Former offspinner John Traicos remembers playing with the South African invincibles, and beating Australia and England in World Cups with Zimbabwe
Interview by Martin Claytor04-Aug-2016Twenty-two years between Test appearances is a record unlikely to be beaten – made even more unusual by the fact that they came for two different countries. At the age of 22, in 1970, John Traicos was picked to play for South Africa in what turned out to be their last series before sporting isolation. At the time, Traicos’ Rhodesian side played as a province in South Africa’s Currie Cup competition.Fast forward to 1992 and Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) had just been granted Test status. One of their automatic selections was a certain 45-year-old offspinner.Traicos remembers how surprised he was to get his first Test cap while still at university. The Australians had been thrashed in the first match of the series, and it seemed unlikely South Africa would make changes for the next game. “I was only in my second season of first-class cricket and had limited bowling success,” Traicos says. “At that stage, I believe that I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time when South Africa were looking for a spin bowler, and somebody up there must have thought that I could do the job.”One person not surprised by the call-up was former South Africa spinner Xenophon Balaskas – another, like Traicos, with a Greek background, rare in cricket. Balaskas, who was a successful coach after he retired from cricket, spotted the youngster’s potential and appetite for hard work early. “He coached at two clinics I attended, in 1966 and 1970,” Traicos remembers. “Although he coached the legspinners, he passed on invaluable tips, which were extremely useful at that early stage of my career. I know that he helped Jackie Du Preez, the Rhodesian legspinner, at the 1966 clinic by getting him to use his left arm more. Jackie told me that the advice was instrumental in his bowling success in the 1966-67 season, which resulted in Jackie playing in two Tests against Bobby Simpson’s Australian team.”A debut against one of the best teams in the world could have been a daunting experience, but Traicos managed just fine, and his economical bowling played a part in the next three matches – resulting in a 4-0 home whitewash.He appreciates just how strong the South Africans were. “Australia seldom got the upper hand or a match-winning position,” he says. “The South Africa team was a powerful all-round side. It had great batting depth. Barry Richards and Lee Irvine added strength and depth to a line-up led by Graeme Pollock, Eddie Barlow, Trevor Goddard, Ali Bacher and Tiger Lance. Then, Denis Lindsay and Mike Procter came in after the specialist batsmen.
“In 1983, there was no end of drinks bought for us after we beat Australia at Trent Bridge, and in 1992 there was not an Australian in Albury who did not want to celebrate our beating the Poms”
“It was a very penetrative bowling attack, spearheaded by Peter Pollock and Procter, and supported by Goddard, Barlow and Pat Trimborn. Australia struggled with the pace of Pollock and Procter. Some of their players, such as Graham McKenzie, were a little jaded after a tough series in India.”Finally, we were an excellent fielding side that held all its catches, close to the wicket and in the outfield.”Traicos remembers with amusement his team’s attempts to play Australian “mystery spinner” John Gleeson. “His offbreak-legbreak combinations were difficult to read, with the offbreak proving particularly hard to decipher. After discussion in one team meeting by the key batsmen – Pollock, Richards and Barlow – Eddie Barlow said that he had worked it all out but would let everyone know after the next match, the third Test, in Johannesburg.”Eddie went out to bat at No. 5, when Gleeson was bowling, and danced down the wicket to clip his second ball for four through midwicket. He turned towards the pavilion to let the players know that he had read the offbreak right. Two balls later he was stumped by three yards off a legbreak after what he thought was the offspinner. As he walked into the changing room, Lance said, ‘Eddie – you certainly read it well.'”Traicos and many of his team-mates knew that the political situation would soon affect South Africa’s sporting contact with other countries. His own potential Test career was cut short after that series. “Some, such as Barry Richards, Lee Irvine and Mike Procter, hoped that things might improve,” he says. “Others in the next generation, such as Allan Lamb and Kepler Wessels, looked to play Tests overseas.”The cricket series organised by Ali Bacher and the South African Cricket Union in the 1980s, with rebel tours by West Indies, Australia and England, provided players with the chance to play against quality teams but did not really keep alive hopes of a return to Test cricket.”Zimbabwe celebrate their victory over England in the 1992 World Cup. Traicos is in the back row, fourth from the right•Getty ImagesWas he ever tempted to play as an overseas professional during the wilderness years? “The thought of playing county cricket did cross my mind,” he says. “However, I was very committed to a teaching contract in the early 1970s – followed by studies to become a lawyer. Once the children came along, playing overseas was not really a consideration.”Zimbabwe were strong in their first decade in international cricket. Traicos remembers two high-profile World Cup