Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

Neil Manthorp, legendary South African cricket journalist and broadcaster, revealed both his favourite and worst South African moment against the Aussies since readmission. Speaking on the Cricket Unfiltered Podcast, Manthorp engaged listeners with his terrific storytelling.

“There have been lots [of great moments],” said Manthorp. “But nothing, nothing tops the Boxing Day Test match in 2008. I love the MCG; I’m an absolute ‘G tragic. But, you know, coming off the back of the opening win in Perth, chasing 414, it was the history. There are so few mountains to climb in international cricket… you know, so few records that haven’t been broken, but South Africa have been trying to win in Australia for a century. 11 tours. Never won in Australia.”

Manthorp then spoke fondly of that famous Boxing Day Test, recollecting just how well South Africa fought back from a seemingly hopeless position to seal the series 2-0.

“I think Australians have probably forgotten just how far behind South Africa were in that Boxing Day Test match,” said Manthorp. “South Africa were still 10 runs behind [the follow on mark] when they lost their seventh wicket. They were looking at the follow on. So, to win by lunch time on day five was incredible. So, yeah, that’s definitely, definitely my favourite moment.

There have been lots of others ones that have been enjoyable for different reasons; of course you have Graeme Smith coming out to bat in the third Test match, so that’s my favourite series. To win for the first time in Australia was amazing.”

Also read: South African cricket tragic Daniel Orsmond reveals his top 5 South Africa Tests since 2000

Manthorp was then asked to recollect his worst moment by Australian journalist and Cricket Unfiltered host Andrew Menczel. Two came to mind. The first, the Australia vs South Africa New Years’ Test in 2002.

“You really don’t need to ask me that, do you? Because you already know the answer,. I’ll confirm it,” joked Manthorp. “I’ll give you a couple of near misses. There’s the New Years’ Test match in 2002 when Australia were absolutely dominant. South Africa were hopless.

Australia batted first. They made the usual 550. Things were going reasonably well for South Africa. Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten were batting, and I was sharing an apartment with the great Crash Craddock (Australian cricket journalist) and I’d decided that I was going to invite everyone around for a curry that night,” recalled Manthorp.

“So, I popped out to buy some ingredients and I was only gone a couple of hours. I wanted to get ready; it was going to be a late finish and I was going to be cooking. So, I went out and I got the ingredients to make the curry that evening.”

But, then it all went horribly wrong. And Manthorp won’t ever forget it.

“And, when I got back into the SCG, I thought all was well, because Herschelle Gibbs was still batting!” recalled Manthorp. “But, South Africa had been bowled out in a session and followed on in my absence! So, I just thought ‘we shouldn’t be here’; it was just humiliating”.

Then, Manthorp went on to mention his worst moment – one that will resonate with many South African fans.

“It was the World Cup Semi Final in ’99,” said Manthorp in a more serious tone. “That was when my skin felt like it belonged to somebody else. It was a completely out-of-body experience, that was. It took many years to get over that.”

You can catch the full interview with Neil Manthorp on the Cricket Unfiltered podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.

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