The Hansie Cronje Story: an authorised biography 
On June 1st 2002, Hansie Cronje, arguably one of the greatest South African cricket captains, died in a plane crash in the Outeniqua Mountains. He was 32. It brought to an end the colourful career of a dedicated cricketer a husband and a favourite son of South Africa. Buy Now
 Penned by Garth King, the biography was written to give the public closure on the sensitive subject, one that has rocked not only South Africa but the cricketing world. In addition, the hope that the people would learn from the good and the bad from Hansie's far too short a life was also in the family's mind allowing this project to proceed. The thing that struck me more than anything is that this is a well balanced biography. It includes perhaps some of Hansie’s darker moments along with the good, the good times and the bad together with the realisation that he made one grave error during his cricketing career that spiralled out of control.
He was prone to sulking if a result on the field didn’t go his way, unreasonable and unwilling to be the butt of a joke despite handing out the pranks himself. One such example as King writes “he would tune the team bus’s radio to static and then crank up the volume”. However when an identical prank was played on the sleeping captain he was not best pleased, in King’s words he was “unreasonably grumpy”.
Brought up in privileged surroundings along with his brother Frans and sister Hester, Cronje enjoyed the good life that his family and sport afforded him often watching Welsh rugby on the video courtesy of a highlights video that was played constantly. Similar to Donald Bradman, Hansie had to choose between cricket and tennis as a teenager. He chose cricket and never looked back.
While participating in a blesbok (purplish antelope in South Africa) culling on Oom Wiester’s 2000ha farm, Cronje took himself away from the furore eventually he caught up with him sitting alone quietly contemplating. Buy Now
“Oom, did you know that I have had one big problem in my life? I have never been a child. I’ve never had the privilege of being a child? Do you know how nice it is just to sit here and be still?
I can only surmise that he didn’t include his countless hours of playing backyard rugby and cricket with his brother and sister and friend and team mate Allan Donald. Cronje was always seen as a leader, even as a youngster and tremendous pressure was placed on his shoulders from a very young age. Official Hansie Cronje Website
A pupil at Grey College, Hansie was very successful in everything he put his mind to. Tommie Cronje, a long distant relation and teacher of his, echoed the fact that Hansie was a leader of men. “Hansie stood out as a leader who was well balanced and who had a fine sense of humour. Whenever he gave his opinion the others would pay very close attention.” This included teacher and pupils alike.
 For me the book lies in two halves. Part one looks at his childhood, growing up at Paul Kruger Avenue, family and his friends both on and off the field. The second and the most emotive section of the book looks back at the betting scandals, the temptations thrown his way to throw a match, the King commission and finally his death.
The biography tells how Hansie was hounded by the press during the commission, the biggest grievance being the manner of reporting from reporters often given access to Cronje at all times of the day. It wasn't only the press that hurt Hansie but his former colleagues. Allan Donald had lashed out and Hansie attempted to heal the rift with a two hour chat. Donald said of the meeting “I sat and cried and talked to him for two hours in Bloemfontein. He acknowledged he was greedy, but assured me he had never fixed a game. I believed him and always will. Our friendship was renewed.”
King's biography also includes, word for word Hansie's signed statement on June 15th 2000. It makes remarkable reading and describes in detail those who had tempted him to alter a game's conclusion with money and gifts. Hansie as we learn from the book and from Ali Bacher (upon his death) that he was the only person to hold his head up high and admit his mistakes.
In fact had it not been for his candour, had he remained silent, with very little evidence available it's quite possible that he would have not been held accountable. It is obvious when reading the book how the pressure had built up over a period of time and he felt he had no choice. He had for all intents and purposes been backed into a corner. There is no doubt that given the frankness of his confession, it brought match fixing to the fore and saved the long term future of cricket.
His last flight, the missed family meetings we all put off if we are rushed for time and the aftermath of his death are covered emotionally in the later stages of the biography. At 8:30 in the evening Bertha, Hansie's wife spoke to him on the phone. He had missed his earlier connection due to poor weather and was hours from boarding the cargo plane owned by Air-Quarius Aviation. Hansie ended the conversation with “Ek is baie lief vir jou. Engel” (I love you a lot, Angel) – these were the last words he spoke with his wife.
You are unlikely to read a more emotional biography than this one. I have always had an interest in South African cricket and for me Hansie will always be remembered as THE South African cricket captain – he is my generation. This books gives a wonderfully balanced view, seeking interviews from friends and family throughout and written in an easy style. Perhaps more importantly for the family, it has given them a chance to set the record straight – it has certainly been done fairly. Highly recommended. Buy Now
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