The South Africa National Cricket Team has found itself in a huge controversy, thanks to their head coach Shukri Conrad’s negative remark on the India National Cricket Team on Day 4 of the ongoing second and final Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
After South Africa ensured a historic whitewash of India in their own backyard, Shukri Conrad used a word that has a painful history behind it, and that remark has overtaken all the efforts they have put in throughout the series, with heated discussions sparking among the cricket pandits.
At the end of Day 4, India was two down for just 21 runs while chasing a huge target of 549 runs against the Proteas side in Guwahati. They had batted for almost 80 overs in their second innings and had almost sealed the two-match Test series 2-0.
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Read Also: Temba Bavuma aggressively celebrates in Kuldeep Yadav’s face after his dismissal in Guwahati Test
While talking about the South African cricket team’s strong position, Shukri Conrad used the controversial word “grovel.” The Proteas head coach had said they wanted India to “really grovel,” and not just that, Conrad also admitted that he was borrowing the phrase from the late England captain Tony Greig, who had used it in the infamous 1976 series against the West Indies.
That statement is remembered as one of the most shocking and controversial in cricket history. Sharing his views on the controversy, the legendary South African fast bowler Dale Steyn looked uncomfortable and clearly said that he didn’t want to be linked to that word.
Shukri Conrad slammed by Dale Steyn for using infamous phrase from 1976 Tony Greig saga
Dale Steyn said on Star Sports’ Cricket Live ahead of Day 5: “I’m not on that boat, eh? I don’t like that. I almost don’t even want to make a comment about it. There are certain things you just don’t say. There’s stigma attached to it. It just wasn’t necessary. South Africa was in such a dominant position—saying nothing is enough. I’m just not on that boat.”
Steyn explained that some words carry a lot of negative history, and even if Conrad’s intention isn’t bad, they should not be used. The commentator felt Conrad using the same term now, against an Indian team with its own history of discrimination, brought back old wounds.
Read Also: 'Disrespectful…stay humble': Anil Kumble, Cheteshwar Pujara, Parthiv Patel destroy Shukri Conrad over ‘grovel’ remark
He also emphasized that the South African side was already dominating the Guwahati Test and there was no need to use such language. Steyn added, “Maybe I pick up his tone now—it’s not as harsh as Tony Greig’s. But that doesn’t matter. You just don’t use words like that. Toss it. You don’t have to say it. That’s disappointing. Sorry, Shukri, but that’s disappointing.”
What is Tony Greig’s 1976 ‘Grovel’ saga?
Notably, Conrad referred to Tony Greig’s famous and very controversial statement from 1976. Greig had used the same word against the West Indies, whose players were descendants of enslaved Africans and carried generations of racial suffering.
It caused huge anger in the Caribbean. Inspired by that insult, the West Indies went on to crush England 3–0 in a historic series.
Ahead of that series, Greig had stated, “If they’re down, they grovel, and I intend… to make them grovel.” Captain Clive Lloyd later stated, “The word ‘grovel’ is one guaranteed to raise the blood pressure of any Black man… We resolved to show him that the days for grovelling were over.”
Dale Steyn announces fallout, buries Shukri Conrad after his disgusting ‘grovel’ comment
Published - 26 Nov 2025, 12:13 PM | Updated - 26 Nov 2025, 12:16 PM
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The South Africa National Cricket Team has found itself in a huge controversy, thanks to their head coach Shukri Conrad’s negative remark on the India National Cricket Team on Day 4 of the ongoing second and final Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
After South Africa ensured a historic whitewash of India in their own backyard, Shukri Conrad used a word that has a painful history behind it, and that remark has overtaken all the efforts they have put in throughout the series, with heated discussions sparking among the cricket pandits.
Shukri Conrad sparks outrage with ‘Grovel’ comment against India
At the end of Day 4, India was two down for just 21 runs while chasing a huge target of 549 runs against the Proteas side in Guwahati. They had batted for almost 80 overs in their second innings and had almost sealed the two-match Test series 2-0.
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Read Also: Temba Bavuma aggressively celebrates in Kuldeep Yadav’s face after his dismissal in Guwahati Test
While talking about the South African cricket team’s strong position, Shukri Conrad used the controversial word “grovel.” The Proteas head coach had said they wanted India to “really grovel,” and not just that, Conrad also admitted that he was borrowing the phrase from the late England captain Tony Greig, who had used it in the infamous 1976 series against the West Indies.
That statement is remembered as one of the most shocking and controversial in cricket history. Sharing his views on the controversy, the legendary South African fast bowler Dale Steyn looked uncomfortable and clearly said that he didn’t want to be linked to that word.
Shukri Conrad slammed by Dale Steyn for using infamous phrase from 1976 Tony Greig saga
Dale Steyn said on Star Sports’ Cricket Live ahead of Day 5: “I’m not on that boat, eh? I don’t like that. I almost don’t even want to make a comment about it. There are certain things you just don’t say. There’s stigma attached to it. It just wasn’t necessary. South Africa was in such a dominant position—saying nothing is enough. I’m just not on that boat.”
Steyn explained that some words carry a lot of negative history, and even if Conrad’s intention isn’t bad, they should not be used. The commentator felt Conrad using the same term now, against an Indian team with its own history of discrimination, brought back old wounds.
Read Also: 'Disrespectful…stay humble': Anil Kumble, Cheteshwar Pujara, Parthiv Patel destroy Shukri Conrad over ‘grovel’ remark
He also emphasized that the South African side was already dominating the Guwahati Test and there was no need to use such language. Steyn added, “Maybe I pick up his tone now—it’s not as harsh as Tony Greig’s. But that doesn’t matter. You just don’t use words like that. Toss it. You don’t have to say it. That’s disappointing. Sorry, Shukri, but that’s disappointing.”
What is Tony Greig’s 1976 ‘Grovel’ saga?
Notably, Conrad referred to Tony Greig’s famous and very controversial statement from 1976. Greig had used the same word against the West Indies, whose players were descendants of enslaved Africans and carried generations of racial suffering.
It caused huge anger in the Caribbean. Inspired by that insult, the West Indies went on to crush England 3–0 in a historic series.
Ahead of that series, Greig had stated, “If they’re down, they grovel, and I intend… to make them grovel.” Captain Clive Lloyd later stated, “The word ‘grovel’ is one guaranteed to raise the blood pressure of any Black man… We resolved to show him that the days for grovelling were over.”
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Shukri Conrad India National Cricket Team South Africa National Cricket Team Dale Steyn India vs South AfricaAbout the Author
Rashmi Wasnik is a passionate content writer with over a decade of experience. She started her journ... Read more