HANSIE CRONJE: The former South African cricket captain Wessel "Hansie" Cronje, who died on June 1st aged 32, was the central figure in a match-fixing scandal that rocked international cricket. An aggressive top-order batsman, medium-pace bowler and an outstanding fielder, he captained his country in 53 Tests, winning 27 before his career ended in ignominy in 2000.
Intense, complicated and an inspirational leader, Hansie Cronje was a professed Christian with a reputation for probity and integrity. Moody and given to displays of temper, he once, when angered by umpiring decisions, thrust a cricket stump through an Australian dressing-room door.
In April 2000, Indian police disclosed that they were investigating allegations of bribery after recording a conversation between Hansie Cronje and an Indian bookmaker. Hansie Cronje denied the allegations - which were resolutely disbelieved by the South African cricket public - until, a few days later, he telephoned Ali Bacher, managing director of South Africa's United Cricket Board, and told him that he had not been "entirely honest" in his denials. The UCB promptly sacked him as captain. He confessed to Johannesburg evangelist Ray McCauley that he had "taken his eyes off Jesus" when tempted by Satan.
The ministry of justice set up a commission of inquiry in Cape Town, chaired by Justice Edwin King, to investigate. During its sittings, which began in June 2000, Hansie Cronje said that greed and "an unfortunate love of money" had led to his downfall.
On the opening day of the hearing, Pat Symcox, a former South African Test spinner, said the team had been offered around $250,000 to lose a one-day game in India in 1996. Batsman Herschelle Gibbs said Hansie Cronje had offered him a bribe of $15,000 to score fewer than 20 runs in a one-day match in India earlier in 2000. Hansie Cronje admitted accepting more than $100,000 for giving information to bookmakers and for asking players to do badly, but he denied ever "fixing" a match.
After three days of cross-examination, Hansie Cronje broke down and left the witness-box in tears. Mr Justice King announced that he was considering whether to grant indemnity to him. At the time of his death it was still uncertain whether the Directorate of Public Prosecutions would proceed against him.
In October 2000, Hansie Cronje was banned for life from playing cricket under the auspices of the UCB and retired to the Fancourt Estate near George, where he bought a luxury residence and lived there until his death. He appealed fruitlessly to the Cape High Court to overturn his banning by the UCB.
An audit ordered by the King commission disclosed that Hansie Cronje owned eight properties and maintained at least 19 bank accounts. Almost $1.5 million had been paid into his accounts during his tenure as cricket captain. Although he retained a loyal band of supporters, South Africa mourned the fall from grace of a sporting hero who had become a national idol.
Hansie Cronje was the son of a cricketing father. He was born on September 25th, 1969, in Bloemfontein in the Orange Free State and educated at Grey College, Bloemfontein, and the University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein. As a schoolboy, he was chosen for the South African Schools XI and at the age of 21 captained the Free State team.
His first international appearance was against the West Indies in 1991-'92 but he did not do well, and was dropped for the first Test at home against India in the 1992-'93 season. He was recalled for the second and made his highest Test score - 136 - in the third Test at Port Elizabeth.
Then at the age of 24 he deputised for the injured captain Kepler Wessels during the 1993-'94 tour of Australia and at 25 was appointed captain of South Africa, leading the team against New Zealand in 1994-'95.
As a batsmen, he made 3,714 runs in Test cricket, including six centuries and averaging 36.41 runs. His record was even more impressive as a batsman in one-day internationals, making 5,565 runs at an average of 38.4. He took 43 wickets in Test cricket at an average of 29.95 runs per wicket.
He toured England in 1998 but although the team started the series well with a fine win at Lord's in the second Test, the series was lost by 2-1 amid South African complaints of bad umpiring decisions.
Perhaps Hansie Cronje's greatest achievement was the 5-0 win over the West Indies in the 1998-'99 season at home. Later came a serious disagreement with Ali Bacher, who insisted that more black players should be selected for one-day series.
Hansie Cronje had recently begun a career as a financial adviser.
He is survived by his wife Bertha, and by his parents.
Wessel Johannes Cronje: born 1969; died, June 2002