Introducing... Hansie Cronje: Fall From Grace

Test Match Special

BBC

Cricket, Sports News, News, Sports

4.4 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 6 August 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

TMS listeners, we'd like to introduce you to the new series of Sport’s Strangest Crimes called 'Hansie Cronje: Fall From Grace.'

As big Cricket fans, we want to give you the chance to listen to Episode 1 right here, right now and if you like it, search 'Sport’s Strangest Crimes' on BBC Sounds where you can listen to the rest of the series.

In the mid-90s, Hansie Cronje was South Africa’s golden boy, the God-fearing captain backed by Nelson Mandela and worshipped by a nation. More than just a cricketer, he was a symbol of hope. But were the cracks there all along?

In the first episode of Sport’s Strangest Crimes - Hansie Cronje: Fall From Grace, former England cricketer, Mark Butcher revisits the rise of a man who seemed too good to be true and maybe was. Teammates, journalists and friends paint a picture of a leader everyone trusted… until they didn’t. Because before you fall from grace, you’ve got to be on a pedestal.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello TMS listeners, Mark Butcher here.
0:03.1	Just want to tell you about the new series of Sports Strangers Crimes called Hansi Cronier, Fall from Grace.
0:09.7	As big cricket fans, we want to give you the chance to listen to Episode 1 right here, right now.
0:15.8	If you like it, head over to BBC Sounds and search for Sports Strangers Crimes,
0:20.4	where you can listen to the rest of the series.
0:23.5	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:29.6	It's the mid-90s, and one man has his nation in the palm of his hands.
0:35.4	Handsome, fashionable and captain of the national team,
0:38.4	Ansi Cronier is South Africa's equivalent to David Beckham.
0:42.1	But he doesn't kick the ball, he hits it for six.
0:46.8	Hansi was a very talented cricketer,
0:48.9	and for the most part of his captaincy in one-day cricket, certainly,
0:52.6	they were predictable winners.
0:54.2	I thought he was an excellent captain,
0:56.3	and I thought he had everyone in the team behind him,
0:59.1	which is so important for a captain.
1:01.6	Hansi not only impresses people, he unites them.
1:04.6	I must have congratulate in particular Captain Hansi Prodardot
1:08.7	for the excellent manner in which he has led at the national team.
1:15.5	He had this persona that people just identified with.
1:20.7	People were drawn to him and they would do anything for him and they wouldn't question him.
1:25.0	I feel it myself. On the field and in dressing rooms after games,
	...

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