12 greatest South African cricketers of all time?

[Harsh Thakor]

I am ranking in order of merit the 10 best South African cricketers of all time.

 

1.Jacques Kallis

2.Barry Richards

3.Graeme Pollock

4.Mike Procter

5.Shaun Pollock

6.Dale Steyn

7.A B Devilliers

8.Alan Donald

9.Aubrey Faulkner

10 Hashim Amla

11.Graeme Smith

12.Hanse Cronje

 

 

Jacques Kallis unanimously choice at no 1 with his staggering figures of over 13,000t est runs and 292 wickets as well as averaging over 55 with bat and 32 with the ball.

Not the best entertainer but still supreme in all-round skill.On stats 2nd to only Tendulkar as a batsmen and the best of all allrounders.Lacked a killer instinct of consistency to deliver a knockout punch but the ultimate epitome of consistency.Above all shaped South Africa's status as a champion test nation.

 

 

Barry Richards would probably been only 2nd to Bradman if he had a full test career .He proved his worth in WSC Packer cricket topping the averages at 79.16 ,including scoring a double century and match-winning hundred. in the final in 1978.Arguably no batsmen was ever more complete.

 

Graeme Pollock inspite of a shortened career had what wa sthen the 2nd best tset average ,displaying skill and performance in the Lara or Tendulkar class.Faced better bowling and played on more challenging tracks than later greats like Devilliers,or Smith.

 

 

Mike Procter in afull test career is likely to have been 2nd to only Sobers if you asess his first class performances and those in WSC supertests,averaging around 18 with the ball and over 30 wit the bat.Hard to envisage even a Botham,Miller or Imran surpass Procter in all-round cricketing talent or as a possible match-winner.

 

 

Shaun Pollock is highly underrated as to some he was more lethal than even Donald with the ball,with his masterly use of the crease.He had an outstanding average of 23 and very good economy rte.He also played some gems with the bat and often stood out in a crisis averaging around 32.The best bowling all-rounder of his day who won important games.

 

Dale Steyn was very similar to Malcolm Marshall and at his best on the slow sub-continent tracks.Phenomenal strike rate combining great speed with sustained movement.Steyn ws master in delivering a knockout punch.

 

AB Devilliers was closest to Viv Richards and reminded you of a circus acrobat playing tricks.I can't imagine a cricketer more imaginative or innovative.None was more destructive in ODI's .In test matches he was cool nad calculating averaging above 50.Often kept the wickets which is praiseworthy.Ended with a tset and ODI average of above 50 which is remarkable.

 

 

Alan Donald is argubaly the most complete of all Proteas paceman with his great repertoire or verstality.At his best could be more explosive than Steyn and almost as crafty as Wasim Akram.

 

Aubrey Faulkner had a short but brilliant career with his figures peaking for themselves.

 

Hashim Amla was the ultimate grinder and it is remarkable that at one stage he averaged above 50 in tests and ODI's.A master in building an innings or lifting a side from the depths of despair.

 

Graeme Smith had great sttaistisc as an opening batsmen avegaing close to 50 with some mammoth scores and had agreat record as a skipper.His leadership took South Africa to the top of the pedestal in test cricket .

 

 

Hanse Cronje as a leader was the architect of the Protaes becoming unofficial world ODI champions and the 2nd best tset side to Australia.In addition to a reliable middle order batsmen could at times be lethal with the ball.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 5, 2020 by Harsh Thakor