Famous South African Cricketers
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Find out more about the greatest South African Cricketers, including AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Kevin Pietersen, Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis.
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Birthdate: March 31, 1983
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Durban, South Africa
One of the best ODI bastmen in the world, South African cricketer Hashim Amla has made many records, from being the fastest to reach 20 ODI centuries to being the fourth player to score centuries against all Test-playing nations. He was also the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2013.
Birthdate: February 17, 1984
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Warmbad, Transvaal Province, South Africa
AB de Villiers, also known as “Mr. 360” and “Superman,” has captained the South African cricket team in Tests, ODIs, and T20s. Named the ICC ODI Player of the Year thrice, the Wisden "cricketer of the decade" is a devout Christian, has written an autobiography, and released a pop album.
Birthdate: June 27, 1983
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Phalaborwa
The son of a mine worker, South African fast bowler Dale Steyn is known for his mercurial on-field persona and for his swing and speed. He has many accolades to his credit, such as the Wisden Cricketer of the Year. He also topped the ICC Test rankings for 263 weeks.
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Jacques Kallis
(Cricketer)
Birthdate: October 16, 1975
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
One of the best all-rounders the world has ever seen, South African cricketer Jacques Kallis was known for his signature cover drive throughout his career. He remains the only cricketer to score over 10,000 runs and take more than 250 wickets in both ODI and Test cricket.
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Hansie Cronje(South African Cricketer Who was Banned from Cricket for His Role in Match-Fixing Scandal)
Birthdate: September 25, 1969
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bloemfontein, South Africa
Died: June 1, 2002
Hansie Cronje was a South African international cricketer. He captained the South African national cricket team in the 1990s. In 2000, he was implicated in a cricket match-fixing scandal and banned from the sport for life. He died in a plane crash in 2002. It was rumored that he was murdered on the orders of a cricket betting syndicate.
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Faf du Plessis
(Cricketer)
Birthdate: July 13, 1984
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Pretoria
Faf du Plessis is a South African cricketer who captained the national team in the ODI format from 2013 to 2019. He has also captained the national team in the other two formats of the game. He became the first South African player to score centuries in ODI, T20, and Test cricket after he scored his first T20I century in 2015.
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Graeme Smith
(Former Opening batsman cricketer)
Birthdate: February 1, 1981
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
South African former cricketer Graeme Smith was once nicknamed Biff for often smashing the leather off the cricket balls. At 22, he was the youngest captain of his national cricket team. He was also known for his legendary opening partnerships with Herschelle Gibbs. Post-retirement, he works as a commentator.
Birthdate: July 16, 1973
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Port Elizabeth
Born into a family of renowned cricketers, Shaun Pollock was the son of Peter Pollock and the nephew of Graeme Pollock. One of the best medium pace bowlers of South Africa, he was pushed into captaincy when Hansie Cronje got entangled in a match-fixing scandal in 2000.
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Jonty Rhodes
(Former South African Cricketer)
Birthdate: July 27, 1969
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Pietermaritzberg, Natal, South Africa
A person who redefined fielding in cricket, by bringing it to the forefront, South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes first gained attention when he flung himself to run-out Pakistani cricketer Inzamam-Ul-Haq in a 1992 World Cup game. He worked with Standard Bank and then coached the national team post-retirement.
Birthdate: October 20, 1966
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bloemfontein
Allan Donald is a South African former cricket player best known for his fast-paced deliveries that earned him the nickname White Lightning. Regarded as one of South Africa's most successful fast bowlers, Donald was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2019. After retiring from international cricket, Donald has focused on establishing himself as a coach.
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Ian Chappell
(Australian and South African Former Cricketer)
Birthdate: September 26, 1943
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Unley, Australia
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Kagiso Rabada(South African International Cricketer Who Has Taken Hat-Trick In All Three Formats of Cricket)
Birthdate: February 17, 1995
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
The first six-time CSA award winner, South African cricketer Kagiso Rabada also became the eighth Proteas bowler to take 200 Test wickets, beating the likes of Allan Donald. He has, however, often been seen breaking ICC rules on the field and was also in trouble once for shouldering Steven Smith.
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Herschelle Gibbs
(Rugby union player, Cricketer, Association football player)
Birthdate: February 23, 1974
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Green Point, Cape Town
Herschelle Gibbs is a South African former cricketer who became the first player to hit six consecutive sixes in one over in One Day International cricket. Apart from his batting exploits, Gibbs was also known for his superlative fielding. After retiring from the game, he is into the coaching now.
