Date-stamped : 24 Jun94 - 10:25 Forgiven South Africa arrive through front door A tenacious young team settle down in England with an evangelical zeal to spread word of their progress ... Had the South African team, who arrived almost unnoticed this weekend, come here four years ago they would now be under seige at their hotel with the media and protestors harrying their every move. Instead, with the country preoccupied by Irish footballers, Kiwi cricketers and missing French tennis players, it is the press who are more likely to be harrassed by them as they spread the word about the new South Africa. Fritz Bing, the tour party's manager, said on arrival that his team come to ''the Mother Country not as rebels, beggars or enem- ies but as confident, happy children. We are no longer naughty children creeping in through the back door sheepishly; now we come proudly through the front door.'' It is a pride that England must beware. South Africa are a good side made better by the bonds forged during their country's trau- mas and we will hear much of their deeds in the coming months. For now, though, it is apposite to reflect on the changes since 1990 before they are taken for granted and forgotten. In cricketing terms, South Africa then was, for anyone under 35, a country that existed only in the pages of Wisden. Sure, there were talented individuals (several of whom were playing for Eng- land) and the Republic was constantly in the news for its rebel tours but as a national entity they had been consigned to history and looked like remaining there. Then, in February 1990, Nelson Mandela was released. Cricket, which had moved from slow, possibly token efforts at multi-racial sport to become the cutting edge of integration, was quick to catch the mood. Mike Gatting's tour was cut short and its second year cancelled. The African National Congress brokered the unifi- cation of black and white administrations and the following July, South Africa was re-admitted to the International Cricket Coun- cil. Their return was made concrete in November 1991 when, in front of around 100,000 spectators, South Africa played India in Calcutta. Since then they have progressed as quickly as international cricketers as their country has politically. The comparison is neither odious nor irrelevant. Cricket has become one of the em- bryonic democracy's most unifying forces. Eighteen months ago, when India were touring South Africa, the majority of South Africa's million-strong Indian population sup- ported the home side. Last year, when the South African cricket board were looking for a figure to promote the game in the black townships both Brian Lara and Waqar Younis (West Indies and Pak- istan had been touring) were proposed. Preliminary research re- jected both, the overwhelming hero of young black cricketers, as he is of young white cricketers, is Jonty Rhodes. Even though there are no black cricketers in the national side, nor likely to be for some years, there is a general acceptance that this is solely because no one is yet good enough. They will be, but in the meantime the South African side, unlike in the days of Mike Procter, Barry Richards and the Pollocks, when non- whites would support the opposing side, is backed by all the nation's communities. They may have much to cheer this summer. Since narrowly losing their first Test after isolation in Barbados, South Africa have lost only twice more, both during the winter as they drew one- each home and away to Australia. India, at home, and Sri Lanka, away, have both been beaten. They are a formidable side, tenacious, full of spirit and imbued with an almost evangelical zeal and self-belief - indeed several players are born-again Christians. Their cricket is based on giv- ing little away, especially with the ball. Allan Donald spear- heads a strong seam attack backed by superlative fielding. The batting can be brittle but there is both experience and prom- ise with Hansie Cronje and Andrew Hudson on the verge of becoming batsmen of the highest order. The main weakness is in playing and purveying spin, yet their most impressive victory came on a turner in Sydney. Behind 123 on the first innings they dismissed Australia for 111 to win by five runs. Wessels, who promoted himself up the order despite suffer- ing a fractured finger and ruptured knee ligaments, set the tone. They are tough and talented yet not unbeatable, but only England's best, in selection and performance, will suffice. (Thanks : Glenn Moore reports in The Independent, 20 Jun 94) Contributed by Vicky (VIGNESWA@*umass.edu)