“South Africa arrive with Rice, Wessels and Cook,” ran one of the more creative headlines back in November 1991 when, after a 21-year hiatus, the Proteas made their much-anticipated comeback to international cricket.

The apartheid-driven ban from 1970 came to an end after a whirlwind sequence of events that culminated in a hastily put together three-match One-Day International series, with the first of three matches scheduled for Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on November 10. There was a certain poignancy in India being the launchpad for the African nation’s second coming in international cricket, given that Nelson Mandela, their charismatic champion, was inspired by the principles and philosophies espoused and practised by Mahatma Gandhi.

Armed with skipper (Clive) Rice, (Kepler) Wessels and op

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