Hansie Cronje : Superhero to forgotten past !

It’s been 16 long years of lifetime exit (1st June 2002) for once a living legend but fallen from grace posthumously Hansie Cronje ! His has been a story to remember, respect, regret, introspect and to an extent forgive and forget especially as he is no more there to tell his own story in his own way.

As a true cricket fan we were super excited to see South Africa back from hiatus of apartheid and hoped to see old giants perform at the highest level. Wessels ,Rice, Kirstens, Cooksies graced the green platter soon to be faded in memory being past their prime and all of a sudden we found young Hansie Cronje at the helm of South African Cricket.

Hansie stood out as a different cricketer, made a mark as serious allrounder and proved to be a cool head over young shoulders. His authorative, no-nonsense approach and care for his own team members made him a fatherly figure with peers probably of the same age as he himself. He soon made it a habit for us to listen to him for post match winning discussions and was destined for bigger glory as one of the greatest to grace the game.

Hansie always carried that stern but focused face on the ground but in the background had a very sensitive past due to a very shocking incident in which his car had killed a small child and that had made him a bit vulnerable too. His human side made South Africans empathize and sympathize with him and he soon became a role model and icon for many amongst them. At one point of time, its said his popularity in South Africa was next to none other than the Father of Nation Nelson Mandela only.

Under Hansie, South Africans were roaring with success and innovative captain in Hansie made headlines when we found him taking instructions from the then equally tech-savvy coach (Late) Bob Woolmer on microphones in a 1999 World Cup match against India. Till then, there was no written rule barring microphones and Hansie made full use of it along with Alan Donald. The move to an extent was appreciated and also faced some wrath but leader in him made a point across, how a captain needs to know the rules of the game and use them for his team’s benefits.

Another year down the line, Hansie was seen talking to Naseer Hussain in Centurion test after 4 days of rains and both captains decided to make a game out of the match with each one them agreeing to forfeit an innings so spectators see a result on the last day of test. South Africa lost the test while defending but the world took a note of it and smart thinking of Hansie as a captain who saved a Test match for getting washed away and also a different approach while saving a dead match.

No one ever doubted Hansie’s integrity in any controversial episodes, till one fine day when his conversation with bookies revealed a match fixing scandal. Not only was he involved but the same fatherly figure in him had spoiled his teammates integrity and in just one night Hansie’s world crumbled and once a superhero was looked upon as a modern day villain spoiling the gentleman game’s repute and his own stature. In his testimony, he cried like a baby, but wrongdoings could never be undone and he found himself banned for life from the game which was his hobby, passion and gave him all the glory.

Controversies and life in isolation made him stay away from the limelight again to be on front page as ‘Disgraced Captain Hansie Cronje killed in a plane crash’.

Cronje’s charisma , shrewdness and talent still makes us wonder what made him choose a wrong path and get into history books as a sorry figure at such an young age of 32.

As an ardent cricket fan, the choice remains with us whether to remember him as a disgraced cricketer or one of the most inspiring captains of all times ever to grace the game. Howsoever you remember him, Hansie Cronje will always find a mention whenever South African cricket and its greats come for any discussions.

Till then, keep wondering what would have happened in Hansie’s career when fixing has become a set pattern in last few years in the most beautiful game of cricket.

P.S. The blog neither justifies nor glorifies Hansie Cronje and his controversial lifestyle and decisions as a cricketer and captain. Its only aimed at revisiting a past superhero's life and wilderness thereafter.

- Jayawant