South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has found himself at the centre of a major controversy after using the word “grovel” during the post-match press conference on Day 4 of the second Test in Guwahati. What seemed like a tactical explanation soon turned into a heated debate across cricket circles because the term carries a deep, painful, racial history in the sport.
Conrad said his team wanted India to “spend more time on the field” and “really grovel” before attempting to survive the fourth innings. Although he insisted he was “stealing a phrase”, the choice of this specific word immediately reminded many of the most infamous moment in cricket history.
Why the Word “Grovel” Is Extremely Sensitive in Cricket
Conrad’s remark didn’t just create noise because it was aggressive—it touched a painful memory linked to racism, colonial history, and cricket’s past controversies.
The 1976 Tony Greig Episode (The Origin of the Controversy)
In 1976, before a high-profile series against West Indies, then England captain Tony Greig—a white South African–born player—said he wanted to “make them grovel”.
That comment was seen as:
- Racially loaded
- Humiliating
- Insensitive to Caribbean history, where slavery and oppression were realities for generations
West Indies, led by Clive Lloyd, responded with anger, pride, and domination, beating England 3–0. The word grovel has since been considered deeply offensive in cricket.
Conrad’s usage brought all of these emotions back into the spotlight.
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What Exactly Did Shukri Conrad Say?
During the press conference, Conrad said:
“We wanted India to spend as much time on their feet out in the field. We wanted them to really grovel… bat them out of the game.”
He explained that the long batting session was intentional — to:
- Tire the Indian players
- Use the evening shadows for fast bowling
- Apply psychological pressure
- Give South Africa maximum overs to win the Test
But despite the tactical reasoning, the choice of the word overshadowed everything.
What Does “Grovel” Mean? (English & Hindi Meaning)
Grovel (English Meaning):
- To crawl or act in a humiliating, submissive way
- To lie or move on the ground with face down
- To behave as if begging or surrendering completely
Grovel Meaning in Hindi:
- गिड़गिड़ाना
- रेंगना / जमीन पर रेंगकर चलना
- बेइज्जती और हार स्वीकार करने जैसे व्यवहार करना
Statement Meaning in Hindi:
Conrad का पूरा मतलब यह था कि वे चाहते थे कि भारतीय खिलाड़ी थक जाएं, दबाव में आ जाएं, बल्लेबाज़ी के लिए मानसिक रूप से टूट जाएं, और खेल में “पूरा झुक जाएं” — यानी पूरी तरह दम तोड़ दें।
यानी, यह एक मेंटल प्रेशर की लाइन थी,
लेकिन शब्द का ऐतिहासिक मतलब इसे विवादित बना गया।
Why the Statement Triggered Outrage
Even though Conrad is a coach of colour and not a white South African like Greig, the term itself is considered too controversial to be casually used.
Critics argue:
- The word is banned from cricket vocabulary due to its racist past
- Context doesn’t matter — history does
- Dominating on the field doesn’t give anyone the right to use offensive terminology
Social media erupted instantly, calling the remark unnecessary, disrespectful, and insensitive.
Cricket Legends React: Kumble and Steyn Strongly Disapprove
Some of cricket’s biggest names publicly criticized Conrad’s statement.
Anil Kumble’s Reaction
Kumble said he was disappointed:
- “When you are on top, humility is important.”
- “I didn’t expect this from South Africa.”
- “The choice of words was wrong.”
Kumble felt that South Africa, known for discipline and respect, should have avoided such language.
Dale Steyn’s Reaction
Steyn was even more direct:
- “I didn’t like it.”
- “Some things you just don’t say.”
- “It’s disappointing.”
- “Even if the context is different, the history remains.”
Steyn believes dominance on the field doesn’t justify using hurtful terms.
Read more: India vs South Africa Test Head-to-Head Records & Stats
Media, Fans, and Experts Call It a ‘Racism Row’
Across South Africa, India, and neutral fans on social media, the reaction was sharp:
- Many felt the word was completely avoidable
- Some said it reopened old wounds
- Others argued it overshadowed South Africa’s brilliant cricket in the series
- A portion of fans defended Conrad but agreed the term was “unnecessary”
Many pointed out that psychological pressure is part of cricket—but racial triggers are not.
India–South Africa Test Context: Why This Became Bigger
South Africa were already dominating the series:
- Won the first Test
- Controlled the second Test from Day 1
- Set India a massive 549-run target
- Bowled India out cheaply in the first innings
- Forced Indian bowlers to toil for nearly 230 overs
Because SA were on top, critics felt the remark sounded more like mockery than strategy.
**Did Conrad Mean It as Racism?
Intent vs. Impact**
All reports point to the fact that Conrad:
- Did not intend to make a racist comment
- Used the word casually as a psychological reference
- Possibly underestimated the historical weight
However, as many experts said:
The speaker’s intention matters less than the word’s legacy.
The past cannot be separated from the term, and therefore the remark is widely seen as inappropriate.
South Africa Coach Statement Controversy Summary
| Key Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Who made the remark? | Shukri Conrad, SA head coach |
| What word was used? | “Grovel” |
| Why is it controversial? | Strong racial and colonial history linked to 1976 Tony Greig incident |
| Historical context | Greig used the word to demean West Indies; considered racist |
| Current situation | Conrad used it while discussing India’s long fielding sessions |
| Reactions | Anil Kumble, Dale Steyn, fans, media condemned it |
| Impact on cricketing world | Sparked debate on racism, language sensitivity, professionalism |
| SA’s on-field situation | Dominant in the series and close to a 2–0 sweep |
Read more: India vs South Africa Test Head-to-Head Records
Final Thoughts: A Remark That Could Have Been Avoided
Shukri Conrad may not have intended any racial meaning, but the choice of word has triggered a wave of criticism overwhelming South Africa’s impressive cricketing performance.
The controversy highlights a key point:
In modern cricket, words carry history—and responsibility.
Even a single term can reopen wounds, spark debates, and overshadow the sport.
Now all eyes are on how South Africa and India respond — on the field and off it.
