South African Fezela XI

The South African Fezela XI (often known simply as the Fezelas) was a team of young South African cricketers who toured England in 1961 under the captaincy of the Test player Roy McLean. Several of the team later went on to play leading parts in the revival of South Africa’s cricket fortunes in the 1960s.

South Africa’s tour of England in 1960 had been a failure. “From nearly every point of view the ninth South African tour of England proved disappointing,” Wisden began its report. First, it was a wet summer, and many matches were disrupted by rain. Second, the young fast bowler Geoff Griffin was no-balled for throwing on several occasions, effectively ending his career. Third, anti-apartheid demonstrations were held outside most venues. Fourth, none of the young players showed signs of developing into good Test players. Fifth, South Africa lost the first three Tests and drew the other two. Sixth, the tour showed a financial loss. Seventh, apart from McLean the South Africans “found themselves short of enterprising batsmen”.

The effect in South Africa was immediate. “Interest in South African domestic cricket waned alarmingly during the 1960-61 season,” reported Wisden. “It became increasingly obvious as the season progressed that the disappointment at the Springboks’ Test performances in England added to lack of enterprise and an ‘avoid-defeat-at-all-costs’ attitude had left a deep-seated scar which only a complete volte face would heal.”

A cricket lover, E. Stanley Murphy, stepped in with an offer to sponsor a team of young players on a tour of England. Murphy had made his fortune as a leading figure in the sugar industry at Umfolozi in Zululand. He provided all the money for the tour and asked McLean to select the side. Murphy named the team fezela, the Zulu word for the water scorpion, an aquatic insect that can deliver a wasp-like sting.

A tour of 21 matches in England, Scotland and Ireland was arranged, and McLean selected the following team (with their ages at the start of the tour):

(David Pithey was originally selected, but had to withdraw just before the tour began, and was replaced by Barlow.)

The team was managed by C.O. Medworth, who at the time was sports editor of the Natal Mercury.

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Wikipedia