SA Footy

When growing up, one of my most treasured and well-read books was a autobiography of Basil D'Olivera, the South African born all-rounder who later played for England with strong success. I always found the story very inspirational and very amusing, with a great ability to spin a yarn and give valuable insight into situations. He seemed to be one of the few cricketers who had almost unyielding praise from Geoff Boycott, and seemed to have almost universal support from the cricketing community.

I was saddened to hear that he is in the early stages of Alzheimers Disease, but was hoping that some of the older fans on here can tell me more about his career, the controversy surrounding his selection for England initially and what he was like as a cricketer, from their point of view?

EDIT - thanks, R&B - have corrected that spelling again. Must have read the book almost too many times!

Spelt D'Oliveira, CK.

I watched him play. From memory, a handy allrounder. Not brilliant at either, but very useful with bat and ball.

He was most famous, of course, for being picked to go to South Africa with the English team back in the late 60's. South Africa refused to accept him, under the apartheid regime and England didn't send the team.

I think he suffered a fair bit after that, but handled it with dignity.

From memory only.

In his 80th year, all I have gleaned is from cricinfo, bar the South Africa issue, which I''d read about previously.

Decent enough bat by his stats, 40 average in those days, 5 tons.

Yeah a medium-pacer all-rounder, only averaged fractionally more than a wicket a game, but very nice economy rate- under 2 rpo in tests, and 2.2 rpo in a 367-match FC career.

Whenever people talk about great "English" all-rounders (cue that Pommy supporter on the current games thread), he is always forgotten.

In depth on the South Africa thing:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/co ... 56092.html

Do you want to check that spelling correction, CK

His medium pace bowling could be called slow-medium pace, IIRC.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/con ... 41152.html

Vale

RIP Dolly......

I find it ironic that the South African board, back in the day, wouldn't play Dolly because of the colour of his skin, then wouldn't allow him to play against SA during that fateful series that wasn't, and now that he's passed, the same SA is pulling out the black armbands...

Very saddened to hear about his passing on the weekend. His contribution to cricket, particularly with the issue of South Africa and the like, seemed to have missed in the last few years, but it was warming to see so many press articles discussing his impact.

RIP.