Tour of India 2004-05          Captain: Graeme Smith

37th official Test tour

Third Test-playing tour of India by South Africa

(November -

        December 2004)

This was South Africa's first Test tour of India since Hansie Cronje' s involvement in match-fixing with Indian bookies had come to light. At one stage the tour looked likely for cancellation because the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) did not receive assurances that spinner Nicky Boje and batsman Herschelle Gibbs would be immune from prosecution. 

Gibbs and Boje pulled out to avoid questioning by Delhi police in the match-fixing case. The Board executive decided there would be five non-white players in the team and Boje’s and Gibbs’ withdrawal gave opportunities to Ontong and Amla.

Other South African tours

Previous Tour

Sri Lanka 2004

Next tour

West Indies 2004-05

Next tour of India

2007-08

Members of the Test tour party (14)

Opening batsmen  Graeme Smith,  Andrew Hall, 

Middle-order batsmen  Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, Martin van Jaarsveld,  Jacques Rudolph, Boeta Dippenaar, Zander de Bruyn

Wicket-keepers  Thami Tsolekile

All-rounder: Shaun Pollock

Spin bowlers  Robin Peterson, Justin Ontong

Fast bowlers  Alfonso Thomas, Makhaya Ntini

Representation of teams:   

Bo - Boland (1)

Br - Border (1)

E  -  Easterns (2)

EP Eastern Province (1)

FS -  Free State (1)

KZN - Kwa Zulu Natal (2)

N - Northerns (3)

WP - Western Province (3)

Average age of  team at time of first Test match

(20 November 2004) :

       26 yrs  11 months

Test Appearances made before the tour

Pollock 85,  Kallis 80,  Ntini 47,  Dippenaar 26,  Smith 26,  Rudolph 16,  Hall 10,  van Jaarsveld 7,  Peterson 4,  Ontong 1,  Amla 0,  de Bruyn 0,  Tsolekile 0.

Team Officials

After a run of poor results especially on the Sri Lankan tour, Eric Simons tenure as coach ended in October 2004.  Ray Jennings stepped in on a six month contract.

Team manager Tim Southey's contract was also terminated by the United Cricket Board (UCB)

Selectors

Omar Henry (convenor of selectors),

The controversial quota system required that five non-white players should be included in the 14-member squad.

Selection

Unavailable:  Andre Nel;  Herschelle Gibbs decided

Tour Party announced  27 October 2004

Only two players, Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock had been part of the previous tour to India in 2000.

Not selected:  Paul Adams,  Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Charl Langeveldt.

Withdrawal : On 3 November Nicky Boje, who was vice-captain in the original selection, withdrew because of fears of arrest for match-fixing in India five years ago.  Charl Langeveldt who was chosen instead had a back injury and two days later he was replaced by Robin Peterson.

Time between selection and departure from South Africa

  15 days

(27 October to 11 November)

Travel

After a five-day pre-series camp in Pretoria the team departed on Thursday 11 November 2004 from Johannesburg, arriving after travel delays in Mumbai early on Friday 12 November. 

Time spent in India

   x days

(12 November - depart Host)

On-tour selection panel

Ray Jennings (coach)  and  Graeme Smith (captain).

Reinforcements

Fixtures/Results

Time spent in India before First Test:  10 days

(12 - 20 November)

Test appearances on tour

2  -  de Bruyn,  Dippenaar,  Hall,  Kallis, Ntini,  Pollock,  Rudolph,  Smith,  Tsolekile

1  -  Amla,  van Jaarsveld,  Ontong,  Peterson

0  -  Thomas.

Highlights

Tour Summary

Return to South Africa

Last match ended 3 December

Time away from South Africa    x days  

(11 November to arrive home in S AfI)

Finances