The comments of South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad during the press conference following Day 4 of the second Test in Guwahati sparked a heated debate on social media and it didn’t go well with the Indian audience. After setting India up with a target of over 500 runs on the final day, Conrad remarked that he wanted the Indian team to “grovel,” and that comment surprised many in the cricketing community.
“We wanted India 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 of the game and then say to them well, come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening,” Conrad had said in the press conference.
The statement drew reactions from Indian cricketing icons. The legendary spinner, Anil Kumble, first registered his surprise at the comment, saying he expected a side like South Africa to maintain humility, given they were essentially on the cusp of a historic Test win over India. Veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara, though, felt going into Day 5 that perhaps such a phrase could motivate and fire up the Indian players.
The words of Conrad sparked online debate, with fans and former cricketers alike weighing in on the appropriateness and impact of the remark.
“There’s history attached to this. Fifty years ago, an England captain used the same phrase against the great West Indies side, and we all know what followed,” he 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. When you’re winning, the first thing is to stay humble, not say something like this at a press conference.”
“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,” he said. “But the best way to answer it is to fight it out-bat three sessions, build partnerships. We’re in this position because we haven’t played good cricket, and the response has to come with the bat, not through words.”
