Australian XI in South Africa in 1986–87

An unofficial Australian cricket team toured South Africa in the 1986–87 season to play a series of unofficial Test and one day matches. It was the second of two tours by the side, the first being in 1985–86.[1] The series was highly controversial in Australia and its Australian participants were banned from interstate cricket for two seasons and international cricket for three seasons.[2]

Australian XI in South Africa in 1986–87
 
  South Africa Australian XI
Dates 21 November 1986 – 18 February 1987
Captains Clive Rice Kim Hughes
Test series
Result South Africa won the 4-match series 1–0
Most runs Peter Kirsten (391) Steve Smith (399)
Most wickets Garth Le Roux (17) Rod McCurdy (15)
One Day International series
Results South Africa won the 8-match series 5–2
Most runs Jimmy Cook (283) Kepler Wessels (326)
Most wickets Garth Le Roux (13) Peter Faulkner (8)
Rod McCurdy (8)

Australian squad

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The squad consisted of the following:

Matches

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Unofficial "Test" matches

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A series of four unofficial "Test" matches were scheduled. As happened the previous year the series was won 1–0 by South Africa, who won the opening match in Johannesburg, while the three remaining matches were all drawn.

First "Test"

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24–28 December 1986
Scorecard
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Australia XI  
254 (88.5 overs)
CEB Rice 61
RJ McCurdy 6/67 (24.5 overs)
142 (63 overs)
KJ Hughes 34
CEB Rice 4/19 (16 overs)
182 (69.4 overs)
KA McKenzie 40
JN Macguire 6/61 (29 overs)
245 (95.1 overs)
KJ Hughes 54*
CEB Rice 3/37 (18.1 overs)
BM McMillan 3/44 (15 overs)
South Africa won by 49 runs
Wanderers, Johannesburg
Umpires: DD Schoof (SA) and FE Wood (SA)
  • Australian XI won the toss and elected to field

Second "Test"

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1–6 January 1987
Scorecard
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Australia XI  
493 (157.4 overs)
PN Kirsten 173
JN Macguire 4/116 (46.4 overs)
496 (202 overs)
J Dyson 198
MD Haysman 153

GS Le Roux 5/85 (42 overs)
257/3 (86 overs)
PN Kirsten 105*
Match drawn
Newlands, Cape Town
Umpires: DH Bezuidenhout and OR Schoof (SA)
Player of the match: PN Kirsten (SA)
  • Australian XI won the toss and elected to field

Third "Test"

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17–22 January 1987
Scorecard
Australia XI  
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264 (88.3 overs)
SB Smith 137
GS Le Roux 4/33 (13.3 overs)
350 (125.4 overs)
KS McEwan 101
TV Hohns 6/98 (47.4 overs)
339 (140.4 overs)
MD Haysman 115
J Dyson 101

HA Page 3/87 (35 overs)
143/7 (57.5 overs)
PN Kirsten 33
TV Hohns 3/27 (17.5 overs)
RM Hogg 3/33 (16 overs)
Match drawn
Kingsmead, Durban
Umpires: K Liebenberg and LJ Rautenbach (SA)
Player of the match: TV Hohns (AUS)
  • Australia won the toss and elected to bat

Fourth "Test"

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30 January–4 February 1987
Scorecard
Australia XI  
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455/9d (163.5 overs)
KC Wessels 135
AA Donald 3/94 (32 overs)
O Henry 3/96 (36.5 overs)
533 (167.2 overs)
RG Pollock 144
KS McEwan 138*

RM Hogg 5/97 (39 overs)
333/4 (116 overs)
SB Smith 113
KC Wessels 105*

GS Le Roux 2/61 (16 overs)
Match drawn
St George's Park, Port Elizabeth
Umpires: K Liebenberg and DD Schoof (SA)
Player of the match: KC Wessels (AUS)
  • South Africa won the toss and elected to field

Legacy

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A number of tourists on this "rebel" tour went on to play first-class cricket in South Africa, including Kim Hughes, Steve Smith, Mike Haysman, Rod McCurdy and John Maguire; McCurdy and Haysman wound up moving there permanently.[3][4] South African-born Kepler Wessels, who had been playing in Australia since 1978, returned to the country of his birth, ultimately becoming its first captain upon their return to official Test cricket in 1992.[5]

References

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  1. ^ CricketArchive — Australian XI in South Africa 1986–87
  2. ^ "Rebels – the '85 South Africa tour". The Age. Melbourne. 10 December 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  3. ^ Coverdale, Brydon (21 November 2011). "Baggy green or livelihood?". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  4. ^ Houwing, Robert (6 September 2006). "Smoke and Hays". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  5. ^ Alfred, Luke (12 April 2016). "The return of South Africa, on a tour they didn't want". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
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