8 South African players who turned out to be big players for England

8 South African players who turned out to be big players for England: England is a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic country which is ever so evident in its national cricket team as well. When we take a look at the English team, we realize that there have been many players across the eras who belonged to different countries but yet went on to play for the English side. In the 3rd Ashes Test of the recently concluded Ashes 2015, after 10 years and 139 Test matches, the English side took the field without a player born in Southern Africa. We have seen that there have been many South African born cricketers who have played for England and have carved out their name in the folklore of English cricket. Today, let’s have a glance at 8 South African players who turned out to be big players for England: 1. Kevin Pietersen: Kevin Pietersen. (© Getty Images) In the last decade or so, Kevin Pietersen did things like never ever seen before in the history of English cricket. Yes, we are talking about both his belligerent batting skills as well as his controversial personality. KP has smashed 13,797 runs in international cricket for England and is the leading run-scorer for them across all the formats of the game. Pietersen, the inventor of the Switch-hit led England to many famous Test as well limited overs victory. KP was the Player-of-the-Series in World T20 2010 and was the hero of England’s first ever World Cup triumph. He also has immense contributions in England’s Ashes and Sub-continent Test victories. 2. Andrew Strauss: Andrew Strauss. (Photo Source: Getty Images) The South African born English southpaw, Strauss accumulated 11,315 runs and 27 centuries in international cricket. Strauss was a very solid opening batsman and formed a formidable opening partnership with Alastair Cook in Test cricket. But Andrew’s contributions to English cricket was way beyond his batting exploits as he is the English skipper under whom the side blossomed in Test cricket and became the World’s no.1 ranked Test side. Strauss also led England to its first Ashes win on Australian soil after 24 years in Ashes 2010/11. Nowadays, he is the Director of England cricket. 3. Tony Greig: (source) One of the most fascinating commentators cricket has ever seen, Anthony William Greig was as good with the bat and ball in hand as well as he was with the mike in hand. The 6 feet 6 inch tall, Greig was not the most technically gifted batsman or a bowler with deadly pace but yet his effectiveness made him a crucial member of the English side during his playing days. He was a man of astute character and fighting skills. The former English skipper represented England in 58 Tests and aggregated 3,599 runs at 40.43 with 8 tons while with the red cherry he scalped 141 wickets. 4. Jonathan Trott: Jonathan Trott. (© Getty Images) Very few players have the zeal to score a Test ton on debut and that too against Australia in Ashes cricket. Trott emerged as a solid no.3 batter for England in Tests as well as ODIs during his playing days. Trott was the pillar of the English batting line-up and was a prominent contributor in England’s rise to No.1 ranking in the whites. In 52 Test matches, the right-hander scored 3,835 runs at an average of 44.08 while in 68 ODIs he compiled 2819 runs at an excellent average of 51.25 5. Matt Prior: Matt Prior. (© Getty Images) One of the most stylish English players, Matt Prior was an exciting English Wicket-keeper batsman whose gracious and classical strokes on the off-side were a treat to watch for any cricket lover. Prior who recently hung up his boots is regarded as one the greatest English Wicket-keeper batter’s ever. Matt had an astute cricketing brain and he was the vice-captain of the side for a substantial period of time as well. He played many critical innings for his side while batting at no.7 position and was one of the most prominent figures of the English Test side. 6. Allan Lamb: Allan Lamb. (Photo Source: PA Photos) The South African born cricketer, Allan Lamb moved to England when he realized that he had no professional cricket career in Africa, as the rainbow nation was banned from international cricket due to the Apartheid policy. Lamb possessed a very sound technique and was particularly very good against pace bowling. Out of his 14 Test tons, 6 came against the West Indies side which had the possession of a very lethal pace bowling line-up. He was also part of the English side in 2 successful Ashes campaigns. Overall, he piled up 8,666 runs for England in international cricket with 18 centuries. 7. Robin Smith: Robin Smith. (Photo Source: Getty Images) He was also one of those players who couldn’t continue playing cricket in South Africa due to the Apartheid policy. Smith was one of the most beguiling players and his barbarous cuts and hooks were one of the most pleasing sights on the eye. Though Smith didn’t find any difficulties in smashing the fierce fast bowlers but he faltered against spinners and sometimes even part-timers got better of him. Robin was epitomized as the greatest Protean born English cricketer till the rise of the likes of KP, Strauss, Prior and Trott. Robin scored 6,665 runs for England in international cricket. 8. Basil D’Oliveira: (source) Basil D’Oliveira is the name of that Protean born English cricketer whose inclusion in the English squad for the tour of South Africa in 1968-69 led to the abandonment of the tour following stark opposition from the apartheid professing government due to D’Oliveira’s categorization as “coloured”. Since 2004, the winner of South Africa v England Test series is awarded Basil D’Oliveira Trophy. In 44 Tests for England, Basil scored 2,484 runs at an average of 40.06 while with the ball he claimed 47 wickets. He was a brilliant batsman for England and played some outstanding innings in his Test career.