanctioned by the ICC for using the word, as ‘Bauna’ translates to ‘dwarf’ in English when translated literally. However, no investigation into Bumrah was launched by the match referee.
All was quiet for the first three days of the second Test, before a press conference given by Conrad after day four sparked the surrounding noise back up. India were two down in an impossible pursuit of 549 at stumps on the penultimate day, and staring down the barrel of a series defeat. After speaking about South Africa’s plans to the India top order in the evening session and the timing of their declaration, Conrad said:
"And then, obviously, we wanted the Indians to spend as much time on their feet out in the field, we wanted them to really grovel, to steal a phrase, bat them completely out the game, and then say to them 'Come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening.'"
Those comments sparked online backlash among former India and South Africa players, who objected to Conrad’s use of the word ‘grovel’. After South Africa sealed victory on day five, Bavuma weighed in himself. "Comments made by coach came to me this morning,” said Bavuma. “I was focused on the game and didn't have a chance to speak to him. Shukri is close to 60 years old and he will have a look at his comments. But in this series certain guys have also crossed the line. Not saying coach crossed the line, but he will surely think about it.”
What have others said?
In addition to Bavuma addressing the incident after the game, others have also weighed in. Dale Steyn said on the Star Sports broadcast: “You just don’t use words like that. Toss it. You don’t have to say it. That’s disappointing. Sorry, Shukri, but that’s disappointing.”
Speaking on JioStar, former India captain Anil Kumble said: “South Africa have most likely won the series, but when you’re on top, your choice of words matters. Humility is most important at such times. I certainly didn’t expect this from the coach or the support staff.”
Ahead of the fifth day’s play, Cheteshwar Pujara said: "It does fire up the team, but it will hurt as well. I don't think that statement will go down well in the dressing room."
Why could both sides' words have been deemed controversial?
Whether someone’s words are offensive or not is subjective, and context matters. The word ‘bauna’ in Hindi is commonly used to describe someone with dwarfism, and can be considered offensive among people with restricted growth. Important for ICC sanctioning purposes is that Bumrah’s use of the word was not directed as an insult towards Bavuma. One relevant article in the ICC Code of Conduct concerns "a player or player support personnel directing language of a personal, insulting, obscene and/or offensive nature at any player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee during an international match."
Thus, the decision as to whether to sanction Bumrah was partly based on the interpretation of the word as descriptive or as a personal insult. Given the lack of sanction, it was interpreted as the former, although this doesn’t negate those who may have individually found his use of the word as offensive.
Another article of the Code of Conduct bars using "an audible obscenity", but 'bauna', in the view of the match referee, appears not to reach the threshold of "obscenity".
Conrad’s use of the word grovel is also complicated. It refers back to Tony Greig’s infamous words ahead of England’s series against West Indies in 1976. In an interview for BBC Sportsnight, Greig said: "These guys [West Indies], if they get on top they are magnificent cricketers. But if they're down, they grovel, and I intend, with the help of Closey [Brian Close] and a few others, to make them grovel."
The context of the mid 70s international political landscape, and race relations in England, matter. Grieg was a white South African captaining England while the Apartheid regime raged in South Africa. Used to describe a black West Indies team, the word 'grovel' in particular was inflammatory.
"The word 'grovel' is one guaranteed to raise the blood pressure of any black man," said Clive Lloyd, then West Indies’ captain. "The fact they were used by a white South African made it even worse. We were angry and West Indians everywhere were angry.”
West Indies won the five-match Test series 3-0, and Grieg apologised.
Conrad is also a South African using the word 'grovel', but he isn't white, and is in charge of a multi-racial Proteas side rather than a white England team. Conrad referenced that he was "stealing a phrase", and the phrase itself is unpalatable to some. And saying you want to make an opposition sports team suffer beyond what is necessary to win a given match may be considered unsportsmanlike by some. But there is not the same racial context at play.
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