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

#1 Graeme Pollock

Don Bradman regarded Graeme Pollock as the greatest left-hander of all time along with Sir Gary Sobers

Widely regarded as the best ever South African batsman to have graced the game, Graeme Pollock played 23 Tests for the country from 1963-1970 before South Africa’s exile from international cricket due to the racial discrimination that prevailed in the country. He broke a number of records during his career and his Test average of 60.97 remains second only to Sir Donald Bradman. Pollock also scored 7 centuries in his brief Test career.

He was the recipient of numerous awards, including being voted as South Africa’s Cricketer of the 20th Century, Wisden’s Cricketer of the year in 1966 and was unanimously selected as the Wisden Leading cricketer of the year in 1967 and 1969. Bradman described Pollock along with Sir Garfield Sobers as the greatest left-hander he had ever seen play cricket.

Following South Africa’s isolation from international cricket, Pollock played in 16 unofficial test matches against breakaway teams from England, West Indies, Australia and Sri Lanka. He bid farewell to his international career at the age of 42 scoring a terrific 144 against the rebel Australian side that toured South Africa in 1987. He scored 1376 runs at an average of 65.52 with 5 centuries to his name.

Pollock finished his 1st class career with 20,940 runs at an average of 54.67 with 64 centuries and 99 half-centuries to his name.