For the purpose of this article, I wish to concentrate on one category – all-rounders known for their batting and bowling who hail from South Africa.
There are other all-rounders known for batting and wicket-keeping, and it is interesting to note that South Africa have also been at the forefront in producing this type of all-rounder. However, that is an article for another day.
It is fascinating that while most Test nations have produced all-rounders of note, South Africa seems to have produced more of them more consistently and regularly.
In this article I am going to look at 13 all-rounders – a baker’s dozen – who were born in South Africa.
11 of these players represented South Africa in full Tests; one should have represented South Africa but played for England, while yet another was denied Test status due to the isolation period in the 1970s and ’80s. The players are presented in order of birth.
1. Buck Llewellyn (b. 1876). Tests: 15; Batting average: 20.15; Wickets: 48; Bowling average: 29.60. Career span: 1876-1912.
Contrary to popular belief that spinner Omar Henry was the first coloured cricketer to represent South Africa in 1992, it was actually Llewellyn back in 1896!
A lively left-hand bat and left-arm medium-fast bowler, Buck’s stats compare favourably with his contemporary Sinclair. However, his dark skin created controversy and he didn’t play as many Tests as he should have.
2. Jimmy Sinclair (b. 1876). Tests: 25; Batting: 23.24; Wickets: 63; Bowling: 31.63; Career span: 1876-1911.
The superstar of his day, tall and strong, Sinclair was a batting swashbuckler and a genuinely fast right-arm bowler. He managed three centuries to boot in Tests.
Not only was he a cricketing all-rounder but a sporting all-rounder. He also represented the Springboks in one rugby Test, and played Premier League football in England.
3. Dave Nourse (b. 1879). Tests 45; Batting: 29.79; Wickets: 41; Bowling: 37.88. Career span: 1902-24.
Sometimes referred to as the father of South African cricket, Nourse senior was indeed also the father of one of South Africa’s greatest batsmen, Dudley, who was the champion bat for South Africa in the inter-war years.
Nourse was a solid left-hand bat and useful left-arm fast-medium bowler. His batting record was quite acceptable for the period and would be worth five to 10 extra batting points by today’s standards.
4. Aubrey Faulkner (b. 1881). Tests: 25; Batting: 40.79; Wickets: 82; Bowling: 26.59. Career span: 1906-24.
Clearly one of the giants of the golden era of cricket, Faulkner stood alone among South African Test cricketers until joined by Nourse junior in the 1930s.
He batted right-hand and was one of the early exponents of the googly, complementing his leg-spin armoury.
It’s worth noting his batting average is superior (just) to that of Australian giants of the same period – Victor Trumper and Clem Hill. This raises similar arguments that we read about today, comparing the all-round feats of Jacques Kallis to specialist batsmen such as Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting.
5. Trevor Goddard (b. 1931). Tests: 41; Batting: 34.06; Wickets: 123; Bowling: 26.23; Career span: 1955-70.
One of the most under-rated yet best-credentialed all-rounders to play the game. Goddard was perhaps a little underdone as a left-hand opening Test batsman, despite being classically correct.
As a bowler, he was difficult to play. Miserly at best, he bowled lively left-arm fast-medium seamers, cutters and swingers. Nor was he averse to sending down the occasional left-arm orthodox or chinaman delivery.
6. Basil D’Oliveira (b. 1931). Tests: (for England) 44; Batting: 40.06; Wickets: 47; Bowling: 39.55; Career span: 1966-72.
Keep in mind D’Oliveira didn’t make his debut for England until he was nearly 35, an age when most cricketers are contemplating retirement.
Yet his Test achievements as a right-hand bat and right-arm medium pace bowler are still solid. How much better might he have been had he begun his career a decade earlier?
If it wasn’t for apartheid, D’Oliveira would probably have made his Test debut back in 1955 alongside Goddard and complementing frontline fast bowlers Neil Adcock and Peter Heine and champion off-spinner Hugh Tayfield. England’s gain was definitely South Africa’s loss.
7. Eddie Barlow (b. 1940). Tests: 30; Batting: 45.75; Wickets: 40; Bowling: 34.05.
Nicknamed ‘Bunter’ after the English schoolboy cartoon hero because of his solid build and glasses, Barlow was actually a very agile, energetic cricketer who always demanded to be in the action.
His right-hand batting could be streaky while his right-arm fast bowling was definitely lively, accentuated by a whippy follow through. He was also an excellent fielder.
He was one of those guys who, if he failed in one department, would atone in another. During his career, he was often considered the “heart” of the South African team.
