The Cronje Myths

Hansie Cronje was quite rightly punished for his misdeeds and deserved a lifetime ban from all cricketing activities. However, the anti-Cronje media hysteria was totally over the top. If it intended to destroy the man's image it only succeeded in the short-term. In the long-term it has proved to be counter-productive.

Book sales of the Cronje biography are breaking records in South Africa and a film of his life is scheduled. The danger is that the myth of Cronje the match-fixer will be replaced by the far more dangerous myth of Cronje the martyr. If the media had been more sensible in the first place this could not have happened.

Match fixing is a misnomer. Bookmakers are unlikely to be interested in actually fixing a match as the odds are poor for a two horse race. Bookmakers are interested in influencing individual performances as the odds are better, especially with the advent of spread betting. So Cronje was guilty of taking money from bookmakers for "predicting" individual performances. Undoubtedly his worst deed was to tempt the younger players in his team to underperform.

Even the last Test match at against England in the 1999-2000 series wasn't actually fixed. South Africa led 2-0 in the series and the final game was heading for a rain affected draw when Cronje suggested a double innings forfeit to Hussain, on the last day, to ensure a result. His bookmaker "friend" was to back both sides at long odds as a draw appeared inevitable. It did not matter who won, as long as there was a result. Cronje made £5,000 from this deal (and a leather jacket for his wife).

Cronje admitted to the King Commission that he made approximately $US140,000 from bookmakers for all the many pieces of information he gave them. Cronje's misdemeanours should be put into perspective. There have been recent allegations that the Australian snooker player Quinten Hann deliberately lost a match 5-0 in return for £50,000. We should recognise the difference.