As Bacher sits down for a discussion in the President’s Box at SuperSport Park, it’s evident that the passage of time has done little to spark his appetite for the sport.
Dr. Ali Bacher is a name that Indian cricket fans would recognize right away. Bacher played 12 Tests for South Africa in the 1960s and early 1970s, the last four as captain, when his team defeated Bill Lawry’s Australia 4-0 at home. The final Test in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) in March 1970 was South Africa’s last international engagement before their sporting isolation; they didn’t return to the international fold until the end of 1991, with a three-match ODI series in India.During the period of isolation, Bacher organized’rebel’ tours to South Africa to ensure that local cricket remained strong and vibrant, but as the winds of change blew through the country, he changed course and played an important role in his country’s readmission by the International Cricket Council by becoming the supremo of a united board after bringing together the previously separate black and white associations. At 81, he is still a die-hard cricket fan who will travel from Johannesburg to Centurion – albeit only 30 minutes away – to see Test cricket, even on rainy days when a quick start is nearly impossible.
As Bacher sits down for an interview with Hindustan Times in the President’s Box at SuperSport Park, it’s evident that the passage of time has done little to whet his desire for the sport. His enthusiasm for all things Indian is palpable, and it’s no surprise that, of all the players he’s met in his second innings of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar is the one he most admires.
“Actually, there are two,” he corrects himself hastily. “One is Sachin, and we’re still in touch.” I mean, he’s a weirdo, from another planet. I’ve seen many of his tremendous innings, but it’s all about how he is as a person for me. Has he ever been into a fight? No, I don’t believe so. He is the personification of brilliance and happiness. Australians believe Brian Lara is better than him, but I disagree. Brian Lara, I believe, performed in front of four million people. This guy had 1.4 billion people. Can you fathom how much strain this guy is under? Please don’t tell me that.
“The next person I admire greatly is Steve Waugh.” “God — guts, determination,” Bacher exclaims. “There was a time when I did about 70 TV interviews.” Steve Waugh was the one I wanted to interview, but he refused. But I met him in London, and we made it work. Richard Parker, my producer, displayed a footage of a Test in Trinidad during that interview. Steve came in to bat at 12 (really 14) for three, on a green wicket. Curtly Ambrose charges up and nearly shaves off his skull. So, what did Steve do? He yelled at him.
He later told me what he said to him, but I can’t repeat it here! And you see Curtly Ambrose approaching him and being stopped by Richie Richardson. The next ball could have killed him, but Steve came back and made an undefeated 63. He was mentally tough, Steve. He used to be an excellent puller and hooker before retiring. I once saw Allan Donald bowl to him in Sydney, and that was the fastest I’d ever seen Allan bowl. Steve was ducking and weaving, but he had guts, and he made a hundred. Because of his mental fortitude, he was a greater player than his (twin) brother (Mark).”
Bacher ranks Donald, aka White Lightning, as one of the top three South African fast bowlers of all time. “I played against Neil Adcock in Durban when I was 18.” He is quite likely the fastest bowler we’ve ever had. He was incredibly tall and very fast. Despite losing a Test series 3-0 in England in 1960, Adcock (104 wickets in 26 Tests from 1953 to 1962) collected 27 wickets in five Tests. In my opinion, he, Dale Steyn, and Allan Donald are the three best fast bowlers we’ve ever had. I’d probably rank Dale Steyn first. He was lightning fast.
He bowled with a late away swing. He could curve it in and bowl as quickly as 11 o’clock in the morning at five o’clock in the afternoon. And he had this kind of heart (extending his hands wide). He hailed from a town called Palabora, which is close to the Kruger National Park. He attended an elementary school there, and we don’t know how he came to be so brilliant, but he did. He stayed in that area and was the best in my opinion.”
Despite the crushing setback in Centurion, Bacher is quite impressed with Rohit Sharma’s present team. “This is the best Indian team I’ve seen,” he believes. “In Test cricket. You used to have one or two good fast bowlers and that was all — Kapil Dev and possibly (Javagal) Srinath. You now have elite fast bowlers, and historically, when you have good fast bowlers, you dominate. As captain, you have a daring opening batsman. He has been following you since the beginning. And you have (Virat) Kohli, the best batsman in the world right now.
Kohli was chosen for this team because I always thought that there was no nonsense shouted on the field with India. They were well-behaved. Good work, boys. Kohli, not so much. He can be seen from a long distance and reminds me of an Australian. He’s instilled that battling spirit in them. I’m a great fan of his; he’s the best batsman in the world right now.”
