NEW DELHI: South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad's remark about making India 'grovel' did not sit well with former India greats Anil Kumble and Cheteshwar Pujara, who urged the visitors to stay humble, noting that word choice matters - especially when they are on the brink of making history.
Conrad sparked controversy with his comments during the press conference following Day 4 of the second Test against India in Guwahati. He said he wanted his team to make India 'grovel' on the fourth day by setting the massive 549-run target that the hosts are currently chasing to avoid a series whitewash.
Conrad mentioned that he was "stealing a phrase" from the infamous interview by late England skipper Tony Greig before the 1976 home series against Clive Lloyd's West Indies which his team lost 0-3.
"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 the game and then say to them well come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening," Conrad said.
To "grovel" means to "lie or crawl abjectly on the ground with one's face downwards", something that Greig, who was of white South African heritage, had said in reference to the Caribbean players, their painful history of slavery and the apartheid in the Rainbow Nation.
Kumble expressed his displeasure over Conrad's remark, saying that this kind of language is not expected from a coach or any member of a team's support staff.
"There's history attached to this. Fifty years ago, an England captain used the same phrase against the great West Indies side, and we all know what followed," he said. "South Africa have most likely won the series, but when you're on top, your choice of words matters. Humility is most important at such times. I certainly didn't expect this from the coach or the support staff. When you're winning, the first thing is to stay humble, not say something like this at a press conference."
Ahead of the fifth day, Pujara remained optimistic, suggesting that such remarks might motivate and energise the Indian team.
"It does fire up the team, but it will hurt as well. I don't think that statement will go down well in the dressing room," he said. "But the best way to answer it is to fight it out-bat three sessions, build partnerships. We're in this position because we haven't played good cricket, and the response has to come with the bat, not through words."