Birthdate: March 27, 1979
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Lahore
Imran Tahir is a professional cricketer who represents the South African national team. In 2016, he became the fastest South African bowler to reach 100 wickets in the ODI format. In 2018, he became only the fourth South African bowler to take a hat-trick in ODIs. Tahir is currently South Africa’s highest wicket-taker in ODIs and T20Is among spin bowlers.
Birthdate: December 3, 1976
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: East London
One of the finest wicket-keeper batsmen of all time, South African cricketer Mark Boucher has also supported Graeme Smith as South Africa’s vice-captain. In 2012, while playing a practice game in England, he was hit in the eye by a ball and was operated upon. He quit cricket the next day.
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Gary Kirsten
(South African Cricket Coach and Former Cricketer)
Birthdate: November 23, 1967
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa
South African former cricketer Gary Kirsten was known for his composure on the field. As the coach of the Indian national cricket team later, he led the team to their historic 2011 Cricket World Cup win, one that came after 28 years. He has also coached the South African team.
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Morné Morkel
(South African Former Cricketer)
Birthdate: October 6, 1984
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Vereeniging, Transvaal, South Africa
South African-Australian cricketer Morné Morkel is one of the best fast bowlers of his time. He is the younger brother of cricketer Albie Morkel, and in 2008, he and Albie became the first brother duo to be named the South African Cricket Annual Cricketers of the Year in 56 years.
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Graeme Pollock
(Cricketer)
Birthdate: February 27, 1944
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Durban
A powerful batsman, South African cricketer Graeme Pollock was likened to Garry Sobers by legendary cricketer Donald Bradman. Known for his precision of timing as a batsman, he also bowled legspin at times. Born to a cricketer father, he is also the uncle of popular cricketer Shaun Pollock.
Birthplace: Cape Town
Temba Bavuma is the current captain of the South African ODI and T20 national teams and a talented right-handed batsman. Initially mentored by Geoffrey Toyana, he was signed up by the Lions. He is the second from his country to score an ODI debut century.
Birthdate: April 14, 1984
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Cape Town
JP Duminy is a South African former cricket player who served as the vice-captain of the national Twenty20 team. In 2008, he played a major role in helping his national team win their first Test series in Australia against Australia. After retiring from all formats of the game in 2019, JP Duminy started working as a cricket commentator.
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Mickey Arthur
(South African-Australian Cricket Coach, Commentator and Former Cricketer)
Birthdate: May 17, 1968
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
South African-Australian former cricketer Mickey Arthur played for Free State, Griqualand West, and South Africa A before starting his coaching career with Griqualand West. He has coached the Pakistani, Australian, and South African national teams and now serves as the head coach of the Sri Lankan national team.
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Lance Klusener
(Cricketer)
Birthdate: September 4, 1971
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Durban
Popularly known as Zulu, South African former cricketer Lance Klusener was an all-rounder. He was named the Player of the Series in the 1999 World Cup. Taking up the role of coach later, he worked with the South African and Afghanistan national cricket teams, and was the Dolphins head coach.
Birthdate: July 6, 1977
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: King William's Town
Makhaya Ntini became the first Xhosa player to be part of the South African national cricket team. Initially a cowherd in a tiny village in Cape Province, he bowled bare-foot and was scouted by a Boland Cricket Board officer. Though convicted of rape in 1999, he was acquitted later.
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Vernon Philander
(Cricketer)
Birthdate: June 24, 1985
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Bellville
Vernon Philander is a former South African cricket player best known for his skills as a bowler. He has also played important knocks as a batsman, helping his team get out of difficult situations on several occasions. During his Test career, he played 64 tests and took 224 wickets.
Birthdate: June 10, 1989
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Left-handed South African batsman David Miller is best known for his power-hitting and started his career with the Dolphins at age 17. He has also been part of the Indian Premier League. His 256-run partnership with JP Duminy in 2011 was the highest in all World Cups for the fifth-wicket.
Birthdate: June 10, 1981
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Vereeniging
A talented South African all-rounder, Albie Morkel was often likened to Lance Klusener. Born to a cricketer father, it came as no surprise when he chose the game as a career option. However, he never had much of international success and now coaches the Namibian national cricket team.
Birthdate: July 30, 1989
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Port Elizabeth
South African cricketer Wayne Parnell started out as a left-arm pacer and is now an all-rounder. Known for his signature delivery, the Bender, he had a successful career in domestic and franchise cricket, but his international career was mostly riddled with injuries. He converted to Islam in 2011.
