Of the COMPLETED careers with minimum 2000 Test runs, only Bradman has a superior average to Graeme Pollock.
He was voted as South Africa's cricketer of the 20th century.
Brief look at why he may still remain the greatest batsman @OfficialCSA ever produced.
@7polly7 [1 of 20]
He was voted as South Africa's cricketer of the 20th century.
Brief look at why he may still remain the greatest batsman @OfficialCSA ever produced.
@7polly7 [1 of 20]
Pollock made his First Class (FC) debut in the year (1960) he turned 16. He was run out for 54; and continued to make runs consistently, including a 60 out of 134 in the penultimate match, before his maiden FC century in the last game of the season to win by 4 wickets.
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Pollock made a string of 50s in the disrupted 2nd season.
He began his 3rd season aged 18, and made 800+ runs at ~70.
His 1st double was against R Benaud's International Cavaliers filled with Test class bowlers (incl Garth McKenzie). In at 24-2, he scored 209* (63%).
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He began his 3rd season aged 18, and made 800+ runs at ~70.
His 1st double was against R Benaud's International Cavaliers filled with Test class bowlers (incl Garth McKenzie). In at 24-2, he scored 209* (63%).
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Pollock earned a trip to Australia.
After failing in the 1st tour game, the 19-yo made a 127* v WA Combined XI (incl. McKenzie & Benaud).
2 games later, he made a 120 (v NSW); and got selected for 1st Test.
After modest scores in 1st 2 Tests, Pollock truly arrived!
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After failing in the 1st tour game, the 19-yo made a 127* v WA Combined XI (incl. McKenzie & Benaud).
2 games later, he made a 120 (v NSW); and got selected for 1st Test.
After modest scores in 1st 2 Tests, Pollock truly arrived!
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Pollock became (and still remains) South Africa's youngest ever Test centurion with his belligerent 122 @scg.
He followed it with another free flowing 175 @TheAdelaideOval in the very next Test, thus becoming the first teenager to score two Test centuries in a series.
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He followed it with another free flowing 175 @TheAdelaideOval in the very next Test, thus becoming the first teenager to score two Test centuries in a series.
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Pollock started the 1964/65 season with 123 v Rest of SA.
Following a handful of 50s, the 20-yo made his first Test century (137) at home against England.
Even with his run-a-ball 77 in the 2nd inns, persistent showers on the last afternoon meant the Test was drawn.
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Following a handful of 50s, the 20-yo made his first Test century (137) at home against England.
Even with his run-a-ball 77 in the 2nd inns, persistent showers on the last afternoon meant the Test was drawn.
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Touring England at 21, Pollock top scored in the 1st inns of 1st Test @HomeOfCricket. England held on to a draw with some time lost to rain earlier in the Test.
A few days later Pollock hit a double ton against @KentCricket, before the famous triumph at Trent Bridge.
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A few days later Pollock hit a double ton against @KentCricket, before the famous triumph at Trent Bridge.
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Pollock entered at 16-2, soon to be 43-4. He got to a tentative 34 at lunch; & then unleashed, smashing 91 out of 102 in unplayable conditions to everyone else. His 2nd inns 59 & brother Peter's 10-for won SA the low-scoring rubber by 94 runs.
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Pollock, by his standards, had a quiet domestic season in 1965/66 before returning to his best against the Australians in 1966/67.
Trailing by 39 in the 3rd inns of 1st Test, Pollock made a wristy 90 with timing & placement of the highest order to delight the purist.
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Trailing by 39 in the 3rd inns of 1st Test, Pollock made a wristy 90 with timing & placement of the highest order to delight the purist.
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Entering at 12-2 in the 2nd Test with hardly any support from Top 6 (7, 19, 0, 2, 5) in response to Australia's 500+, Pollock (at 22) became the youngest South African to make a Test double century.
Following on, despite the lower order rearguard, Aus won by 6 wkts.
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Following on, despite the lower order rearguard, Aus won by 6 wkts.
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Pollock's useful 4th inns 67* in the 3rd Test handed SA a series lead.
Rain saved Australia in 4th Test, before Pollock's masterful 105 & 33* clinched the series in the decider.
He finished the series with 537 runs at 76.7; and didn't play another Test for 3 years.
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Rain saved Australia in 4th Test, before Pollock's masterful 105 & 33* clinched the series in the decider.
He finished the series with 537 runs at 76.7; and didn't play another Test for 3 years.
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Pollock followed his 50 avg 1967/68 domestic season with a prolific 1043 runs at 86.7 in 1968/69 as he ended the high profile FC fixtures with 166 & 4, 133 & 80, 196 & 42.
Eng tour was cancelled that season with SA PM refusal to accept D'Oliveira as a touring member.
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Eng tour was cancelled that season with SA PM refusal to accept D'Oliveira as a touring member.
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Australia's tour of SA in 1969/70 is much talked about; and Pollock topped the batting chart with another 500+ run series (avg ~74).
Turning 26 a week before the 4th & final Test, he never played a Test for South Africa again.
He continued to dominate in FC cricket.
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Turning 26 a week before the 4th & final Test, he never played a Test for South Africa again.
He continued to dominate in FC cricket.
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Following his 1000+ runs season in 1969/70 (more than half in Tests), Pollock had a few quiet domestic seasons by his standards (+ then official RoW Tests) in extremely uncertain times, in addition to seemingly losing his timing and confidence with eyesight trouble.
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It may have felt that he had already peaked (Test avg of 60.97), but in some ways this was only the start.
With FC avg of 'only' 50, Pollock dispensed with wearing glasses in his 1st full season in his 30s.
In the next 8 seasons, his lowest batting avg in FC was 61.
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With FC avg of 'only' 50, Pollock dispensed with wearing glasses in his 1st full season in his 30s.
In the next 8 seasons, his lowest batting avg in FC was 61.
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In a 71 FC match streak, from v Natal in Dec 1974 to v Arosa SL XI in Dec 1982, Pollock scored ~6700 runs at a 74+ average, with 23 centuries & 29 fifties.
@CricVestigate will cover Pollock's batting feats against visiting rebel teams extensively in another episode.
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@CricVestigate will cover Pollock's batting feats against visiting rebel teams extensively in another episode.
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It is worth noting that South African domestic cricket scene was arguably the strongest First Class cricket during isolation. It needed to be.
Pollock's phenomenal record in that period included several matches against international sides, filled with Test players.
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Pollock's phenomenal record in that period included several matches against international sides, filled with Test players.
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Pollock's 2nd last FC match was against v (Rebel) Australia XI, a few weeks before his 43rd* birthday. He made a typically aggressive 144 against an attack led by Test bowlers Rodney Hogg and Alderman.
*Unreal given that he made his maiden FC century, aged only 16.
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*Unreal given that he made his maiden FC century, aged only 16.
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Pollock was the youngest to many feats in First Class & Test cricket; & some records still remain unbroken.
He made multiple FC 100s against the rebel sides of Test quality well past the age of 40.
In between, avgd 60+ in Tests at 26 and hit his FC peak in his 30s.
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He made multiple FC 100s against the rebel sides of Test quality well past the age of 40.
In between, avgd 60+ in Tests at 26 and hit his FC peak in his 30s.
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Only a few special batting talents emulated what Pollock did as a teen, even fewer matched his feats in Tests (in his 20s) & FC (in his 30s). He amazingly kept scoring heavily in his 40s.
This destructive long period consistency is why many view him as SA's GREATEST!
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This destructive long period consistency is why many view him as SA's GREATEST!
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