Heroes deserve better

During last night’s Extra Cover, I suddenly had a brain surge.

There we were, Barry Richards, Gary Kirsten and myself, sitting back towards the end of the show admiring the final moments of Steve Waugh’s career and I glanced at my two esteemed guests and noticed how glued they were to the television monitor. What were they thinking?

After the show I asked that exact question. They both replied how superb Steve had been throughout his 18-year international career and how much he had done for the game, but they both added something additional. They were gobsmacked at the superb send off Steve had received from the Australian public and also importantly Cricket Australia. It was sensational. A packed stadium gave their favourite son a rousing three cheers send off that brought goose bumps.

It got me thinking. There I was, next to two of South Africa’s best ever players, and I could see a touch of envy in their eyes. Barry of course was unable to display his extremely rare talent on the fields of South Africa for any period of time, but he is widely considered in the top three ever to wield the willow. Gary, a far different player, but one who is rewriting the record books, and a player who has made his country proud with his good old fashioned guts and determination.

I also thought of a couple of other guys who in my mind have never received the accolades they deserved. What Allan Donald and Jonty Rhodes have done for South Africa was sensational. The number of people they attracted to the game over the years was remarkable. But let’s face it. They both disappeared from the scene with a whimper. They could and should have both been thanked by the U.C.B. and the loyal public with some sort of farewell parallel to Steve Waugh. I sensed that Gary was wondering if he will also just fade from the scene.

I thought further. A sense of frustration engulfed me when I realized that South Africa is the only cricketing power that does not have grandstands at the premier venues named after their cricket heroes. How poor is that!

It is time for the United Cricket Board of South Africa to acknowledge those who have done so much for the game in this country and to pay tribute to it’s greatest servants.

Apathy is one name for it. Ignorance is another.

Apathy + Ignorance = Embarrassment.