Rest of the World cricket team in England in 1970

A Rest of the World cricket team was assembled to play five-day cricket matches against the full England team in 1970 after the cancellation of the scheduled tour by the South African cricket team. At the time the matches were deemed to be Test matches, but that was later revoked.

South Africa were due to tour England in 1970. As South Africa had just whitewashed the unofficial world champions, Australia, four-nil at home, the series was eagerly awaited amongst cricket fans. However, the tour faced widespread opposition from opponents of the apartheid regime then prevailing in South Africa. A Stop the 1970 Tour campaign was started, with its leaders including Peter Hain. In response there was a Save the 1970 Tour campaign, whose leaders included former England cricket captain, Brian Close.

Enormous political pressure was put on the Test and County Cricket Board, who ran English cricket at the time, to pull out of the tour. In the end, they yielded, but this meant that if they did not do anything, there would be no international cricket in England in 1970, with the concomitant loss of revenues. Therefore, at relatively short notice a "Rest of the World" side was put together, which included many of the best non-English cricketers. Overall, five South African players competed for the World side, with another two former South Africans, Tony Greig and Basil D'Oliveira playing for England. The Rest of the World played five matches against England, which were initially recognised as Test matches by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. The International Cricket Conference stated at their 1972 meeting that the games should not be regarded as official Test matches, but Wisden continued to include the records of the games until they were removed for the 1980 edition, against the wishes of the almanack's editor, Norman Preston.

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