I have seen world XI loosing all 3 match to Aus. I was thinking what was missing in World XI and I found that there was none there in World XI who can make all play as a team and guide their energy towards the goal. Suddenly, I remembered a great leader in cricket; a great hero... lets me share my views about him.... (perhaps with Hansie with SA cricket, World XI would be playing against SA not AUS)
5565 ODI runs at 38.64 Avg (as captain 4070 at 37.68 avg)
114 ODI wickets at 34.78 Avg (as captain 86 at 32.86 avg)
out of 138 Captained, Won 99 matches, lost 35 and NR/Tie 4 - Its 73.88 % winning ratio
3714 Test runs at 36.41 Avg (as captain 2833 at 36.32 avg)
42 Test wickets at 29.95 Avg (as captain 38 at 25.73 avg)
out of 53 Captained, Won 27 matches, lost 15 and NR/Tie 11 - Its 61.35 % winning ratio
What do this Cricketer / Captain deserve??? Agony for the life time, tears, boycott?? World has given him this only... yes we are talking about non other than Hansie Cronje.
Brief about Hansie as a player and captain:
Wessel Johannes ’’Hansie’’ Cronje was a South African cricketer (all-rounder) and captain of the South African cricket team.
Since school Hansie was an excellent all round sportsman, who can play cricket as well as Rugby He made his first class debut
He made his Test debut at 22 and appointed as captain in just 2 years of his cricket career at 24. In 1996 He led South Africa to 1-0 victory against England after returning to world cricket. SA people still remember and cherish that moment. He was having 14 matches winning streak which was a record once. His was a member of that unfortunate side who lost 2 semi final and 1 quarter final in World cup. As a cricketer and as a captain, his record is outstanding. Check above given figures.
Now comes the controversy of his life, in year 2000 he was alleged for match fixing. It came as a great shock to the world. After long enquiry, he was banned from playing and coaching cricket.
A career ended, an era ended, a dream ended, a pursuit towards excellence ended, South African hopes ended.
A lot has been said, heard, written for this, so I will present my views for this best leader I have ever seen.
I am considering him best leader because; when SA used to play against India I used to hate him (he was a center of all SA power). Perhaps that’s the proof that I am considering him the best.
Hansie Cronje took South Africa to the forefront of world cricket at a time when South Africa was desperate for International recognition.
He was the one who was universally accepted captain / leader in SA team. A pace man like Allan Donald was fan of him. Performance of Donald had gone down after Hansie. This was an example of Hansie’s effect in SA team.
Delhi police has got link from Mukesh Gupta and Sanjeev Chawala. I am not sure where they both are but they must be doing well in Indian Law system after screwing the life of this great sports man.
Nicky Boje, Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams were also charged by Delhi Police. They are also doing good with other India, Pak and Aus cricketers who had taken bribes. (imagine situation if Shane warne would have banned after Srilanka tour, Aussie can’t do it and SA had over reacted)
First denied but afterward, Hansie has telephoned Ali Bacher, managing director of South Africa’s United Cricket Board, and told him that he had not been ’’entirely honest’’ in his denials, Cronje himself admitted accepting more than $100, 000 for giving information to bookmakers and for asking players to do badly, but he denied ever ’’fixing’’ a match.
Cronje had said the team ’laughed it off.’ But teammates said the offer was discussed in three team meetings before being declined. (so all were knowing this)
New captain Shaun Pollock dedicated the victory in the first match to Cronje. (people were loving him even after he was convicted for bribe.)
Allan Donald revealed that ’’quite a few guys were in tears’’ when Ali Bacher spoke to the team about his dismissal. (he was like, he lost his big brother)
Cronje says he would like to coach South Africa but it was denied. He once said that says he was frustrated by ban because he wanted to coach children and help them buy equipment ’’especially in the rural townships’’. He also wanted to do good for disabled athletes.
There are few questions which are unanswered....
Had Hansie been treated too harshly for what he had done?
Are even 1 % cricketers are being punished for match fixing?
Did SA board and Govt have treated Hansie harshly because of a fear of Boycott from world again?
Which team wants to loose a captain who has 70 % + winning ratio ? (who cares he is doing what)
Why other cricketers like Gibbs and Boje are still playing? (not mentioning players from other country, else I would be out of space)
Had Hansie was killed in accident?
No one knows the answer but I am carrying great image of this wonderfully gifted player in my mind. He was the best ever leader. Check my last few words....
I wish to acknowledge and remember the Hansie for being a great cricket player and an inspirational captain of the South African. Whilst not excusing the mistakes Hansie made in his life, I would certainly hope that all would acknowledge that even out of adverse circumstances, good things can come when approached with a sincere heart and attitude resulting in transformed character. He had made mistake but He had paid more price than what had been required. Remember him as a Hero and not otherwise. He was the one who had dared to speak the truth, and brave enough to accept that he has done a mistake. Who else had even done so?
After confession, he had been a real good man, God requires good man with him, and that’s why God had called Hansie with him.