Have we forgotten about Hansie?

Adam Wakefield: Though South Africans might want to forget about international cricket BS (Before Smith), some will remember a South African side that earned the respect of the cricketing world through hard-nosed attrition tactics and a fierce fighting spirit.

This South African team wasn't stacked with the luminaries of Kallis (before he became a run-machine), De Villiers, Smith, Prince, and let us tentatively say Duminy. This South African team was the one in which Neil McKenzie made his debut, for which Gary Kirsten opened, and Darryl Cullinan batted at four so stylishly (and didn't commentate). Also, Lance Klusener added value as a Test player, and Jonty Rhodes was the definition of fielder.

Other names which might ring a bell include Brian McMillian, Paul Adams (frog in a blender stuff), and a tall gentlemen from the Free State named Allan Donald. It was during this period that Pollock, then a bit stronger and less sun-burned, formed one of the most lethal opening partnerships around. Allan Donald was the closest thing South Africa had to Dennis Lillee, carrying the attack very much on his own until the emergence of Pollock. At that point, he had one of the nastiest bouncers in international cricket.

This merry band of Africans (though that term is a philosophical contest in the Republic) were led by one Wessel Johannes Cronje, more well known as Hansie Cronje. Cronje epitomised team manager, as captains go. He practised hard, and demanded commitment from his team.

SHOOT: I think the grudge people hold against Hansie is because we loved him so much. If we liked him less forgiving him would have been easier. We should try to remember and embrace the good, because there was a lot of good.

Hansie deserves our support.

clipped from bleacherreport.com clipped from bleacherreport.com The current South African Test team has performed remarkably well over the last two years, winning Test series in Pakistan, England, and Australia. Their achievement of defeating Australia is even more prestigious since the Proteas were the first team to beat the wearers of the Baggy Green at home for over 15 years. They also drew a series in India after leading 1-0, with the pitch for the third Test being tailor-made for the home sides spinners. While Graeme Smith represents a leader who has grown into his roll as skipper of one of the world's best cricket teams, this is not the first time that a South African team has laid claim to be one of the best sides on the planet. If you are thinking about Shaun Pollock's tenure in charge of the national side, then you might be slightly mistaken.