History of cricket in South Africa from 1945–46 to 1970

This article describes the history of South African cricket from the end of the Second World War in 1945 to the start of South Africa's cricket isolation in 1970.

International feeling against South Africa's apartheid policy became stronger and more vociferous as the post-war era developed. Until the mid-1960s, however, the South Africa national cricket team continued to play regularly and without undue difficulty against Australia, England and New Zealand.

But matters came to a head in 1968 when the South African government refused to allow a tour by England whose team included Basil D'Oliveira. Although the Australians visited South Africa in 1969–70, the end was nigh for apartheid in sport and South Africa was banned from Test cricket for 22 years. This happened just at a time when the South African team was arguably the strongest in world cricket.

In 1970, after South Africa's tour of England was cancelled, a Rest of the World team toured instead. It was captained by Gary Sobers and included other non-white players from the West Indies, India and Pakistan. It also included four of the greatest South African players (Eddie Barlow, Graeme Pollock, Mike Procter and Barry Richards) who clearly had no problems about sharing a dressing room with other cricketers whose skin was a different colour to their own.

Domestic cricket from 1945 to 1970

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Currie Cup winners from 1945-46 to 1969-70

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  1. Not Contested: 1945-46, 1948-49, 1949-50, 1953-54, 1956-57, 1957-58, 1961-62, 1964-65
  2. 1946-47 Natal
  3. 1947-48 Natal
  4. 1950-51 Transvaal
  5. 1951-52 Natal
  6. 1952-53 Western Province
  7. 1954-55 Natal
  8. 1955-56 Western Province
  9. 1958-59 Transvaal
  10. 1959-60 Natal
  11. 1960-61 Natal
  12. 1962-63 Natal
  13. 1963-64 Natal
  14. 1965-66 Natal and Transvaal (shared)
  15. 1966-67 Natal
  16. 1967-68 Natal
  17. 1968-69 Transvaal
  18. 1969-70 Transvaal and Western Province (shared)

International tours of South Africa from 1945-46 to 1969-70

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England, 1948-49

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Australia, 1949-50

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New Zealand, 1953-54

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England, 1956-57

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Australia, 1957-58

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Commonwealth XI, 1959-60

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A Commonwealth XI cricket team toured South Africa in October 1959, playing three first-class matches. Captained by Denis Compton, the Commonwealth XI included several famous or well-known players such as Tom Graveney, Brian Close, Bert Sutcliffe, Frank Tyson, Godfrey Evans, Roy Marshall, Bob Simpson and Ian Craig

New Zealand, 1961-62

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England, 1964-65

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Australia, 1966-67

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Australia, 1969-70

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References

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Further reading

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  • Rowland Bowen, Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1970
  • South African Cricket Annual – various editions
  • Trevor Chesterfield, South Africa's Cricket Captains: From Melville to Wessels, New Holland Publishers, 1999
  • various writers, A Century of South Africa in Test & International Cricket 1889-1989, Ball, 1989
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