South African captain Graeme Smith congratulates batsman Hashim Amla after they beat Australia by 9 wickets, in the last day of the Second Test, at the MCG in Melbourne, Tuesday Dec. 30, 2008. (AAP Image/Joe Castro)
The keen interest shown by Roar readers on my last week’s article, Foreign-born England’s Test Cricketers, has encouraged me to research on overseas-born South African Test cricketers.
South Africa selected their first ever player of Asian origin in their Test team in 2004. Born in Durban, Hashim Amla is a member of the Durban and Kwazulu Natal’s Indian community. A devout Muslim, he is delighted to represent South Africa. His grandparents were born in India.
This made me wonder as to how many of the 300 plus South African Test cricketers were born overseas. My research shows that 43 were born outside South Africa in 11 different countries.
Of these, 22 were born in England, two in Ireland, one in Scotland, eight in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), four in India and one each in Mozambique, Swaziland, Java (Dutch East Indies), Bermuda, Egypt and Portugal. Here is the list:
ENGLAND (22): Harold Baumgartner, Richard Dumbrill, Charles Finlason, Cyril Francois, Howard Francis, George Glover, Alfred Hall, Ernest “Baberton” Halliwell, Frank Hearne, George Hearne, Philip Hutchinson, Percy Mansell, James “Bonnor” Middleton, Charles Mills, William Milton, Frank Mitchell, Frank Nicholson, Dave Nourse, Tommy Routledge, Reggie Schwarz, George Thornton and Joseph Willoughby.
SCOTLAND (1): Tom Campbell.
IRELAND (2): Clement Johnson and Robert Poore.
RHODESIA [now Zimbabwe] (8): Colin Bland, John du Preez, Steven Elworthy, Geoffrey Lawrence, Joseph Partridge, Anthony Pithey, David Pithey and Denis Tomlinson.
MOZAMBIQUE (1): Dave Ironside.
SWAZILAND (1): Lawrence “Fish” Markham.
INDIA (4): Robert Stewart, Godfrey Cripps, Bob Crisp and Thomas Ward.
BERMUDA (1): Charles Hime.
JAVA [Dutch East Indies] (1): Frederick Cook.
EGYPT (1): John Traicos.
PORTUGAL (1): Richard Westcott.
Note:
• Frank Hearne played Test cricket for England and later for South Africa. George Hearne is his son.
• Frank Mitchell also played for England and South Africa.
• John Traicos made his Test debut for South Africa against Australia in 1970 aged 22 and played two more Tests in this series. His next Test appearance was for Zimbabwe against India in 1992, aged 45. The gap between Test appearances, 22 years and 222 days, remains a record.
• David and Anthony Pithey are brothers.
• Dave Nourse was a great batsman, Reggie Schwarz an outstanding spin bowler and Colin Bland one of the best ever cover fielders.
• Born in Kolkata, Bob Crisp was an extraordinary character, being a fast bowler, rugby international, champion runner, mountain climber, soldier, journalist, author and a ladies man, even at 70. The charismatic Crisp remains the only player to take 4 wickets in 4 balls twice at first-class level in 1931-32 and 1933-34, both times for Western Province.
Roarers, have I missed out any foreign-born South African Test cricketers?
To my knowledge, Kepler Wessels is the only South African to play Test cricket for Australia, scoring a century on his Test debut against England in Brisbane in 1982-83. He played 24 Tests for Australia before representing South Africa in 16 Tests.
MMMAXXX
Guest
You're completely wrong with this one. As a SA private schooled individual with friends similarly educated I would know. SA has been independent for +100 years. Our lifestyles, upbringing etc is vastly different.
