Shukri Conrad, South Africa head coach. (File photo/Getty Images) NEW DELHI: Fifty years after England captain Tony Greig’s “grovel” comment ahead of the 1976 series against Clive Lloyd’s team united and galvanized West Indies players, South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad used the same word on Tuesday.Conrad courted controversy at the end of the fourth day of play in Guwahati after he used a phrase that carries a rich history in cricket. In the press conference after the day’s play, Conrad said, “We wanted them (India) to really bow out.”The Proteas continued to bat on Day 4 despite a 500-run lead in the second session and coach Shukri Conrad said they wanted to make sure they ended India’s hopes of leveling the series.“We wanted to really rock them … Blow them completely out of the game and then tell them, come and survive the last day and hour tonight,” Conrad told reporters.“So far so good, but we also know they won’t just roll over. We’ll have to be at our best tomorrow.”The remark immediately attracted attention for its link to one of cricket’s most memorable controversies. In 1976, when the West Indies toured England, the then England captain Tony Greig said that his team would make the West Indies “pennies”. This word became a rallying cry for the away side. The West Indies responded with a dominant performance to win the five-match Test series 3-0, shaping another era of Caribbean fast bowling. That a privileged child of apartheid could use such a word when about to open a Test series against a team made up of descendants of slaves and indentured laborers was breathtaking in its lack of political or historical nous. Greig later apologized for the comment.Meanwhile, Conrad’s statement came on a day South Africa edged closer to the series. India ended the fourth day at 27 for 2 chasing 549 after South Africa declared their second innings at 260 for 5. India lost both their openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) and KL Rahul (6), in the first ten overs. Sai Sudharsan (2 not out) and night watchman Kuldeep Yadav (4 not out) were at the crease at the stumps. India still need 522 runs, a target out of reach.Earlier in the day, Tristan Stubbs (94 off 180 balls) and Tony de Zorzi (49 off 68 balls) batted away the Indian spinners before South Africa declared. Ravindra Jadeja (4/62) and Washington Sundar (1/67) took wickets early in the morning but Stubbs and de Zorzi added 101 runs for the fourth wicket. Stubbs also shared an 82-run partnership with Wiaan Mulder (35) for the fifth wicket. South Africa’s 549 was the highest by a visiting team in India, the previous highest being 542 at Nagpur in 2004 in Australia. South Africa have three sessions to take India’s remaining 8 wickets and complete the historic series at the ‘final boundary’. It is an impossible task for India to chase down the target – a draw itself would be a miracle.
