South Africa And Their Love Affair With Eden Gardens

The Eden Gardens is the spiritual home of Indian cricket. The passionate fans, the electrifying atmosphere and the sense of a big-match occasion at the venue is something every cricketer cherishes. It is a special venue for India and their fans, but it is an equally special venue for South Africa. (Last Chance for MS Dhoni and Co. To Salvage Some Pride)

The relationship between Eden Gardens and South Africa is just not cricketing. It encompasses a socio-political understanding between nationals ruled by the Whites. Eden Gardens gave South Africa cricket hope, happiness and some memorable moments. Ironically, on Thursday when South Africa step onto Eden Gardens, they will miss Jagmohan Dalmiya, the man who single-handedly paved Proteas return to international cricket. (Jagmohan Dalmiya's Portrait to be Placed in Front of Eden Gates)

The mention of Eden Gardens' relationship with the South African team is incomplete if one does not mention the glorious moments of 1991. South Africa were isolated for 22 years due to their apartheid policy. For 102 years of their cricket history, South Africa had predominantly played only Australia, England and New Zealand. With the country now ushering in a new era following the end of apartheid, things were changing.

Following the collapse of apartheid, South Africa were looking to make a comeback in international sports and cricket was the prime vehicle. After hectic negotiations in the ICC, South Africa were readmitted to international cricket. According to ESPNcricinfo, during a dinner party in London on the day of readmission, the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) chief Dr Ali Bacher mentioned, "We have never played them (India). After 102 years of playing international cricket, the new South Africa has to start with them."

Bacher travelled to India and he got a shot in the arm when he met the-then West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu who said, "I want you to play cricket in Calcutta next week." The announcement changed the face of South African cricket and within a week, they were slated to play India in a three-match ODI series. The reception the team received in Kolkata and the support of the fans overwhelmed them.

In the first ODI on November 10, South Africa finally had a taste of international cricket after 22 years. They were bowled out for 177 but they made India work hard for victory. Allan Donald bowled with pace and hostility to pick up 5/29 but it took Sachin Tendulkar's 62 to help India to a three-wicket win. Although South Africa lost, the occasion was not lost and skipper Clive Rice summed up the moment perfectly when he said, "I know how Neil Armstrong felt when he stood on the moon."

South Africa's Moments of Joy in City of Joy

Eden Gardens had launched the new South Africa on the cricketing world map and they went on to become one of the dominant teams of the 90's. South Africa returned to the Eden in 1996 and they witnessed a spectacular debut by a young cricketer nicknamed 'Zulu' (Lance Klusener), who would go on to become one of the best finishers for the Proteas in ODIs.

Trailing 0-1, South Africa got off to a great start when Andrew Hudson and Gary Kirsten both scored centuries to help them reach 428. However, the man who stole the show was Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, who slammed a 74-ball century, which was the fourth-fastest century at that time. Kirsten became only the third South African after Alan Melville and Bruce Mitchell to score a century in both innings when he hit 133.

Kirsten, who went on to become India's 2011 World Cup winning coach, was supported by Daryll Cullinan's 153 and India were set a mammoth 467 for victory. Klusener blew them away with a haul of 8/64 and South Africa emerged victorious by a whopping 329 runs. In front of a 50,000 plus crowd on all days of the Test, South Africa had levelled the series in grand style.

South Africa once again found joy in Eden Gardens but this time, the background was volatile. Heading into the fourth ODI during the 2005 series, the Sourav Ganguly-Greg Chappell standoff had reached boiling point. To compound matters, Ganguly was left out of the team and Chappell was accused of disrespecting the fans when he reportedly showed the middle finger. The 90,000-plus crowd had ample reasons to not support Team India and they vented their fury.

South Africa bowled India out for 188 and they chased down the target in 35.5 overs thanks to a fantastic, unbeaten 134 by Proteas skipper Graeme Smith. India were thrashed by 10 wickets and during the presentation, the crowd jeered Indian skipper Rahul Dravid.

Harbhajan Singh denied South Africa a series win during the second Test against Kolkata in 2010.

© AFP

South Africa Suffer Pain in the Garden of Eden

Eden Gardens has given South Africa plenty of joy but it has also given them sorrow. Moments of sorrow are mixed with tragedy considering that they were close to avoiding defeat.

South Africa's reputation to choke under pressure was first witnessed in Kolkata during the semi-final of the 1993 Hero Cup tournament. India managed 195 thanks to a magnificent 90 by Mohammad Azharuddin. South Africa needed six runs off the final over and the Indian skipper took a gamble. He got Sachin Tendulkar to bowl the final over. Earlier in 1991, Tendulkar had bowled the final over which clinched a tie for India against the West Indies in Perth. He started off with three dot balls and the pressure mounted. He gave away just three runs in the next three balls and India clinched a nail-biting two-run win.

After getting thrashed in 2004 by eight wickets, South Africa suffered another painful blow in Eden Gardens during the 2010 Test series. In the second Test, South Africa were boosted by centuries from Hashim Amla and Alviro Petersen but a collapse of eight wickets for 67 runs put them on the back foot. Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Tendulkar and MS Dhoni all smashed centuries to help India to 643/6 declared. Armed with a deficit of 347 runs, South Africa hung on with Amla once again batting like a dream.

The tail started to stonewall and the overs started to dwindle. Amla was batting in the zone and the likes of Wayne Parnell and Morne Morkel were batting with ease. With just nine minutes to go for the end of the match, India turned to Harbhajan Singh and with the third ball of his 49th over, he trapped Morkel LBW for 12 to give India an innings and 57-run victory. His haul of 48.3-23-59-5 reaffirmed his love affair for Eden Gardens and more importantly, India had managed to hold on to the Number One Test ranking.

Eyeing a Special Result Again!

South Africa's emergence as a cricketing superpower goes back to that day in November 1991 when they set foot on the Eden Gardens. After five years, they once again come to this venue with plenty of confidence, having sealed a limited-overs series win for the first time on Indian soil. Another victory in Kolkata will make things special for South Africa because whitewashing India on their home turf in any format is a difficult task. On Thursday, they will be hoping for a special result to supplement their love affair with Eden Gardens.