South Africa men’s cricket team coach Shukri Conrad has drawn sharp criticism from Indian cricket fans after using the controversial term “grovel” while describing his team’s strategy against India. The comments were made during Day 4 of the ongoing India–South Africa Test series, where South Africa extended their lead to 548 by batting deep into the innings.
Explaining the team’s approach, Conrad said they wanted India to be exhausted in the field. “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,'” he stated.
Why the Word “Grovel” Sparked Outrage
The uproar emerged not only because the term “grovel” literally refers to crawling or lying on the ground in submission, but also because of its historically charged use in cricket. The word gained infamy in 1976 when England captain Tony Greig used it in reference to the West Indies team during a BBC interview before the Test series.
Greig infamously told BBC:
“I’m not really sure they’re as good as everyone thinks… These guys, if they get on top, they are magnificent cricketers. But if they’re down, they grovel, and I intend… to make them grovel.”
Greig’s statement was widely condemned, especially by West Indies players and fans who viewed it through the lens of colonial history and racial power dynamics. Then–West Indies captain Clive Lloyd later said, “The word ‘grovel’ is one guaranteed to raise the blood pressure of any black man… The fact that they were used by a white South African made it even worse.”
The comment ignited anger across the Caribbean, and the West Indies team responded emphatically on the field, winning the 1976 series 3–0. Greig later apologised, insisting there was no racist intent, but the remark remains one of cricket’s most controversial moments.
Conrad’s Comment Reopens Old Wounds
Given this history, Conrad’s use of the same phrase — particularly as a white South African — did not sit well with many Indian fans. Critics argued that even if unintended, the word carries deeply offensive racial undertones that should have been avoided.
Sports journalist Gargi Raut reacted strongly on X, writing:
“Grovel carries a long history of deeply offensive, racial undertones. Maybe a slip of the tongue, but a costly one.”
While Conrad may have been referring only to India’s on-field struggles, the resurfacing of a phrase with such a troubling past has reignited debate on sensitivity, historical context, and the responsibility of cricket figures to choose their words carefully.