Basil d'Oliveira has died

[The Large One]

Former England all-rounder Basil D'Oliveira has died at the age of 80.

Born in South Africa, D'Oliveira moved to England in 1960 due to the lack of opportunities for non-White players.

In 1968 he was named in England's squad to tour South Africa which was then cancelled as South Africa's government refused to accept his presence.

D'Oliveira played county cricket for Worcestershire between 1964-80 and represented England in 44 Tests, scoring 2484 runs at an average of 40.

Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola led the tributes to D'Oliveira, saying: "He was a man of true dignity and a wonderful role model as somebody who overcame the most extreme prejudices and circumstances to take his rightful place on the world stage.

"The fact that he could have a Test career batting average of 40 in 44 Tests and an economy rate of less than two with the ball on his way to 47 wickets was remarkable considering he was past his prime when he made his debut for England in his mid-30s.

"One can only imagine what he might have achieved had he made his debut as he should have done at the age of 20 on South Africa's tour of England in 1951.

"I would like to pay tribute also to all those people in England, notably John Arlott, one of the greatest cricket radio commentators of all time, for the roles they played in making it possible for Basil to achieve his dream of playing international cricket for his adopted country.

"The circumstances surrounding his being prevented from touring the country of his birth with England in 1968 led directly to the intensification of opposition to apartheid around the world and contributed materially to the sports boycott that turned out to be an Achilles heel of the apartheid government.

"Throughout this shameful period in South Africa's sporting history, Basil displayed a human dignity that earned him worldwide respect and admiration.

"His memory and inspiration will live on among all of us. On behalf of the CSA family I would like to convey our sympathies to his family and salute them on a life well lived."

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Do we know if he shook hands with the leaders of the apartheid regime when he left SA?

 

[Medwayseagull]

RIP - Ironic that at this time in the furore about racism he was directly affected when the apartheid SA government refused him entry to let him tour with the England cricket team. Perhaps it will be a salutory reminder to some on here what racism was like in practice.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Sad news, if anyone doesn't know who he is it's well worth reading up on, brilliant story.


p.s I wonder how many more race ralated incidents fate is going to throw up this week.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

RIP - Ironic that at this time in the furore about racism he was directly affected when the apartheid SA government refused him entry to let him tour with the England cricket team. Perhaps it will be a salutory reminder to some on here what racism was like in practice.

Good post. RIP, he was a great cricketer.

 

[Gwylan]

Sad to see. He was a fine cricketer .. and a dignified one too.

The book by Peter Oborne is a really good read - what a story.

 

[Pevenseagull]

I would imagine the BBC will at least repeat the 'Not Cricket' doc from a couple of years back, required viewing.

More info for anyone not familiar with the great man's story Basil DOliveira Official Website

 

[Brovion]

RIP - Ironic that at this time in the furore about racism he was directly affected when the apartheid SA government refused him entry to let him tour with the England cricket team. Perhaps it will be a salutory reminder to some on here what racism was like in practice.

Good point. That was real, nasty, front-line racism as opposed to endless navel-gazing about whether using the word 'negro' or any of its translations is racist in England when it isn't in South America. Or vice-versa. Or whatever.

 

[Working class pride]

The D'Oliviera story was passed down to me by my dad until I read his autobiography a few years back. Dolly was categorised as a "Cape Coloured" - those from mixed race heritage in Cape Town (of which Cape Town has a huge community because of its history). When the MCC failed to pick him for the S'africa tour after he scored 150 at the Oval, respect should also go to the people that stood up to the establishment, did what was right, and stood by Dolly. Reading his autobiography also shows how much smaller the world has got these days. When he moved to England from Cape Town, it really was a different world.

 

[El Presidente]

Sad news about D'Olivera, although having suffered from dementia for the last 8 years he is in a better place now.

Shame that the BBC has had so many tributes to Basil, but has been silent about the death of Peter Roebuck this week, who in his own way tried to bring different races together.

It's clearly one rule for a victim of the apartheid regime that treated non-whites as second or third class citizens, and another for a miserable sexual deviant who got his kicks from spanking and caning young black men.

 

[public school boy]

the world of cricket will miss this wonderful man. A legend and a Gent. I met him at lords on many occasions.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Do we know if he shook hands with the leaders of the apartheid regime when he left SA?

Am not sure what you mean by this Edna. He was "coloured", so the leaders of Apartheid would have shunned him. Or am I missing something here?

 

[Working class pride]

Do we know if he shook hands with the leaders of the apartheid regime when he left SA?

The tour was cancelled by MCC because someone leaked telegrams to the press and the MCC did not want to be seen to have the S'african's picking their team for them. However, before that, The MCC establishment pulled every trick before to preserve the tour and exclude Dolly. That is why he was not named in the touring party. After the tour was cancelled, the MCC obviously took the credit however.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Nice to see the South Africans wearing black armbands today.

Met him at the County Ground once, but being 8 or so, I didn't really have a clue who he was at the time.

 

[El Presidente]

Am not sure what you mean by this Edna. He was "coloured", so the leaders of Apartheid would have shunned him. Or am I missing something here?

That one went totally over your head didn't it!

 

[Dave the OAP]

Lovely man...met him a couple of times.

Great shame

 

[Razzoo]

Sounds like a sporting great R.I.P

 

[KZNSeagull]

That one went totally over your head didn't it!

It most certainly did!! Please explain.

 

[Gully]

RIP - Ironic that at this time in the furore about racism he was directly affected when the apartheid SA government refused him entry to let him tour with the England cricket team. Perhaps it will be a salutory reminder to some on here what racism was like in practice.

Spot-on. From recent events we know that racism still rears its ugly head from time to time. Whilst there are many like D'Oliveira who speak out against it there will always be those who don't find it offensive or who practice their own sorry version of appartheid, even if it is only in their tiny minds. Racism has not disappeared from society, maybe it never will, but I have great respect for those who make a stand against it. RIP Dolly, the World has lost a true gentleman and an example to us all.