Rob McLean
Guest
Neither of these players were born outside of their playing country but I've always been fascinated by the fact that Australia's Bruce Reid is the cousin of New Zealand's John Reid.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
You are correct, blueknows. Paul Harris was born in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. My apologies for missing out in mentioning him in my post of September 2009. That is why, Roarers are so important. Very little is written on overseas-born Test cricketers and additions to fill in the blanks are very much welcome. I'm pretty sure there are a few such blanks.
blueknows
Guest
Paul harris wicipedia site claims he was born in salisbury rhodesia (now of course harare zimbabwe) can anyone explain why he is missing from the list, I am having a right to do on another website arguing the rights and wrongs of south africans playing for england and this has not helped my case. I would be gratefel for any info on this
D'Arry
Guest
Pietersen is an afrikaan.. call them english at your own risk.
RE: Altus
Guest
Nearly, if you mean World War 1. Only two players were born post WW2, the war you mention. Not provided anywhere in the 487 word article was that most were born in the 19th century, 27 of the 43 or 63%. The modern territory of South Africa only came into existence in 1910. List with players with birth date added: ENGLAND (22): Harold Baumgartner, 1883 Richard Dumbrill, 1938 Charles Finlason, 1860 Cyril Francois, 1897 Howard Francis, 1868 George Glover, 1870 Alfred Hall, 1896 Ernest “Baberton” Halliwell, 1864 Frank Hearne, 1858 George Hearne, 1888 Philip Hutchinson, 1862 Percy Mansell, 1920 James “Bonnor” Middleton, 1865 Charles Mills, 1867 William Milton, 1854 Frank Mitchell, 1872 Frank Nicholson, 1909 Dave Nourse, 1879 Tommy Routledge, 1867 Reggie Schwarz, 1875 George Thornton, 1867 Joseph Willoughby, 1874 SCOTLAND (1): Tom Campbell, 1882 RELAND (2): Clement Johnson, 1871 Robert Poore, 1866 RHODESIA [now Zimbabwe] (8): Colin Bland, 1938 John du Preez, 1942 Steven Elworthy, 1965 Geoffrey Lawrence, 1932 Joseph Partridge, 1932 Anthony Pithey, 1933 David Pithey, 1936 Denis Tomlinson, 1910 MOZAMBIQUE (1): Dave Ironside, 1925 SWAZILAND (1): Lawrence “Fish” Markham, 1924 INDIA (4): Robert Stewart, 1856 Godfrey Cripps, 1865 Bob Crisp, 1911 Thomas Ward, 1887 BERMUDA (1): Charles Hime, 1869 JAVA [Dutch East Indies] (1): Frederick Cook, 1870 EGYPT (1): John Traicos, 1947 PORTUGAL (1): Richard Westcott, 1927
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
These men are Anglo-Africans. They were educated - in KP's case at least - in English-style boarding schools. Their outlook on life has been shaped by English moeurs (albeit the rather more traditional English moeurs). To my mind, they are merely a different breed of Briton - less exotic than the Welsh even.
Dave
Guest
The current rules which allows South African bred cricketers to play for England is not a farce to both countries. They have to wait four years just like everybody else does http://l.yimg.com/t/icccricket/pdfs/player_eligibility.pdf
Jay
Guest
I think a distinction needs to be made as to where a player was born and where first player their junior cricket. I recall from your previous article about an English cricketer with an anglo name having been born in Rome. Does it really matter if it was only for a holiday/a couple years during childhood? The current rules which allows South African bred cricketers to play for England is a farce to both countries. I agree that the racial quota system is racisism in reverse. But KP and Jonathan Trott are South Arfircans nonetheless.
altus
Guest
It has to be said though that most of those English players played before the war and were immigrants to South Africa. I would imagine that the same would be true of NZ and Aus if you go back far enough.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Thanks, Brett. Articles like this take enormous time to research. I have afew deadlines to catch, for Inside Cricket and Inside Sport magazines. So not for awhile can I catch up on overseas-born Kiwi Test caps.
Brett McKay
Expert
Great stuff Kersi, as usual. So where next - New Zealand??
Marty
Guest
It's all about the figures.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Interest-ing! As they say, what goes around, comes around!
johno
Guest
Since England would be bankrupt without said interest
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
So it seems that England's South African chaps are merely repaying a debt which has accrued quite some interest.