Birthdate: June 11, 1987
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Welkom
Cricketer Dean Elgar started out well, leading the South African Under-19 World Cup team in 2006, and became the captain of the South African national team in 2021. He is regarded as a pillar for the South African middle order and is known for his stability.
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Kepler Wessels
(South African-Australian Cricket Commentator and Former Cricketer)
Birthdate: September 14, 1957
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bloemfontein, South Africa
Kepler Wessels is a South African-Australian former cricket player who has represented South Africa as well as Australia in international cricket. He has also captained the South African national team. Wessels has also played an influential role as a coach, working with popular teams like Chennai Super Kings of the Indian Premier League.
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Devon Conway
(Cricket batsman)
Birthdate: July 8, 1991
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
Birthdate: March 13, 1986
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Pretoria, Transvaal Province, South Africa
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Ryan ten Doeschate
(Former Dutch–South African Cricketer All-rounder)
Birthdate: June 30, 1980
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Gqeberha, South Africa
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Marizanne Kapp
(South African International Cricketer)
Birthdate: January 4, 1990
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
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Dane van Niekerk
(South African Cricket All-rounder)
Birthdate: May 14, 1993
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Pretoria, South Africa
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Roelof van der Merwe
(Dutch-South African Professional Cricketer)
Birthdate: December 31, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
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Paddy Upton
(Rugby union player, Cricketer)
Birthdate: November 5, 1968
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: South Africa
Cricket coach Paddy Upton made headlines when he revealed in his memoir The Barefoot Coach how he had advised Indian cricketers to have sex before their matches in the World Cup, as a performance-booster. Apart from coaching the 2011 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team, he has also gained several academic degrees.
Birthdate: September 15, 1979
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Durban
Growing up playing cricket and a variety of other sports, such as tennis and football, Ahmed Amla later made it big in South African cricket just like his younger brother, Hashim Amla. Unlike Hashim, however, he doesn’t sport a beard. He studied business after retiring from cricket.
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Farhaan Behardien
(Cricketer)
Birthdate: October 9, 1983
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Johannesburg
An aggressive batsman, South African cricketer Farhaan Behardien is also an occasional medium-pace bowler. In 2017, he was named his country’s domestic T20 player of the year. He has also captained his national team in T20 matches. Many liken him to legendary player Jonty Rhodes for his fielding skills.
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Grant Elliott
(Former all-rounder cricketer)
Birthdate: March 21, 1979
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
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Fanie de Villiers
(Cricketer)
Birthdate: October 13, 1964
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Vereeniging
Fanie de Villiers is a former cricketer who earned 83 ODI caps and 18 Test caps for South Africa. Working as a commentator after his retirement, he played an important role in exposing the 2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal; he was the first person to spot the Australians' underhanded tactics and asked the camera operators to keep tabs on the Australians.
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Barry Richards
(Former South African First-class Cricketer)
Birthdate: July 21, 1945
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Durban, South Africa
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Nick Mallett
(Rugby union player, Cricketer)
Birthdate: October 30, 1956
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Haileybury and Imperial Service College
Apart from playing for the Springboks, South African rugby player Nick Mallett has also coached them and the Italian rugby team. He was part of the team that won four back-to-back Currie Cups. He has also coached the Paris club Stade Français but later rejected the offer of coaching Toulon.
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Laura Wolvaardt
(South African Cricket Batter)
Birthdate: April 26, 1999
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Milnerton, Cape Town, South Africa
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Lizelle Lee
(South African Cricket Batter)
Birthdate: April 2, 1992
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ermelo, South Africa
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Peter Kirsten
(Right-Hand Batsman)
Birthdate: May 14, 1955
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Pietermaritzburg, Natal Province Natal, South Africa
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Mignon du Preez
(Former South African Cricket Batter)
Birthdate: June 13, 1989
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Pretoria, South Africa
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Colin Ackermann
(Dutch-South African Cricketer)
Birthdate: April 4, 1991
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: George, Cape Province, South Africa
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Trisha Chetty
(South African Cricket Wicket-keeper)
Birthdate: June 26, 1988
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Durban, South Africa
Birthdate: August 6, 1911
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Boksburg
Died: September 2, 2014
Nicknamed Mobil for his generous use of Vaseline to put his unruly hair in place, South African cricketer Norman Gordon lived beyond 100 and was the oldest living Test cricketer before his death. His final Test match, known as the Timeless Test, continued for 10 days and ended in a draw.
Birthdate: April 6, 1994
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa