National Museum of Australia - South African cap: A troubled career

South African cap: A troubled career

In 1909, South Africa, England and Australia formed the Imperial Cricket Conference (now the International Cricket Council) to govern international Test cricket. New Zealand, India and the West Indies were admitted in 1926 and Pakistan joined in 1953. Today the council also includes Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

In 1970, the council voted to suspend South Africa because the nation was refusing, in line with its government's policy of apartheid, to play non-white teams or to field non-white players. Many talented South African players were either unable to play or chose to immigrate to other cricketing nations. Kepler Wessels, for example, played first for Australia then later returned to his homeland of South Africa.

A black and white photograph showing anti-apartheid demonstrators. They are standing outside the entrance to what apppears to be a cricket ground. A large wrought iron gate is visible behind them. On the gate is a sign that says 'Ticket Holders Only'. The demonstrator closest to the camera is a woman wearing a shiny dark coat, white trousers and dark shoes. She holds a placard that says 'Sport Should Know No Colour Bar'. Standing to the left of her is a man wearing trousers, shoes, coat and a hat. he holds a placard that says 'Going To See The South African "Whites Only" Cricket Team? (It's Not Cricket)'. Standing to the left of him is another man, wearing trousers, shoes and a dark coat. He holds a placard that says 'Why Not D'Oliviera?' To the left of him, across the other side of the entrance driveway, stands a group of five men. One of them is a police officer. A car is parked to the immediate left of the group.

Following the dissolution of apartheid, South Africa was reinstated as a Test nation and played its first match against India in 1991.

In 1993, the South African team toured Australia and the following Australia made a return tour, rekindling a fierce cricketing rivalry.

Right: In 1965, South Africa toured England. At Lord's Cricket Ground in London they were met by anti-apartheid demonstrators. Courtesy: Douglas Miller, Getty Images.

A colour photograph of a male cricket team standing on a cricket field. They all wear white trousers, shoes and shirts. Many of them are waving to the crowd. The cricketer closest to the camera has his hands in front of his chest in a prayer-like position. In the background are two large stands. Much of the stands are occupied by the crowd. The stand to the right has a roof that shields the spectators from the sun. Two of the cricketers, in the middle of the team, wear batting pads on their lower legs.

Right: South Africa's Clive Rice leads his team back into international cricket at the first One-Day International between India and South Africa on 10 November 1991. Courtesy: PA Photos.

A colour photograph of part of the crowd at a cricket match in India. The photo shows many Indian people, mostly male, sitting in a stand watching a game. Many of them wear hats or visors. At the front of the stand is a yellow metal railing with thin vertical supports. A spectator is tying an orange, white and green Indian flag to the railing. To the left of the flag hangs a small banner that says 'It's Just Not Cricket Without The Black Vote'. To the right of the flag hangs another banner that says 'Black Vote...0 Bowled Rice, Stumped De Klerk'.

Right: At the first One-Day International between India and South Africa in 1991, the Indian crowds expressed their support for black South Africans in their struggle for the right to vote. Courtesy: Shaun Botterill, Getty Images.

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