Krom Hendricks
Encyclopedia
Armien 'Krom' Hendricks was a South Africa
n cricket
er. Hendricks, a Cape Malay, was considered the fastest bowler
in South Africa in the 1890s. He suffered from the racial segregation in South Africa throughout his career, particularly in a much publicised prevention of him touring England in 1894. He instead made gradually reduced appearances in South African domestic cricket.
ancestry, and a mother who hailed from St Helena, and was classified as 'coloured' in South Africa. His 'Krom' nickname derived from Afrikaans for "bent or crooked." There is little information available on his early life.
Hendricks played in a Combined Malay XI against Walter Read
's touring England team on March 2, 1892, where he took four wicket
s for 50 run
s. He also batted at six, making eight and five. He was described by Test cricketers George Rowe and Bonnor Middleton as "one of the fastest bowlers they had witnessed". His wickets were not included in the tour averages, however he "earned the published respect of the visitors as the fastest, most challenging legitimate bowler in South Africa, one whom batsmen were keen to avoid." He was singled out by Read as being "central to any SA side that might be selected to tour England" and many white members of the South African Cricket Association and local newspapers advocated for his inclusion in the South African team to tour England in 1894
.
Transvaal
and Western Province both called for Hendricks' inclusion in a 1894 tour of England
. Walter Read
said that if they were to send one player on the tour, to send Hendricks. However, political pressure from the Prime Minister of the Cape Colony
, Cecil Rhodes, saw the head of cricket in South Africa, Sir William Milton
leave Hendricks out of the South African touring team because of his race. The official decision was ruled as it was seen to be "impolitic to include him in the team." Harry Cadwallader, secretary of SACA, suggested Hendricks' travel on tour as a baggage master, an offer Hendricks' publicly refused. Augustus Bernard Tancred made a statement alluding that Hendricks' would never be treated equally if he did travel.
Hendricks was never selected to play for his national team, and the media used Hendricks' case as an illustration of the need for racial segregation. South African first-class cricketer and historian André Odendaal described Hendricks' exclusion as "entrench[ing] segregation in South African cricket and confirm[ing] that the English political and sports establishments were responsible for this."
Later in 1894, Hendricks performed strongly in a Cape Town
cricket competition, prompting calls for him to represent the Colonial Born side against an invitation Mother Counry team, however he was not allowed to join the team and Western Province cut him loose from their squad also. He was again prohibited from facing England in the winter of 1895-96, and from appearing in a league championship in 1897. Support from Western Province fell away, as their Cricket Board voted eleven to three to not include him in their team.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. Hendricks, a Cape Malay, was considered the fastest bowler
Bowling (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, bowling is the action of propelling the ball toward the wicket defended by a batsman. A player skilled at bowling is called a bowler; a bowler who is also a competent batsman is known as an all-rounder...
in South Africa in the 1890s. He suffered from the racial segregation in South Africa throughout his career, particularly in a much publicised prevention of him touring England in 1894. He instead made gradually reduced appearances in South African domestic cricket.
Career
Hendricks was born to a father with DutchDutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
ancestry, and a mother who hailed from St Helena, and was classified as 'coloured' in South Africa. His 'Krom' nickname derived from Afrikaans for "bent or crooked." There is little information available on his early life.
Hendricks played in a Combined Malay XI against Walter Read
Walter Read
Walter William Read was an English cricketer, who was a fluent right hand bat. An occasional bowler of lobs, he sometimes switched to quick overarm deliveries. He captained England in two Test matches, winning them both...
's touring England team on March 2, 1892, where he took four wicket
Wicket
In the sport of cricket the word wicket has several distinct meanings:-Definitions of wicket:Most of the time, the wicket is one of the two sets of three stumps and two bails at either end of the pitch...
s for 50 run
Run (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a run is the basic unit of scoring. Runs are scored by a batsman, and the aggregate of the scores of a team's batsmen constitutes the team's score. A batsman scoring 50 or 100 runs , or any higher multiple of 50 runs, is considered a particular achievement...
s. He also batted at six, making eight and five. He was described by Test cricketers George Rowe and Bonnor Middleton as "one of the fastest bowlers they had witnessed". His wickets were not included in the tour averages, however he "earned the published respect of the visitors as the fastest, most challenging legitimate bowler in South Africa, one whom batsmen were keen to avoid." He was singled out by Read as being "central to any SA side that might be selected to tour England" and many white members of the South African Cricket Association and local newspapers advocated for his inclusion in the South African team to tour England in 1894
South African cricket team in England in 1894
The inaugural South African tour of England took place in the 1894 season.None of the 24 matches are currently regarded as first-class fixtures, even though South Africa had already begun playing matches subsequently recognised as Test matches at home and even though many of the matches on tour...
.
Transvaal
Transvaal cricket team
Gauteng cricket team is the first-class cricket team of the province of Gauteng in South Africa....
and Western Province both called for Hendricks' inclusion in a 1894 tour of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Walter Read
Walter Read
Walter William Read was an English cricketer, who was a fluent right hand bat. An occasional bowler of lobs, he sometimes switched to quick overarm deliveries. He captained England in two Test matches, winning them both...
said that if they were to send one player on the tour, to send Hendricks. However, political pressure from the Prime Minister of the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
, Cecil Rhodes, saw the head of cricket in South Africa, Sir William Milton
William Henry Milton
Sir William Henry Milton was the 3rd Administrator of Mashonaland, played rugby for England and was South Africa's second cricket captain....
leave Hendricks out of the South African touring team because of his race. The official decision was ruled as it was seen to be "impolitic to include him in the team." Harry Cadwallader, secretary of SACA, suggested Hendricks' travel on tour as a baggage master, an offer Hendricks' publicly refused. Augustus Bernard Tancred made a statement alluding that Hendricks' would never be treated equally if he did travel.
Hendricks was never selected to play for his national team, and the media used Hendricks' case as an illustration of the need for racial segregation. South African first-class cricketer and historian André Odendaal described Hendricks' exclusion as "entrench[ing] segregation in South African cricket and confirm[ing] that the English political and sports establishments were responsible for this."
Later in 1894, Hendricks performed strongly in a Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
cricket competition, prompting calls for him to represent the Colonial Born side against an invitation Mother Counry team, however he was not allowed to join the team and Western Province cut him loose from their squad also. He was again prohibited from facing England in the winter of 1895-96, and from appearing in a league championship in 1897. Support from Western Province fell away, as their Cricket Board voted eleven to three to not include him in their team.