successes that strengthened their hopes of eventually gaining full Test status.”In 1983 we surprised ourselves by defeating Australia, largely through playing disciplined cricket and never giving up, especially when we were struggling with six or seven down for very little and then fielding like men possessed to hold all our catches – restricting Australia to secure a famous victory. Duncan Fletcher’s contribution as captain and allrounder was outstanding.”In 1992, Zimbabwe did not think their score of 130-plus would be enough against an England team that had reached the semi-finals. “The game was turned on its head by superlative fast bowling from Eddo Brandes, who took the first four wickets – [Graham] Gooch, Lamb, [Robin] Smith and [Graeme] Hick – in devastating fashion on a deteriorating pitch,” Traicos says. “Once again, the fielding was outstanding.”He recalls that “there was no end of drinks bought for us after beating Australia at Trent Bridge, and in 1992 there was not an Australian in Albury who did not want to celebrate beating the Poms”.As an integral part of the Zimbabwean side through the 1980s till readmission to Test status in 1992, Traicos was ideally placed to note the team’s strengths. “Overall, there was more strength and balance to our teams during that time than we appreciated,” he says.”The team was generally well led, with a strong emphasis on fitness and fielding, which enabled us to compete effectively at international level. We held most of our catches and reduced batting targets or put pressure on sides batting second.”Our training regime was initially established by Mike Procter when he played for Zimbabwe in the early 1970s. It was developed as part of our work ethic in the 1980s through intensive training sessions under the guidance of Springbok rugby player Ian Robertson.
“The thought of playing county cricket did cross my mind. However, I was very committed to a teaching contract in the early 1970s, followed by studies to become a lawyer”
“We were fortunate to have an abundance of good allrounders. Duncan Fletcher, Kevin Curran, Ian Butchart, Peter Rawson and Eddo Brandes played in most of the teams during that time – providing considerable batting depth as well as a balanced bowling attack that could compete well in most conditions.”When Test status was finally granted, almost a generation had passed since Traicos had walked off the field at Port Elizabeth in 1970.”Playing Test cricket again was an exceptional experience. I did not really believe that Zimbabwe would get Test status whilst I was still playing,” he says. “For Zimbabwe to have performed so well in that first series, against India, was extremely satisfying, and removed the doubts that many had that the team would not be able to cope at that level.”Was he always confident about playing top-flight cricket again? “I had no difficulties, as we had played in three World Cup competitions between 1983 and 1992, which had enabled us to play against Test players. Zimbabwe had regular tours, at least twice a year, from Test-playing countries throughout the 1980s, which gave us international competition on a consistent basis.”That first series presented new challenges, however, and one particular Indian batsman was prominent in Zimbabwe’s planning. “In the first Test there was some concern about bowling to Sachin Tendulkar, as we had played against him in the 1992 World Cup and remembered the flashing white blade and how he hit everything in the middle of his bat.”I was lucky in that bowling one a little quicker and shorter, the ball bounced a little more and he pushed it back to be caught and bowled. I have little doubt that he would have hit it for four at any other stage of the innings.Since he migrated to Australia, Traicos has coached at club level in Perth, including specialised spin bowling coaching•PA Photos”On the next few occasions that Tendulkar came in to bat and I happened to be bowling, Grant Flower would sledge him with words to the effect of ‘Easy wicket here, Trikes – just bowl him another long hop.’ Needless to say, the sledge hardly lasted!”The list of two-country Test players is a short one. How does Traicos look back on his experiences?He recalls that the two sides were clearly at different stages. “The Tests for South Africa were played with some of the great players of that period, such as the Pollocks, Barlow and Lindsay, and upcoming stars in Richards, Procter and Irvine. The Tests for Zimbabwe were played with a developing team trying to establish itself at Test level – led by [Dave] Houghton, [Andy] Pycroft, [Kevin] Arnott and myself as established players along with up-and-coming youngsters.”Now a successful businessman in Australia, Traicos still retains ties to cricket. “Since migrating to Australia in 1998, I have been involved in coaching at club level in Perth, where I coached Claremont Nedlands CC for almost ten years. I have also done some specialised spin bowling coaching – all very enjoyable but always subject to time availability.”Does he see any signs of a possible recovery in the state of Zimbabwean cricket after their recent slump? “I am a little detached from the Zimbabwe cricket scene,” he says, “although I have had recent communications with Andy Waller [who coached the team until the 2015 World Cup].”There is plenty of natural talent available and considerable passion for the game. However, there seem to be administrative issues that are preventing the game from developing as it should.”