6 biggest South African cricketers whose international careers were halted due to racial apartheid regime

#2 Barry Richards

Barry Richards was an exceptional batsman whose international career was cut short due to the apartheid regime

A right-handed batsman of an enormous stature, Barry Richards was considered one of the most successful Proteas cricketer. He played only 4 tests for South Africa before they were isolated from world cricket and remained in oblivion for more than two decades but even in his brief career Richards scored more than 500 runs against Australia with a staggering average of 72. Richards was instrumental in the 4–0 win that South Africa inflicted on the side, captained by Bill Lawry.

Richards was a run machine in the domestic circuit and finished his career with nearly 30,000 first class runs. He scored 80 centuries in his career with an average of 54. He also scored 8,506 ODI runs with 16 centuries and was awarded the Wisden Cricketer of the year in 1969.

Richards was also a prolific run scorer for Hampshire amassing 2395 runs in his first season in 1968. From 1970, he forged one of the most successful opening partnerships for that country along with West Indian great Gordon Greenidge.