South Africa's best cricketer since re-admission

[Craig]

Tests only.

Allan Donald for mine.

 

[Craig]

Hansie Cronje is not counted due to his least then reputable activities outside of cricket

 

[sanga1337]

For me its either Pollock or Kallis. Both great allrounders... Dammit I can't choose lol.

 

[sanga1337]

BTW why is Paul Adams in the poll? I can think of several players who should be there instead.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

BTW why is Paul Adams in the poll? I can think of several players who should be there instead.

Irrelevant sixth option.

Anyway, Kallis. No question here.

 

[Langeveldt]

In terms of all-round cricketing ability, Pollock..

 

[sanga1337]

Irrelevant sixth option.

Anyway, Kallis. No question here.

Paul Adams isn't bad enough to be an irrelevant option. Well to me it wasn't obvious enough I guess

 

[Richard]

Difficult question.

As far as single-role players are concerned, Donald was a better bowler for me than anyone else and also a better bowler than anyone who's held a bat is batsman. But it's impossible to look past the all-round contributions of Kallis and Pollock.

As to who's better out of Kallis and Pollock... an impossible question really. I've always been inclined to go for Pollock, but there really is virtually nothing in it.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Not the greatest fan of the way he sometimes plays, but I can't see past Kallis. Running G Pollock pretty close as SA's best ever batsman & a useful bowler to boot.

 

[Jono]

Jacques

 

[Craig]

Surely Jacques Kallis will get this double century monkey off his back this up-coming season. If not, next year or two.

 

[Goughy]

Maybe Kallis is more valuable than Donald. However, to be the 'best', IMO, there has to be an aura of specialness surrounding them.

Kallis is a great but Donald was special. The prototype athletic fast bowler. Not just a fantastic bowler but stunning to watch.

 

[Manee]

Tremendously tough one for me, but Kallis' career has to go down as a close(ish) second to Garfield Sobers in terms of batting all rounder. Kallis was a good bowler early in his career (as well as being a solid batsman, obviously) and now he is one of the world's best batsmen.

 

[Perm]

Hansie Cronje is not counted due to his least then reputable activities outside of cricket

I don't see the point in excluding him when we are judging, I assume, purely on cricketing ability and success on the field.

 

[NZTailender]

Paun Shollock.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

I don't see the point in excluding him when we are judging, I assume, purely on cricketing ability and success on the field.

True, but on that basis he wouldn't be included either.

 

[Marius]

Paul Adams should be nowhere near that poll. If we had to choose a post-isolation XI, Adams wouldn't make the second side.

Cullinan wasn't the best, but I think was under-rated. If only he'd played in a different era from Warne He would have been remembered as one of the best batsmen that SA has ever produced.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Paul Adams should be nowhere near that poll.

....you obviously haven't read the thread.

 

[Craig]

Paul Adams should be nowhere near that poll. If we had to choose a post-isolation XI, Adams wouldn't make the second side.

Cullinan wasn't the best, but I think was under-rated. If only he'd played in a different era from Warne He would have been remembered as one of the best batsmen that SA has ever produced.

Paul Adams is the irrelevant final option, no different had I put 'Coca-cola' or Bryan Habana's name down, even though he plays rugby. It is a CW tradition

Anyway a post-isolation XI would be an interesting idea. Anyone want to have a crack at it?

 

[Briony]

Well we're not exactly spoiled for choice but it has to be Kallis. The problem for Kallis and Pollock is that as good as their stats look, I don't think they have proven to be matchwinners on too many occasions.

SA doesn't seem to produce too many good cricketers these days. Is it because most South Africans prefer rugby and very few play cricket?