Graeme Pollock

Graeme Pollock was a peerless batsman who stood tall among the greatest of all left-handed batsmen.

b. 27 February 1944 - South Africa
Played cricket for South Africa

A cricketing prodigy

Among the greatest of all left-handed batsmen, Graeme Pollock was a cricketing prodigy. He scored his maiden first-class hundred for Eastern Province at 16 and two years later was the youngest South African to score a double century. With hundreds in consecutive Tests in Australia in 1963-64 he became the third player after Neil Harvey and Mushtaq Mohammad to score two Test centuries before his 20th birthday.

Timing and immaculate judgment of length were the hallmarks of his glorious batting. Although tall and muscular he played with as much finesse as power and struck five hundreds against Australia and two against England in his 23 Tests. He holds the second highest Test batting average of 60.97 behind Don Bradman and shares Test status with older brother Peter and nephew Shaun. In mid-life he remained a formidable player in matches against various 'rebel' teams in South Africa.

'If you ever score a century like that again, I hope I'm here to see it.' Sir Donald Bradman to Graeme Pollock, 1963/64 Australia v South Africa series after his scoring 174 runs.

'I wouldn't ever go onto a cricket field if I didn't want to score runs... I had this obsession to try and get as many runs as possible every time I batted.' Graeme Pollock

The Stats

Tests
23

Batting Stats
Aggregate: 2,256
Highest Score: 274
Centuries: 7
Average: 60.97

Bowling Stats
Wickets: 4
Best bowling: 2/50
Runs: 204
Average: 51.00

Graeme Pollock typified the physical and mental toughness required to succeed in elite cricket. Blending physical strength with batting finesse, his dogged determination and courage in the pre-helmet era helped instill pride in South African cricket when the country was suffering increasing isolation due to the apartheid policy.

Did you know?

Pollock scored more runs than anyone else in Tests without being dismissed LBW. Bill Ponsford is the only other 2000+ run scorer to avoid this form of dismissal. His batting average of 69.19 is the highest of any player in Tests against Australia. His 274 at Durban in 1969-70 is the highest by a South African against Australia, and remained South Africa's highest individual Test innings against any country for 29 years.