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South Africa’s legendary pacer Dale Steyn has distanced himself from head coach Shukri Conrad’s make India “grovel” comment, explaining why the declaration was delayed on Day 4 of second Test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. Steyn says there was no need to make that comment, especially considering the stigma attached to it.
“I’m not on that boat, eh? I don’t like that. I almost don’t even want to make a comment about it,” Steyn said on the broadcast.
“There are certain things you just don’t say. There’s stigma attached to it. It just wasn’t necessary. South Africa were in such a dominant position—saying nothing is enough. I’m just not on that boat.”
Conrad’s comment is being compared to that of former England captain Tony Greig. He wanted to make West Indies grovel but ended up losing the Test series 3-0. While Steyn feels that Conrad’s tone wasn’t as harsh as Greig’s, it should have been avoided.
“Maybe I pick up his tone now—it’s not as harsh as Tony Greig’s. But that doesn’t matter. You just don’t use words like that. Toss it. You don’t have to say it. That’s disappointing. Sorry, Shukri, but that’s disappointing,” Steyn further said on the matter.
Here’s Conrad’s full statement including the ‘grovel’ comment
"We obviously looked at how best we were going to use the new ball, because in the morning we still wanted a newish, hardish ball. What we felt is that when the shadows come across the wicket in the evening, there's something in it for the quick bowlers, so we didn't want to declare too early and not be able to use that,” Conrad said in the press conference after Day 4's play.
"And then, obviously, we wanted the Indians 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 the game, and then say to them 'Come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening.' So, so far so good, but we also know that they're not just going to roll over, we're going to have to be at our very best in the morning."
Meanwhile, South Africa are moving towards a cleansweep on Indian soil for the first time in 25 years.
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