Ex-South Africa captain Clive Rice dies

Rice played over 480 first-class games, but his global career coincided with South Africa’s worldwide isolation during apartheid.

“He was selected for the cancelled tour to Australia in 1971-72 at the age of 22 and was 42 when he led his country to India on the ‘Friendship Tour”. As wonderful a player as he was he never got the opportunities I was lucky to have.

Cricketers and fans have taken to Twitter to express their grief and sadness with worldwide Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson extending his condolences to the legendary cricketer. He excelled in them all. However, Rice couldn’t play global cricket till he was 42. He was a hard, sometimes abrasive character, and something of an unknown quantity because he had no worldwide record, yet he proved himself up to the task immediately, topping the bowling averages in his first three seasons and making several notable contributions with the bat, including an innings of 246 against Sussex in his second summer that would remain his career-best score.

Instead, he had to be content with signing for Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket, representing Transvaal, domestically, and Nottinghamshire in the county championship as an overseas player.

A year later he was instrumental in persuading Pietersen to leave his homeland and begin on a path that ended up with him becoming one of England’s most recognisable, decorated and divisive players in recent years. When South Africa was readmitted to global cricket in 1991, it was fitting that Clive was named as captain.

In South Africa, Rice was part of the Transvaal “Mean Machine”, who won the Currie Cup 10 times during his era.

Rice, then Nottinghamshire coach, brought Pietersen to the UK in 2000, and played a crucial role in developing his talent as a batsman.

Former South African all-rounder Pat Symcox said he was “devastated” to hear the news of Rice’s passing away.

Kevin Pietersen has paid tribute to “father figure” Rice.

He says Rice would have been a prolific player should he have played longer for South Africa.

Pietersen enjoyed a “fun” relationship with Rice, who was restricted to just three ODI appearances because of South Africa’s worldwide exile due to apartheid.

Nottinghamshire, the county that Rice served for many years, announced in a statement: “Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is saddened to announce that former captain and cricket manager Clive Rice has passed away aged 66”. “The world is a poorer place”.

Pollock particularly remembered one of Rice’s performances against the rebel Australian team during a one-day game at Port Elizabeth in 1987: “We (SA) scored 316 and Australia were coasting along at 298 for two with lots of overs and good batsmen left”.