Rest of the World cricket team in England in 1970

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 some opponents of the racist 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 the best non-England 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 World played five matches against England, which were initially recognised as Test matches by "Wisden Cricketers' Almanack", although this status was taken away from them three years later.

The touring World side ended up four-one winners in the five Test series, although England had their moments, with the World earning one of their wins by only 2 wickets, and another by 4 wickets. After the Tests the World played a one-off end-of-season friendly match at the Scarborough Festival. The World players played for various different English counties for the rest of the season.

The players

21 cricketers turned out for England. All but one of them played in other Test matches. Alan Jones was the exception, making him the only man in cricketing history to win a Test cap and then lose it. The players who competed for England were:

*Dennis Amiss, Geoff Boycott, David Brown, Colin Cowdrey, Mike Denness, Basil D'Oliveira, John Edrich, Keith Fletcher, Tony Greig, Ray Illingworth (captain), Alan Jones, Alan Knott, Peter Lever, Brian Luckhurst, Chris Old, Phil Sharpe, Ken Shuttleworth, John Snow, Derek Underwood, Alan Ward and Don Wilson.

The players who competed for the Rest of the World side were:

*From Australia: Garth McKenzie
*From India: Farokh Engineer
*From Pakistan: Intikhab Alam, Mushtaq Mohammad
*From South Africa: Eddie Barlow, Graeme Pollock, Mike Procter, Barry Richards
*From the West Indies: Lance Gibbs, Rohan Kanhai, Clive Lloyd, Deryck Murray, Garry Sobers

The matches

First match (17-22 June)

On the first humid day at Lord's Garry Sobers effected a stunning collapse by England as he took 6 for 21 to reduce the home side to a miserly 127 all out. In reply, Sobers also starred, making 183, with Eddie Barlow also making a century. The World's 546 gave them a more than comfortable lead of 419. England fared better in reply, but the Rest of the World still wrapped up the game with one day to spare.

[http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1970S/1970/R-O-W_IN_ENG/R-O-W_ENG_16-21JUL1970.html Scorecard]

Fourth match (30 July-4 August)

[http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1970S/1970/R-O-W_IN_ENG/R-O-W_ENG_30JUL-04AUG1970.html Scorecard]

Fifth match (13–18 August)

[http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1970S/1970/R-O-W_IN_ENG/R-O-W_ENG_13-18AUG1970.html Scorecard]

TN Pearce's XI v Rest of the World XI (5-8 September)

"TN Pearce's XI drew with the Rest of the World XI"

Although this is usually recognised as being a game as part of the tour of the World side, only four players who competed in the Tests turned out for the Rest of the World. Three of England's Test side also played.

[http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1970S/1970/R-O-W_IN_ENG/R-O-W_PEARCES_05-08SEP1970.html Scorecard]

ee also

*ICC Super Series

References

* [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152436.html 1971 edition of the "Wisden Cricketers' Almanack]

External sources

[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/Tours_1970.html CricketArchive]