South Africa had been in cricketing wilderness for almost two decades and they were a forgotten chapter in that time period. But when they were readmitted to the international arena in 1991, they came back for good. The Proteas became a force to reckon with in the mid and late 90s owing to their tremendous consistency at winning matches in both the test and limited overs format.
What actually differentiated the Proteas from rest of the sides was their professional attitude and competitiveness. It was their lethal bowling and spectacular fielding which made them a class apart from the rest of the sides of that era. They grouped well as a team under the command of a brilliant captain and astute leader in Hansie Cronje who forged a highly successful partnership with their coach cum strategist Bob Woolmer.
So here is a look into the eleven cricketers who were part of golden generation of South African Cricket.
All time Proteas X1 (1995-2000)
1.Gary Kristen
One of the finest openers in the 90s, Kristen was the work horse of the team and had the ability to score big runs owing to his compact technique and sound temperament. The team relied on him to give a solid platform and Kristen did that more often than not. A hard working cricketer who gave his best for the team's cause, Kristen was a specialist gully fielder too.
2. Herchelle Gibbs:
Naturally gifted with huge potential, Gibbs was the aggressor who gave Proteas the quick fire start at the top of the innings. Herchelle was beautiful to watch when on song but was an enigma of his own owing to sudden lapses in concentration. When it came to his brilliant all-round fielding, he formed an impregnable ring in the cover position alongside Rhodes which was hard for the best batsmen to breach.
3. Jaques Kallis:
Perhaps the greatest all-rounder after Sir Gary Sobers. Mr. Consistent was the cornerstone of the South African batting lineup. Solid and compact in technique with immense powers of concentration, Kallis accumulated runs at his own pace and was the most prolific run scorer of his generation. He bowled first change at brisk pace and swung the ball both ways. Being a safe fielder in the slips, South Africa couldn’t have asked for more from their Mr Dependable.
4.Daryll Cullinan:
Daryll Cullinan was South Africa’s most talented batsman who never did justice to his potential. Cullinan was a treat to watch on his day with his stylish and fluent stroke play. Spin was his big menace (ask Warnie!!!) and often succumbed to the same. Daryll was a superb close-in fielder too.
5.W.J Cronje (Hansie):
Cronje was an excellent tactician and combined well with techno coach Bob Woolmer as South Africa’s think tank. Hansie was a reliable batsman in the middle order and had a penchant for hitting spinners out of the park. He bowled his medium pacers with great accuracy to lent depth to the Proteas bowling attack. Above all, he led his team with distinction and made South Africa a professional cricket outfit. Although match fixing tarnished his near to legendary image in his country,Cronje remains as one of South Africa's greatest captains..
6.Jonathan Rhodes (Jonty)
Jonty was like a livewire on the field and took some sensational catches and executed brilliant run-outs. Gifted with immense athletic ability, Rhodes made that backward point his own position. Perhaps he was the first cricketer whose batting got overshadowed with his fielding. He was an attacking middle order batsman who ran lighting quick between the wickets. A great team man who always cheered up guys in the dressing room, Jonty was full of positive vibes who certainly lifted the morale of the Proteas.
7.Lance Klusener: Zullu
A strongly build lad from Kwa-Zulu Natal province, Lance became an ice cool campaigner lower down the batting order. His brutal hitting won many a matches for his team from a no win situation (remember his 1999 World Cup exploits!!!! ). Add to that his military medium bowling (deceptive off cutters) in the middle overs and a powerful throwing arm from the deep. Zullu was a mutli-role weapon for his team.
8. Shaun Pollock
The epitome of line and length bowling, Shaun Pollock was one of the most economical bowlers of his generation. Pollock excelled with his nagging line and length and effectively partnered Allan Donald with the new ball. He was an extremely handy lower order batsman and chipped in with valuable runs for his team. Pollock had a good cricketing brain and was second in command to Hansie for most of that period.
9. Mark Boucher:
Mark was an excellent glovesman who took some spectacular catches behind the stumps. He went on to claim 998 international victims behind the wickets, a record of sorts. Mark Combined his acrobatic wicket-keeping with hard-hitting batting lower down the order to give South Africa the much required impetus. A fighter of a character, he never gave up and put up a fight to take the team across in some no win situations.
10.Fanie De Villiers:
De Villiers bowled with a low slinging action and troubled the best batsman with his deceptive slower ones. He had the uncanny knack of picking up crucial wickets with his swing bowling and lent a somewhat different kind of variety to the South African pace Bowling. Few know that he was a very good javelin thrower too.
11. Allan Donald: White Lighting
Allan Donald, in his prime had some serious pace and carted out the best batsmen out with his pacy deliveries. Donald bowled with a rhythmic action and bowled out swingers to great effect. Allan led the strong SA pace attack for a decade with aggression and attitude. Donald was a superb fielder in the deep with a strong throwing arm. And last but not the least, a true number 11 batsman.
12th Man: Pat Symcox:
Symoo was a late developer in international cricket. Tall and strongly built, his off-spinners came in handy whenever he made the side. Pat could smoke a few sixes of the bat too, making him a dangerous customer down the order.
Other Notable Players:
We ought to remember the likes of Derek Crookes, Nicky Boje , Niel Mcenzie, Steve Elworthy and Paul Adams, who all pitched in well whenever called in for national duty.
