The D'Oliveira Affair: cricket, 'race' and politics

Robert Steen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding with ISSN or ISBNChapter

Abstract

A dissection of the so-called The D'Oliveira Affair, focusing in particular on hitherto neglected (save by the author) but crucial aspects of the 1968 episode that did most to spur and promote the sporting boycott that helped, ultimately, to bring about the end of apartheid in South Africa - 1) Tom Cartwright's conscience-based decision not to accept an invitation to tour Southy Africa in the winter of 1968, which in turn allowed Basil D'Oliveira to be chosen, which in turn caused the tour to be cancelled. 2) The decision to drop D'Oliveira from the England team for the Lord's Test, which spoke all too eloquently, I argue, for the desire of Whitehall to maintain a cordial relationship with Pretoria. This chapter is the definitive version of the author's research into this subject (to date), drawing on first-hand interviews with key figures.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMyths and milestones in the history of sport
EditorsStephen Wagg
Place of PublicationBasingstoke, UK
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Pages185-202
Number of pages18
ISBN (Print)9780230241251
Publication statusPublished - 30 Nov 2011

Bibliographical note

Robert Steen, The D'Oliveira Affair: cricket, 'race' and politics, 2011, Palgrave Macmillan reproduced with permission of Palgrave Macmillan. This extract is taken from the author's original manuscript and has not been edited. The definitive, published, version of record is available here: http://www.palgrave.com/page/detail/myths-and-milestones-in-the-history-of-sport-stephen-wagg/?sf1=barcode&st1=9780230241251.

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