Yet before we start sniggering let us remember that sport is now enduring a similarly acute irony of its own. The game which, 52 years ago triggered the beginning of the end for the atrocity that was apartheid in South Africa, now itself stands accused of institutional racism.

Yes cricket, lovely cricket, is deeply embroiled in a serious controversy over discrimination against some non-white players and administrators. It is said to be "riddled with racism."

The D’Oliveira affair back in 1968, sparked the flame which eventually devoured the abomination of apartheid but as Nelson Mandela said, it was a long walk to freedom to May 1990 which embraced rows, wrangling, even riots which not only shook up sport, but the political world.

Now it is deeply embroiled in a serious controversy over discrimination against some non-white players and administrators.

For those too young to remember, Basil D’Oliveira was a South African born cricket all-rounder designated as Cape Coloured by its Government’s race regulations. He left his homeland and came to England because of never being able to represent his country because of apartheid and he eventually qualified to play county cricket for Worcestershire and then England.

He became exceptionally popular and in 1968 English fans were astounded to hear that he was not included in the MCC’s selection to play in South Africa in a Test series. Public opinion was that he was not chosen because of the colour of his skin.

Some argued that the MCC’s decision to exclude him was the result of pressure from the South African Government which, under their apartheid system did not allow non-whites to play sport against South Africa’s all white teams. 

As public opinion and political pressure here mounted the MCC decided to make a sudden change when it was announced that bowler Tom Cartwright, named in the original team, had dropped out through injury despite knowing D’Oliveira’s selection would cause a political furore.

And it sure did, when it was announced that D‘Oliveira would replace Cartwright. South Africa’s hard-line Prime Minister John Vorster was furious, arguing that the MCC had succumbed to anti-apartheid political pressure, led by the Labour Sports Minister Denis Howell and several notables inside the game, among them the cricketing vicar (eventually the Bishop of Liverpool) the Rev David Sheppard.

Vorster immediately cancelled the tour. Because of South Africa’s racial ideology he had previously made it clear that his Government would never allow a coloured man on the same field as white South African cricketers.

The scandal created worldwide anger, and South Africa fought a bitter battle against becoming the pariahs of world sport, particularly when their beloved rugby was dragged into the conflict.

However it took many years before South Africa were finally expelled from major sport, including the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. They also left the Commonwealth itself.

Years of often violent conflict, boycotts and facing a rising tide of protest within his own country and international condemnation, a new Prime Minister P W Botha, lost the support of the ruling National Party and resigned in 1989.

His successor FW de Clerk shocked the world by lifting the ban on the African National Congress and other black liberation parties, restoring freedom of the press and releasing political prisoners including Mandela who walked free after 27 years in jail.

Anti-apartheid sentiments began to grow even stronger, and urged by Mandela, de Clerk agreed to hold South Africa’s first democratic election and on May 9 1994 a new racially mixed South African Parliament elected Nelson Mandela as the first President of the new rainbow nation.

“Dolly” as he was known, represented England in 14 tests. He died in 2012 but will forever be the man who first put the boot in on apartheid in sport - without bowling a ball or hitting a boundary.

Years later, when he was in a nursing home, D’Oliveira received a missive from Mandela wishing him well and conveying his heartfelt thanks.

So cricket fuelled the sports boycotts which ultimately did so much to bring down the most despicable regime of modern times.

Now, as Shakespeare said, here’s the rub. At the time of the D’Oliveira affair cricket had only just rid itself of its own form of apartheid, one which had nothing to do with race. The entrances of many cricket grounds, including Lords, had separate entrances marked either “Gentleman or Players”.

This reflected the snobbishness of the sport. “Gentlemen” were the talented toffs of the game who were largely well-heeled amateurs, players were usually poorly paid professionals. But now a more serious discrimination seems to have infested cricket, of all sports.

It’s surfaced with allegations by a Pakistani, Azeem Rafiq, a former Yorkshire captain that he had been racially abused within the club itself. He said he dreaded “going to work” and was close to committing suicide during his time with Yorkshire.

These claims are now being investigated.

Another investigation, by a newspaper, under the headline “Cricket Race Shame” reveals what it calls “a shocking diversity problem within English cricket”.

The Daily Mail alleges a shocking imbalance within county cricket, saying it is almost exclusively populated by white players, coaches and administrators. They point out that there are only 33 BAME players at 18 clubs and four counties have none.

Only six out of 93 coaches have BAME backgrounds.

Currently the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are so concerned that they are ready to fine counties who do not achieve greater diversity in the dressing rooms and boardrooms within the next two years.

In an interview the former black England bowler Devon Malcolm says that in five years of watching his 14-year-old son, who plays for Northamptonshire juniors, he has never seen other black boys playing at this level.

"Look at the county academies,” says Malcolm. “Are there any Asian boys coming through? Any black boys? They reach a certain level and just pack up. Why are they being disconnected? Why are they not getting the chance to go further down the tunnel? These things need to be looked at. The numbers are pathetic. For a lot of black boys it is a no brainer for them if they are choosing between football and cricket."

Subsequently a bombshell has been dropped by ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, who was brought up in apartheid South Africa when he said that cricket faces oblivion if the sport does not become more racially diverse and broaden its appeal to all sections of the society.

But first it seems the growing malaise within the game itself has to be cured. Only last month the Essex captain Tom Westley had to apologise after alcohol was poured over a Muslim player as the team celebrated their Bob Willis Trophy win.

Batsmen Feroze Kushi, who was 12th man and a non-drinker because of his religion, was pictured recoiling as beer was poured out over him on the balcony at Lord’s following the victory over Somerset in the final.

Essex had admitted the celebrations failed to meet their inclusive values and pledged to do more In the way of “cultural education” of their players.

It does make you wonder whether what is happening in cricket today well, just isn’t cricket.