Barry Richards?

[fredfertang]

I remember when Van der Bijl came over - Mike Brearley said he was a bit special and his figures looked good but of course no one had ever heard of him and not that much was expected. He wasn't mean (unlike his opening partner Wayne Daniel), he didn't move the ball like Bob Massie and he looked and behaved like a bloke playing a friendly game of club cricket - he bowled dead straight though and just kept taking wickets all summer - 60% of his wickets that year were bowled or lbw and half the rest caught behind - and he was 32 and had never played in England before - awesome

 

[Ikki]

Pffft. That S.African side would have been embarrassingly good. What a god damn shame.

 

[Prince EWS]

Who'd have thought that this would turn into such a good thread? Last page or so has been great reading, including that link.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Pffft. That S.African side would have been embarrassingly good. What a god damn shame.

A sporting tragedy for the players concerned, yes; however, without wishing to be too sanctimonious, some things are bigger than cricket.

There's an argument that the 70/71 series should never have been played after the D'Olveira affair as well. Although cricket was a lot less tardy than severing (official) sporting ties to Apartheid-era SA. The British Lions sent a fully-sanctioned touring side as late as 1980.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

It's no secret that Tony Greig wanted to play for South Africa. He was 24 at the time of the isolation and it would have been interesting to see if he would have waited in hope of a call. He was certainly more than good enough to play Test cricket but with Rice and Proctor around his chances might have been limited. Allan Lamb would also have played for South Africa and been in contention for a place in the late 70's. Robin Smith would definitely have been in contention in the mid-80's. A bit of wild card for a place in the batting line-up in the 70's would have been Brian Davison (a Rhodesian but could have played for South Africa.)

 

[fredfertang]

Ian Greig certainly wouldn't have got near a South African side - can't recall now he got near the England one - we weren't even that bad in 82 when he got picked

 

[BoyBrumby]

It's no secret that Tony Greig wanted to play for South Africa. He was 24 at the time of the isolation and it would have been interesting to see if he would have waited in hope of a call. He was certainly more than good enough to play Test cricket but with Rice and Proctor around his chances might have been limited. Allan Lamb would also have played for South Africa and been in contention for a place in the late 70's. Robin Smith would definitely have been in contention in the mid-80's. A bit of wild card for a place in the batting line-up in the 70's would have been Brian Davison (a Rhodesian but could have played for South Africa.)

Greig had his first full season for Sussex in 67 tho, a good couple of years before SA were finally excluded, so he was already exploring his options before isolation.

Guess the wind of change was already blowing tho.

 

[zaremba]

I know I might be biast because I am South African but what a team we would have had in the 70's and 80's. Since re-admission and twenty years onwards we have consistently been just behind Australia as the 2nd best side and even snuck ahead of them on ocassions but I really believe West Indies vs South Africa would have been a great battle in the 70's and 80's.

Our team going into the 70's would have lost only Trevor Goddard, Denis Lindsay and Peter Pollock probably. All 3 of whom were brilliant cricketers as well.

Probable team...

1. Barry Richards
2. Eddie Barlow (vc)
3. Peter Kirsten
4. Graeme Pollock
5. Lee Irvine
6. Clive Rice (c)
7. Mike Procter
8. Alan Kourie
9. Ray Jennings (+)
10. Garth Le Roux
11. Vincent Van der Bijl

In reserve there would have been Jimmy Cook who would have come in for Barlow when he retired. Ken McEwan would have come in for Lee Irvine.

In the bowling ranks Stephen Jefferies and the leg-spinner Denys Hobson would have been pushing for places as well.

Can you tell us a bit about Lee Irvine and Alan Kourie?

And would Colin Bland have been in with a shout?

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Ian Greig certainly wouldn't have got near a South African side - can't recall now he got near the England one - we weren't even that bad in 82 when he got picked

We were quite bad. That summer we had Derek Pringle who was still at university, the legendary Paul Allot and Robin Jackman who was already 37 by then. Of course we did have the two most prolific bowlers in England's history as well in Botham and Willis.

 

[The Sean]

Can you tell us a bit about Lee Irvine and Alan Kourie?

And would Colin Bland have been in with a shout?

Bland was several years retired by then wasn't he?

 

[zaremba]

Bland was several years retired by then wasn't he?

Ah, ok.

 

[fredfertang]

We were quite bad. That summer we had Derek Pringle who was still at university, the legendary Paul Allot and Robin Jackman who was already 37 by then. Of course we did have the two most prolific bowlers in England's history as well in Botham and Willis.

Just had a look in Wisden - yes the situation was a bit grim in terms of reserves although John Lever had an excellent season and was "only" 33 - it was also Kevin Emery's one remarkable year although our lot wouldn't have picked a man in his debut season on principle - what sums it up is the identity of the leading English bowler in the averages - one M W Gatting!

 

[SeamUp]

Can you tell us a bit about Lee Irvine and Alan Kourie?

And would Colin Bland have been in with a shout?

Bland played his last test in 1965 or so if memory serves me correctly. Injured himself badly in the field as ironic as that may sound as was his brilliance in the field. Himself, Goddard, Lindsay and P.Pollock were passed their best by 1970.

LEE IRVINE

Was schooled at Durban High School with Barry Richards and they were best mates. He was an attacking left-handed batsman who scored a test century in his only 4 tests in the 4-0 drubbing of Australia in 1970. He played a bit for Essex and started his career at Natal but also played for the old Transvaal.

In South Africa we have an annual schools week called the Nuffield week and the selectors were out watching for the SA schools side. Then Irvine opened for Natal Schools and the selectors were purring during his innings but famously when he went out the Natal schools coach said to the selectors you think he was good...wait until you see the next batsman...B.A. Richards.

He was a good player...I think Allan Lamb and Ken McEwan could have got the number 5 position as well. Maybe even Kepler Wessels who could bat in the middle order as well as the top order.

ALAN KOURIE

He was a very accurate slowleft-arm spinner who was part of the mean-machine side. Could also handle a bat as well. A very useful player who has brilliant stats. Probably part of one of the most famous 1st slip and keeper (Ray Jennings) combinations in history as well.

The spinners position was between him and the leg-spinner Denys Hobson who played for Western Province. Eddie Barlow skippered him brilliantly down in Cape Town. Was also signed up for the World Series.

 

[The Sean]

This is great stuff SeamUp, thanks.

 

[SeamUp]

This is great stuff SeamUp, thanks.

Anytime mate. I love the history of the game and if you want to know anything in particular about SA cricket don't hesitate to ask.