8. Mike Procter (b. 1946). Tests: 7; Batting: 25.11; Wickets 41; Bowling: 15.02. First class matches: 401; Batting: 36.01; Wickets: 1417; Bowling: 19.53; Career spanL 1966-70.
At his peak Procter was a breathtaking sight to behold. He batted right-hand fast and bowled right-arm even faster with a somewhat unorthodox, windmill style. But he was brutally effective.
To get an appreciation of how good Procter might have been given a normal career, I rate him on a par with the Pakistan Lion, Imran Khan. I reckon they are almost mirror images of each other as all-rounders.
9. Clive Rice (b. 1949). Tests: Nil. First class matches: 482; Batting 40.95; Wickets: 930; Bowling: 22.49.
There is no greater tragedy in 20th-century South Africa than apartheid. But from a sporting perspective, it is a tragedy Procter did not play more tests while Rice played none at all.
He was good enough to be considered on a par with his contemporaries – Procter, Imran, Tony Greig, Ian Botham, Richard Hadlee, Kapil Dev, Wasim Akram and McMillan.
Compared directly to Procter, Rice was a marginally superior bat while not quite as good a fast bowler. But very good he definitely was.
10. Brian McMillan (b. 1963). Tests: 38; Batting: 39.36; Wickets: 75; Bowling: 33.83; Career span: 1992-98.
Yet another right-hander and right-armer, McMillan was lucky to play Test cricket from the moment of South Africa’s re-entry from isolation in 1992.
The Aussies loved to annoy him by nicknaming him “Gerard” (as in Depardieu) because of his big head rather than big nose!
A typically aggressive cricketer from the Republic, he gave it everything either batting or bowling. An especially fine one-day player.
11. Lance Klusener (b. 1971). Tests: 49; Batting: 32.86; Wickets: 174; Bowling: 37.91; Career span 1996-2004.
A brutal left-hand batsman and erratic but occasionally frightening right-arm fast-medium bowler.
Nicknamed ‘Zulu’, Klusener certainly struck fear in opponents when holding a bat in his hands. When on song he was an electrifying sight.
He was particularly spectacular in one-day cricket while his Test results were less consistent.
12. Shaun Pollock (b. 1973). Tests: 108; Batting 32.32; Wickets 421; Bowling 23.12; Career span: 1995-2008.
Born into South African cricket royalty, his father is former Test fast bowler Peter and his uncle is former Test batsman Graeme, arguably South Africa’s greatest-ever batsman.
You could say Shaun inherited qualities from both. Interestingly, he scored a third century in a ‘Test’ not recognised by the ICC when the Indian opponents refused to have former England captain Mike Denness as referee during the 2001/02 series.
13. Jacques Kallis (b. 1975). Tests: 156*; Batting 57.35; Wickets: 280; Bowling: 32.74; Career span 1995-present.
What is there left to say about Kallis? His stats already are marginally better than that of the other all-time great Gary Sobers.
One can quibble (as I would) that Sobers was the more interesting and exciting player to watch. But Kallis deserves the greatest respect, indeed reverence, for his achievements.
Whether it’s Sobers or Kallis. Or Kallis or Sobers, one thing is clear, they are the two greatest cricketers (in the true sense of the word) that the cricketing world has seen to date.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
What quality spinners? They beat the Australian side 4-0 that beat the Windies and India at home and in India respectively. The Aussies were the best side and were badly beaten by that side who is actually a side that were starting to form in 67 where they bear Aus 3-1. Australia exposed the Indian short comings heavily in India. So no the Indian team of that era were not that great. Bradman pretty much just played 3 nations without playing the Indians. But then again those were the only 3 nations during that time.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
If I compete in a World Cup I would take that man Klusener with. The guy was dismissed something like twice or three times in 2 World Cups and he ended his last World Cup match on a n.o as well! People use to expect him to come in and smash everything away. Which is not the type of player he was. He played his best coming in preserving his wicket till its time to put the hammer down. He did that so well. I would have loved to see him and Cairns batting together at 120/5 with 20 or so overs left for them. That would have been some sight to see as they both are so good at preserving their wickets and just tap it around for 4 or 5 runs a over. Brain McMILLAN was the guy who walked into the Aussie dressing room with a gun and said now I had enough of you lot I believe. Which they all started laughing and cracked a beer open after it. They also avoided sledging to him. He was Ntini's inspiration and child hood hero. On the England tour Ntini chose him as his mentor and he went through the fitness routines Big Mac adhered to in his professional carreer. Ntini did the same and still doing it I believe. He was also partook of that SA cricket team who were the darlings of the 92. World cup. Probably the last SA side that a Aussie crowd cheered so loud for and supported even till the end when that rain calculations spoiled their tournament. Cronje was good up until the stage where he started to sabotage his teams batting line up made some horrible decisions on the field and played with his countries world