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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} |
 | ||
| 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
editThe squad consisted of the following:
- Batsmen – Kim Hughes, Graham Yallop, Steve Smith, John Dyson, Mick Taylor, Mike Haysman, Kepler Wessels, Greg Shipperd (reserve keeper)
- Fast bowlers – Terry Alderman, Carl Rackemann, John Maguire, Rod McCurdy, Rodney Hogg
- Spin bowlers – Tom Hogan, Trevor Hohns
- All-rounder – Peter Faulkner
- Wicket-keeper – Steve Rixon
Matches
editUnofficial "Test" matches
editA 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"
edit
Second "Test"
edit1–6 January 1987
Scorecard |
v
|
Australia XI
 | |
257/3 (86 overs)
PN Kirsten 105* |
- Australian XI won the toss and elected to field
Third "Test"
editFourth "Test"
editLegacy
editA 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
edit- ^ CricketArchive — Australian XI in South Africa 1986–87
- ^ "Rebels – the '85 South Africa tour". The Age. Melbourne. 10 December 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ Coverdale, Brydon (21 November 2011). "Baggy green or livelihood?". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ Houwing, Robert (6 September 2006). "Smoke and Hays". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ Alfred, Luke (12 April 2016). "The return of South Africa, on a tour they didn't want". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
External links
edit- Australian XI in South Africa in 1986–87 at Cricinfo
- Australian XI in South Africa in 1986–87 at Cricket Archive