Wanted India to grovel: South Africa coach makes controversial remark in Guwahati

South Africa’s head coach, Shukri Conrad, has ignited a storm of controversy during the ongoing Test series against India, using a single word in a post-match press conference that carries deep and painful historical baggage in cricket: “grovel.”

The comment came after the conclusion of Day 4 of the second Test in Guwahati, where South Africa, in a commanding position, prolonged their second innings to set India an unattainable target of 549 runs. When asked about the delayed declaration, Conrad explained his tactical decision: "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..."

While Conrad appeared to use the term—which means to crawl or lie abjectly on the ground—in the context of making the Indian players physically toil, his admission that he was "stealing a phrase" immediately triggered the historical parallel that has led to the current racism row.