I don’t often read the “where are you now” columns in the Sunday times – I get bored with the “i’m a second hand car salesman living with my wife, 7 children and 14 grandchildren in a semi detached on the wrong side of Pofadder, all because I missed the professional era, but gave my life to the game.” But this one caught my eye. We all remember the fiery Le Roux, and for those of you that don’t get the Times, thought you’d enjoy his recollection of the Kirsten incident.
Sunday Times – Tristan Holme
It is difficult to reconcile the Garth le Roux of today with the reputation of the gruff fast bowler from the 1970’s and 80’s.
The imposing frame remains, as does the former paceman’s moustache, but there’s a gentleness that doesn’t fit with the man who so obviously wanted to hurt people.
That is, until Le Roux, 55, explains his antipathy towards batsman – one that could extend to good friends, as Western Province roommate Peter Kirsten found out during a club match.
“We knew each other well and he’d watched me bowl and hit people from day one,” says Le Roux. “He wasn’t a terribly good hooker and he walks in with a cloth cap in the days of helmets.
“So I bowl him a baby bouncer and he hits me for a one-bounce four. The next one gets a bit more heated and hits him straight on the pip.
“He goes down and has to spend two weeks in a dark room. Almost kills him. And I felt nothing for him because he should have known better.”
Never mind friends – Le Roux’s white-line fever went further. “at that moment that mist comes over, I don’t care if you put pads on my wife. If she’s standing between me and the woodwork, she either gets out of the way or she takes the pain. That’s how it works.
“There’s got to be fear, all the greatest fast bowlers have been mean. That’s why I’m worried about Morne Morkel. He’s got all the ability, but I want to see him hit people properly and tell them to get up or f… off. Those batsmen will spread that story so quickly it will make your head spin.”
That approach served Le Roux well. His entire career was eclipsed by South Africa’s isolation, but he made his mark during a season of World Series Cricket that came out of the blue.
His reputation at provincial level had travelled to Australia and the unwitting youngster received a phone call from Tony Greig in his university digs at Stellenbosch in 1977. His next season he turned out for the World XI against players he’d only seen posters of.
“I walked into the Perth hotel and there was this massive car, swivelling on a disc. And sitting in the drivers seat was a guy with a hooked nose, a big, shiny man. It was Viv Richards.
“A sign next to the car said it was for the man of the series, so I thought: ‘Well it must be all done – he must be the winner.’ Guess what? I go and do so well that I win the car, at the age of 22!”
He would go on to take 372 wickets for Western Province during the Currie Cup’s halcyon period and 59 wickets in 15 “tests” during the rebel tours.
These days Le Roux sells property at Fancourt golf estate in George, While the lifestyle is idyllic it hasn’t all been plain sailing – in 2008 he was sentenced to four years in jail for tax fraud, but had the ruling overturned on appeal.
“To cut a long story short, it took seven years and two judges in the high court to prove it wasn’t fraud, and not only was it not fraud, but (the money) wasn’t taxable.
“It wasn’t a very good time as you can imagine, but it’s spilt milk and I don’t want to whine about it.”
Nice one. Thorougly enjoyed it. I remember a time when Garth and Kirsten played in a two men compition in SA and wiped every other team of the park. They were a fearsome partnership. Kirsten was a great batsman in his youth and could bowl a bit and Garth scared the living daylight out of every batter and could bat a bit.
if Jacques Kallis had more speed he would have been the very best. Not that he is bad at all. Taking 274 wickets is proof
“There’s got to be fear, all the greatest fast bowlers have been mean. That’s why I’m worried about Morne Morkel. He’s got all the ability, but I want to see him hit people properly and tell them to get up or f… off. Those batsmen will spread that story so quickly it will make your head spin.”
Note – He’s got all the ability
Marks out of ten for South Africa following their 2-1 Test series win at home against Sri Lanka by Firdose Moonda of Cricinfo
9
Vernon Philander
With 16 wickets from two matches, at an average of 12.62, Philander has continued to surf the waves of Test success. A knee injury prevented him from playing in the second Test but either side of that, he was exceptional. He bowled a questioning length throughout and had the Sri Lankan batsmen constantly confused about whether to go forward or back to him. He operated as an out and out strike bowler, and had the ability to apply the stranglehold on run-scoring and thereby became Smith’s go-to man. After just four Tests, he is already the spearhead of the South African attack.
4.5
Morne Morkel
As the series went on, Morkel got better, but he ended it still not at his best. At first change, Morkel appears out of sorts and short on confidence. He was expensive and unsuccessful in Centurion and leaked runs in Cape Town with small reward. His best performance came when he was given the new ball in Durban, as a temporary measure in Philander’s absence. Of the South African strike bowlers, he had the highest average and will be under the most scrutiny going forward as the reserves, including Lonwabo Tsotsobe, challenge for a place.
Some comments about this rating –
I think it’s outrageous that Firdose Moonda believes that Philander is “the spearhead of the South African attack” when Dale Steyn is in the same side- the man with the best strike-rate EVER for over 250 wickets, the second fastest EVER to 250 wickets. Over eager reporting without really thinking of what is being put down on paper.
Phillander is the spearhead? Steyn must be laughing! Steyn was not up to the mark by his own standard but not that out of sort to hand over the spearhead role. Also, Alviro Petersen and De Lange deserve more than what you gave. Anyone can compare the performance of De Lange and Imran Tahir and conclude how ridiculous this judgement is!
ratings are a personal preference I suppose but I agree that Morkel’s place certainly isn’t/shouldn’t be as safe as it was at the start of the series after De Lange’s performance. Please don’t tell any other English fans I posted this but I’m pleased Somerset snapped up Philander for a bit next season. Well if Somerset didn’t someone else would have
OK maybe most want to see MM lose his place and i not. But like Garth le Roux said “He’s got all the ability” and i add he still is the fastest. And he have a bit of experience now. De Lange can take his place no worry but can a big burly player like him adjust his action and stay that good? They will study his action and his bowling now and no one will take chances with him, so it is up to him to keep on improving, develop.
Philander is not that fast but it seems he varies his length and line (almost like Fanie de Villiers )did. So if he can keep on thinking he might just last longer than i expect. I wish him a successful career like Fanie de Villiers had.
I actually like these ‘where are they now’ stories. Interesting reading, not at all boring.
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