BBC SPORT | Cricket | Cronje's lasting influence



By Marcus Prior South African sports journalist

The iconic features of Hollywood legend James Dean continue to seize public imagination.

The comparison is hardly exact, but in the same way the powerful persona of Hansie Cronje remains a telling influence on some members of the South African cricket team.

Four months on from his tragic death in a plane crash, it is clear that much as he may have betrayed his sport for the sake of a few dollars more, Cronje is held in great affection even by those whose careers he nearly ended.

Herschelle Gibbs feels the heat in Sri Lanka
Gibbs bore no grudge against Cronje

One of them is opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs, whose retirement with severe cramps when unbeaten on 116 was the turning point in South Africa's astonishing capitulation to India in their Champions Trophy semi-final last week.

Reflecting on his innings the following day, Gibbs explained why he was particularly sad to have missed out on a place in the final.

"You know why I wanted us to win this one so badly? It was because it was Hansie's birthday," said Gibbs.

"He remains a source of inspiration for me and I thought so much of him on Wednesday. That innings of mine was for him and all that he meant to me. That is why it is a devastating feeling to think that I could not complete the job."

Gibbs was one of the players who admitted to accepting an offer from Cronje to underperform in a one-day international.

But despite the six-month ban which followed, he remained close to his former skipper. Gibbs held no grudge and Cronje remained one of his favourite golfing partners.

Hansie Cronje factfile

1987-88 Made his first-class debut for Orange Free State

1991-92 Made Test match debut for South Africa against Windies

1992-93 Hit his maiden Test century against India

1993-94 Had his first taste of Test captaincy, losing to Australia in Adelaide

1994-95 Officially appointed South Africa captain against New Zealand

1995 Joined Leicestershire as overseas player

1999 Captained South Africa to the semi-final of the World Cup in England

2002 Killed in plane crash on 1 June

But even if the players do want to look to the future rather than the past - and many do - their former captain has remained a part of their lives in some more practical though less obvious ways.

While in Sri Lanka for the Champions Trophy, the players were shown a video by cricket's Anti-Corruption Unit designed to educate cricketers about the dangers posed by bookmakers and gamblers.

Cronje's image appeared repeatedly as a quiet and sombre group of South Africans looked on.

There has also been another sharp reminder of their former captain in the form of his brother.

Frans Cronje has been in Sri Lanka to make a television documentary about cricketers who profess a Christian faith, which included interviews with several South African players.

A South African broadcaster who questioned the appropriateness of Frans Cronje's involvement with the national side on air last week was the subject of several calls from unhappy viewers.

Cronje giving evidence to the King Commission (2000)
Friends plan a memorial to Cronje

Cronje's support base among cricket fans remains strong and the process of restoring the image of the former captain continues apace.

Leon Dorfling, a businessman and close friend, has funded the salvage of the plane in which Cronje died.

He plans to lay the plane out as it was found at the crash site in a museum he wants to build in Cronje's honour.

And what is described as a 'Christian lifestyle newspaper for men' - Maximan - has launched a campaign to have Cronje's lifetime ban from cricket lifted posthumously.

The publication's editor said the lifting of the ban should be seen as 'a sign of forgiveness'.

It is a step that a large number of South Africans have already taken.

Others may take longer to follow and many may never be able to do so.


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