After being hit on the helmet by Fanie de Villiers, Devon Malcolm told South Africa 'You guys are history.' He then took 9/57 — the best bowling figures by an England fast bowler in Test history — to bowl South Africa out for 175.
South Africa had made 332 in their first innings. England replied with 304. Then, as South Africa batted again, Fanie de Villiers's delivery hit Malcolm on the helmet. Malcolm, a paceman himself, knew what that meant. As he walked back to the boundary, he reportedly told the South African fielders: 'You guys are history.'
Malcolm ran in with frightening pace and purpose. He dismissed De Villiers first — fitting revenge. Then Kirsten, McMillan, Rhodes, Cronje, Cullinan, Richardson, Donald, and Simons fell to him. 9 wickets for 57 runs.
South Africa were bowled out for 175. England needed 204 to win. They got there with 8 wickets remaining. England won by 8 wickets. Malcolm was chaired off The Oval by his teammates.
The 9/57 remains the best bowling figures by an England fast bowler in any Test. Malcolm took only 3 more wickets in his remaining Tests — his career peaked at The Oval 1994 and never reached those heights again.
De Villiers hits Malcolm on the helmet — the provocation
'You guys are history' — Malcolm's declaration
9/57 — Malcolm's vengeful and brilliant response
August 20, 1994
South Africa's second innings — De Villiers hits Malcolm on helmet
Malcolm's response
9/57 — South Africa 175 all out
England chase
England win by 8 wickets — series levelled
England won the match and the series levelled at 1-1. Malcolm played Test cricket until 1997. He has said 1994 was the only time in his career when everything — pace, accuracy, anger — came together simultaneously.
The perfect fast bowling revenge narrative — a batsman provoked a fast bowler and paid the ultimate team price. Malcolm's 9/57 is the most emotionally satisfying bowling performance in England's Test history.
Devon Malcolm's 9/57 is the permanent answer to every question about England's greatest fast bowling performance. The quote 'You guys are history' became one of cricket's most famous pre-match statements — and one of the very few such boasts that was fully delivered.
Australia vs West Indies
1960-12-14
The first tied Test in 86 years of cricket history — Australia and West Indies finished level on 737 runs each after five days of breathless cricket in Brisbane, producing one of the most dramatic finishes the game has ever seen.
India vs Australia
1986-09-22
Twenty-six years after Brisbane, cricket produced only its second tied Test — Dean Jones's heroic 210 through crippling heat and Dean Jones's fever, Ravi Shastri's unbeaten 48 and India needing 2 off the last over, only for Maninder Singh to be out lbw off the final ball.
Australia vs South Africa
1999-06-17
Lance Klusener smashed Australia to the brink of elimination, then ran out Allan Donald off the penultimate ball to tie the match — but Australia advanced to the final on superior run rate, ending South Africa's greatest World Cup campaign in devastating fashion.