cup dreams like he did in 99. I am sure Klusener cost him a penny or two during that World cup and I think that is why he probably sent Klusener in at no 3 in that match against NZ. But astounding fact is when he needed to make a score for the bookies he turned it on. Which just shows how his abilities was sold for greed. Andrew Hall and Richard Snell were also those guys who opened the batting at times and bowled at pace going for a few but were in and out the South African sides. They were not bad at all if you look at them and Snell got a 100 opening the batting vs Sri Lanka as well I believe. Nicky Boje was another guy sadly drowned by Cronje's legacy he and Adam Parore gave us a show once until rain stopped that match. Boje slogged a 100 and Parore was going so well being 50 n.o the time. Albie Morkel was another one who I enjoyed and still enjoy as he can hit a ball miles. He can wallop it hard and I saw one game he smashed Shane Warne for 3 sixes in a row. He smashed 28 of a Virat Kohli over to turn a game for his side. But if its comes to test cricket jacques Kallis, Shaun and his dad Peter Pollock, Mike Proctor, Brain Mcmillan and Eddie Barlow I wouldn't mind have in my team. That great 69/70 were almost a side filled with just all rounders. I looked around at some of the Saffers teams of the past and they seemed to love the all rounders and it was almost like a tradition as their sides were filled with them and it made up most of the team. Just in modern days where it gone to 1 or 2 per team.
James
Guest
Tiger Lance? A very under rated cricketer. genuine all rounder.
James
Guest
Greig would not have made it into that side. He was nowhere near the class of the incumbents.
Midfielder
Guest
Sheek On the Sobers or Kallis I would add Milliar
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi happy hooker - I'm just warming up..... ;-)
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi Jason, I assume the last sentence is a reference to my post ending with Sobers & Kallis? To borrow from Frank Sinatra's song New York, "If you can make it in test cricket, you can make it anywhere....." So yeah, I'm assuming that Test cricket is definitely the ultimate, though not necessarily the only cricket worth considering.
sheek
Roar Guru
Dasilva, I thought about Greig long & hard. I came to the conclusion he had already sniffed the breeze & irrespective of whether South Africa had continued playing test cricket, he would have thrown his lot in with England. In this regard he is different to D'Oliveira, who would have played for his native South Africa given the opportunity. Greig was ambitious & saw an easier path into the England team than the South African team. Nothing wrong with this at all, as he was eligible for both countries. In 1970, Procter was in his element, while the Saffies also had Barlow & Tiger Lance as all-rounders. And although Goddard was retiring, Greig would have been aware of another young challenger on the block in Rice. An interesting thing about Greig is that his first 8 internationals were all unofficial. In 1970 he played three times for England against the World, then in 1971/72 he played five times for the World against Australia. Before, as you correctly point out, making his official test debut in 1972.
Happy Hooker
Guest
Prolific today Sheek!
Happy Hooker
Guest
Briefest post ever from Johnno!!! Hopefully he has finally got the hang of it ...
Jason
Guest
While I don't disagree that they were probably the No 1 team on paper, the fact is they only played series against white nations pre 1970 so it's hard to know how they would have gone, say, in the subcontinent against quality spinners.
Jason
Guest
The last line is a bit over the top. It ignores things like fielding, captaincy, wicketkeeping and the relative value of bowling over batting. It also assumes that Test cricket is the only cricket that matters (thereby excluding the astonishing achievements of Grace and Rhodes in particular).
dasilva
Roar Guru
Can you add Tony Grieg to the mix. He was a pretty solid south african born all-rounder and a good captain who played for england. average 40 with the bat and 32 with the ball It's possible that he may have played for south africa if there was no suspension from world cricket (his test debut was 1972 whilst south africa were suspended in 1970)
James
Guest
I played against Trevor Goddard many times and he was very difficult to score off. Frustrating as hell. I cannot recall him being dominated by any batsman.His batting was affected by his innate doubt in his own ability. He was never assertive enough and got out many times in the 80''s and the 90's. You could bank on getting him out when he was close to 100! Eddie Barlow could have played rugby as a Springbok but chose cricket as his main sport. He played at centre and was a very good player indeed. And in those days the Springboks were the No1 team in the world.
James
Guest
Cronje was OK but I don't even rate him as test class batsman.
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi Johnno, As you can imagine, the list wasn't intended to be definitive or exhaustive. I've concentrated on mostly the better ones. But there's probably easily another Saffies baker's dozen out there.
Johnno
Guest
Adrien Kuiper was a good all rounder. A big hitter and handy bowler. Eric Symonds was handy too. Cronje of course was a good all rounder.