CAPE TOWN: South Africa’s first captain of the post-isolation era Clive Rice died on Tuesday after battling a brain tumour, the country’s cricket board said.

The 66-year-old had appeared to be in remission after visiting India earlier this year to receive robotic radiation treatment in Bangalore.

Rice’s family confirmed his death to South Africa’s Eye Witness News, saying he was admitted to hospital on Sunday with severe stomach pains.

The all-rounder captained South Africa at the age of 42 on their historic post-isolation limited overs tour of India in 1991.

He also briefly represented Scotland before the Proteas’ readmission to international cricket.

“Clive was our first captain and we knew him to be a great fighter all his life,” Cricket South Africa CEO Haroon Lorgat said in a media release. “Even during his last few years he put up a typically courageous and inspirational fight against the illness that had threatened him for a lengthy period of time.”

Rice played in 482 first-class matches for Transvaal, Natal and Nottinghamshire, scoring 26,331 runs at an average of 40.95. He also took 930 wickets at 22.49 apiece before retiring in 1994.

“Devastating news on the death of Clive Rice. He was an inspiration to me as a young player and a fantastic example,” former Proteas opener and coach Gary Kirsten tweeted.

Rice led Nottinghamshire to the County Championship titles in 1981 and 1987, and was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year after the first championship success.

He returned to Trent Bridge as the newly appointed cricket manager in 1999, a position he held until 2003.

It was during that time he was credited with helping persuade Kevin Pietersen to qualify to play international cricket for England.

He was selected for the Transvaal provincial team at the age of 20 and his potential as a fast bowling all-rounder was recognised two years later when he was selected for South Africa’s scheduled 1971-72 tour of Australia.

The tour did not take place because of opposition to the South African government’s apartheid policy and it was another 20 years before the country returned to official international cricket — with Rice, then 42, captaining a team which played three One-day Internationals in India.

But he was controversially not included in South Africa’s team for the 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, with the selectors believing younger, more athletic players were needed for the big fields of Australia.

Ironically, it was because of Rice’s athleticism and potential on those same big fields that he had been picked as a promising youngster for the cancelled 1971-72 tour.

Denied official international cricket, Rice’s exploits were limited to South African domestic cricket, the English county championship and Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket — and 18 unofficial Tests for South Africa against ‘rebel’ touring teams between 1982 and 1987.

Compatriot and International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson paid tribute to the all-rounder.

“Clive Rice was a giant of the game, not just in South Africa, but across the cricketing world,” Richardson said in a statement. “Though his international appearances for the Proteas were limited to just three ODIs, Clive was a hugely inspirational figure for those of us who had the privilege to represent our country.

“Clive was hugely regarded across the world game as a player, but later as a coach and mentor where he inspired the likes of Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock and Jonty Rhodes, and he will be greatly missed by those who knew him,” he added.

Pat Symcox tweeted: “Devastated ... a great friend and wonderful man. Clive Rice has passed away. The world is a poorer place”.

Peter Kirsten called him “one of the most formidable, gifted and competitive all-rounders that any age of the game has ever seen”.

Herschelle Gibbs tweeted: “Sorry to hear about the passing of Clive Rice ... astute captain and a man that played the game hard.”

Former national cricket association president and Test skipper Dr Ali Bacher also lavished praise on Rice.

“Clive Rice was a truly great all-rounder,” he said. “Had it not been for apartheid, he would have been a world great in the game of cricket.

“He was in the same class as [Sir] Ian Botham and [Sir] Richard Hadlee. Clive possessed huge determination and courage and was one of best cricketers South Africa has produced.”

In an era of notable all-rounders, including Botham, Imran Khan, Kapil Dev and Hadlee, Rice’s exploits were limited to South African domestic cricket, the English county championship and Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket.

He excelled in them all.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2015

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