Clive Rice is regarded as one of the great cricketing all-rounders and the cricket family is poorer after Rice lost his battle against a brain tumour on 28 July 2015, aged 66.
He will be remembered for his strong captaincy abilities, as well as a man with a determination to succeed, no matter what the situation. As a batsman, he was blessed with powerful offside play, but it was his bowling that made him the complete player. As a medium fast bowler he had to rely on guile and used changes of pace, a nasty bouncer and the ability to serve up devastating yorkers to pick up wickets.
He was never bestowed the honour of playing a Test match as his career fell straight in the middle of South Africa’s international exclusion. It is of no use to bemoan the fact that this happened as Rice was one of many South African players from across the political spectrum who were denied the chance of representing their country. Rice’s only taste of international cricket was to captain South Africa during a three-ODI tour of India upon readmission to international sport in 1991. As he was 42 years old at the time, it was decided that Rice would not be selected after this series as South Africa was building towards the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
He therefore made his living playing domestic cricket in both South Africa and England, as well as unofficial international series. In South Africa, he captained the then Transvaal to numerous first-class and limited-overs titles. The “Mean Machine” as it was known was compiled of mostly of the who’s who of South African cricket in the 1980’s and included names such as Henry Fotheringham, Jimmy Cook, Alvin Kallicharan, Graeme Pollock, Kevin McKenzie, Ray Jennings, Alan Kourie, Sylvester Clarke and Neal Radford. In 1981 and 1987, Rice captained Nottinghamshire to the County Championship and is still remembered with great fondness at Trent Bridge. Rice was selected as one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the year in 1981 for his exploits on the County circuit.
Although unable to play international cricket, Rice was still able to display his overall talents to the world by participating in Kerry Packer’s World Series, as well as in South Africa playing in unofficial Tests against “Rebel” teams from Australia, England, Sri Lanka and the West Indies. He also successfully competed in the now defunct Hong Kong All-Rounder competition.
So how good was Clive Rice really?
As a batsman at first class (List A) level he scored 26,331 runs at an average of 40.95, with a highest score of 246. He amassed 48 centuries and 137 fifties. As a bowler he took 930 wickets at an average of 22.49 and a best of 7/46. A true all-rounder, capable of being selected as either a batsman or a bowler in any side.
After his cricket playing his days, he did some coaching at Nottinghamshire and afterwards was the Director of South Africa’s Cricket Academy. He also released a number of Youtube videos, aimed at coaching different aspects of the game.
Clive Rice lived cricket and I believe he is already spending his time assembling a new “Mean Machine”.
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